I want to congratulate all the athletes here today for making the 2010 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic（残奥会） Teams – you are truly the best of the best. All of us are incredibly proud of everything you’ve accomplished¹ to get here, and we can’t wait to see what you’ll accomplish in Vancouver（温哥华） .

The Olympics represent one of the greatest traditions in sports – a place where legends are born and history is made. And over the next two and a half weeks, each of you will have the experience of a lifetime – the culmination²（顶点，高潮） of years of hard work and endless sacrifice; dogged（顽强的，顽固的） perseverance³（坚持不懈，不屈不挠） and unyielding（不屈的，坚强的） determination.

As Olympic and Paralympic athletes, you’ll be representing your coaches, family and friends who gave so much to help you get to where you are. You’ll be representing the hopes and dreams of millions of Americans watching at home and around the globe. And you’ll be serving as ambassadors⁴ for your country, both on and off the playing field – presenting the very best of America to the world.

So congratulations again on making the team, and best of luck in Vancouver. Michelle, Malia, Sasha, Bo and I can’t wait to follow your journeys from here in Washington. I know you’ll all make America enormously⁵（巨大地，非常地） proud. Thank you.