Michelle Obama will lead U.S. delegation to 2012 Summer Olympic games

Michelle Obama has been tapped to lead the American delegation into the 2012 Summer Olympic games in London.

The first lady will head up the U.S. group of athletes and dignitaries traveling to London for the games, which will be broadcast on NBC from July 27-August 12.

Tuesday, Mrs. Obama is kicking off the sporting celebration with a "mini-Olympics" at American University, where she will host British first lady Samantha Cameron, who is in the U.S. with her husband, Prime Minister David Cameron, on a two-day diplomatic trip. Washington D.C.-area children will take part in the event, which promotes the first lady's "Let's Move!" initiative.

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The kids' competition also serves as an opening hurrah for the Summer Games, which will see Mrs. Obama greeting Mrs. Cameron again. She follows in the footsteps of previous first ladies, including Laura Bush, who led the U.S. team at the 2006 Winter Olympics, and Hillary Rodham Clinton, who headed the U.S. group at the 1994 Winter Olympics.