In Photos: Our Trip to the Olympics

This weekend, Liz Allen, the White House Deputy Communications Director, and Ellie Schafer, Director of the White House Visitors Office, headed to Rio de Janeiro as a part of the Presidential Delegation to the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games along with Mari Carmen Aponte, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Liliana Ayalde, U.S. Ambassador to Brazil, and former Olympic gold-medalist Mark Spitz, led by Secretary of State John Kerry. On Saturday, Liz and Ellie took over the White House Instagram account to share their experience. Check out their takeover below.

Hello from sunny Rio de Janeiro, Brazil! Liz Allen and Ellie Schafer here — WH Deputy Communications Director and Director of the White House Visitors Office, and part of the official U.S. delegation to the #Rio2016 Olympics led by Secretary of State John Kerry. We’ll be taking over the White House Instagram today to take you behind the scenes of the games and cheer on Team USA. We’re joined here by two other members of the U.S. delegation: Ambassador to Brazil Liliana Ayalde, and legendary Olympian swimmer Mark Spitz. Stay tuned! — Ellie & Liz

The view from #Rio2016. Today, athletes from around the world will be competing in tennis, archery, volleyball, judo, swimming, boxing, and more. Let’s go Team USA! — Liz

Secretary of State John Kerry dropped by to meet with the incredible athletes of Team USA and speak about the Olympic tradition of bringing countries together: “Contribute in the great American tradition of the spirit of competition and the values of our country. Break barriers. Find a different way to resolve the differences between us.” — Liz

The #Rio2016 Olympics officially kicked off last night with the opening ceremony — an amazing production showcasing the diversity and unity of the Olympic Games, and the vibrant and inclusive nature of Brazil. At the end of the ceremony, each country’s athletes walked into the stadium holding their flags and celebrating their culture. There’s nothing quite like the pride of seeing Team USA walk in. — Ellie

One thread throughout the opening ceremony was the importance of acting to protect and preserve our environment. Brazil is home to much of the Amazon rainforest and growth and conservation were themes woven into the production last night. The Olympics have always been an opportunity to find common cause to tackle important problems while celebrating athleticism and the Olympic spirit. For the countries represented here at #Rio2016, many of whom are already confronting the challenges of climate change, it was a reminder that we all share one planet. #ActOnClimate — Liz

Let the games begin. This morning, we checked out a beach volleyball match between Canada and Brazil. Lots of cheers and enthusiasm for the home team! 🇨🇦 vs. 🇧🇷 — Ellie

One last picture from #Rio2016 before we sign off for the day: Today the U.S. Olympic delegation had the honor of meeting with the Team USA beach volleyball team. These athletes — and the others competing here in Rio — represent the best and highest ideals of our country. As President Obama said in this week’s address,‎ “Just hard work, focus, and a dream. That’s the Olympic spirit — and it’s the American spirit, too.” — Ellie