OLYM - First Lady Michelle Obama takes in USA game

LONDON (Olympics) - The main event at the London Games on Sunday was Team USA's opening clash with France and among the many famous personalities to show up and watch was the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama.

With hoops fan, American President Barack Obama, unable to appear on the opening two days of the Olympics and watch many of the players he's invited to the White House before like USA stars LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, his wife took in the action in a packed Basketball Arena.

The United States beat France 98-71 and before the players left the arena, they made their way to the stands to say hello to Obama and receive a hug from her.

Germany football great Lothar Matthäus was on hand for the game, as was Prince Albert of Monaco, whose wife Charlene Wittstock swam for South Africa at the 2000 Olympics.

The towering presence of Yao Ming was watched the United States and France play.

Yao, who has retired from basketball as a player, competed against the USA on the opening day of the Men's Tournament at the Beijing Olympics four years ago.

He served as a television pundit for Chinese television for the USA game.

Spain's former world and European champion Jorge Garbajosa, who retired after this past season's domestic campaign with Unicaja Malaga, was on hand to watch as well as one of his former coaches, ex-Italy and current CSKA Moscow coach Ettore Messina.

Messina worked for the Los Angeles Lakers last season, the team of USA guard Bryant.

FIBA