Paralympic delegation caught in standoff

President Obama will not send a delegation to the Paralympic Games in Sochi in protest of Russia’s military action in Ukraine, the White House said Monday.

“In addition to other measures we are taking in response to the situation in Ukraine, the United States will no longer send a Presidential Delegation to the upcoming Winter Paralympic Games in Sochi,” National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said.

“President Obama continues to strongly support all of the U.S. athletes who will participate in the Paralympics and wishes them great success in the Olympic competition.”

{mosads}The move follows a similar announcement by British Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday.

Cameron said he and thought it would be “wrong” to send government officials to the Friday ceremony, considering the events in nearby Crimea.

“Because of the serious situation in Ukraine, [Foreign Secretary] William Hague and I believe it would be wrong for UK Ministers to attend the Sochi Paralympics,” Cameron tweeted.

During the Olympics, Obama’s presidential delegation featured two openly gay female athletes in a move seen as a protest of anti-LGBT legislation in Russia.