First lady Jill BidenJill BidenThe Hill’s 12:30 Report – Presented by Goldman Sachs – Tokyo Olympics kick off with 2020-style opening ceremony Jill Biden attends Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony The Hill’s Morning Report – Pelosi considers adding GOP voices to Jan. 6 panel MORE on Saturday joined French President Emmanuel MacronEmmanuel Jean-Michel MacronJill Biden attends Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony French anti-vaccine protests compare themselves to Jews in Nazi Germany, sparking criticism Delta fears grip economy as cases jump across the country MORE to watch their women’s basketball teams participate in a 3-on-3 game in Tokyo for the event’s Olympic debut.
Macron was pictured sitting in the third row courtside, where he was briefly greeted by Biden before the first lady sat in a row behind him due to social distancing rules during the games, Reuters reported.
The two wore face masks as they cheered on the U.S. and French delegations, with the American women eventually coming out victorious with a 17-10 win over the No. 1-ranked French team.
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The 3-on-3 basketball game is played on a half court with three players on each side, with the teams aiming to be the first to reach 21 points or make the most baskets by the end of a 10-minute period.
The final medal matches for the event are scheduled for Wednesday, following a tournament of eight teams each for both men and women.
Both Biden and Macron attended the opening ceremony for the games Friday evening, and the first lady earlier Saturday went to a U.S. versus Mexico women’s softball game watch party at the U.S. ambassador’s residence.
The Associated Press reported that Biden while at the event thanked foreign service officers and their families for their work, and also apologized for not being able to offer food due to COVID-19 safety restrictions.
The U.S. won the softball game 2-0, according to the AP.
Biden on Friday led the U.S. delegation to the games’ opening ceremony, which honored athletes who trained in isolation during the pandemic, as well as the people who have died from COVID-19 across the globe.
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In an open letter published by NBC News on Friday ahead of the ceremony, Biden commended Team USA for bringing “us together in a way that little else can.”
“You remind us that with dedication, hard work, courage and teamwork, incredible things are possible,” she wrote.
She also met virtually with members of Team USA ahead of the opening ceremony, telling athletes, “Congratulations. Becoming an Olympian is a rare accomplishment in a normal time. But you did it during a global pandemic.”
The Tokyo Olympics, which were postponed from last year due to the pandemic, remain under strict health and safety protocols, with no spectators allowed at most venues after the Japanese government imposed a state of emergency in Tokyo.
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