Vladimir Putin Mocks Obama’s Love of Sports

January 19th, 2014 3:34 PM

Everyone knows that President Obama loves to play golf. Since his inauguration in 2008, he has played over 100 rounds of golf, yet he received some unlikely criticism over his love of the game.

During an interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin, ABC’s George Stephanopoulos asked, if the president would “Care to make a friendly bet with President Obama on which country’s going to win more medals, the U.S. Or Russia?” [Click below to see Putin's response.]

Putin hilariously responded that:

No, of course not. We never make such bets. Barack is a huge sports fan and I can see it. He is in terrific shape and gives it enough of his attention. Not just to playing sports, but also to promoting sports.

The Russian president is known for his eccentricity and unique comments, so such a swipe at President Obama love of golf might have been deliberate. Whatever the case, its nice to see non-American leaders having a little fun at the president’s expense. 

 

See relevant transcript below.


ABC

This Week with George Stephanopoulos

January 19, 2014

10:09 a.m. Eastern

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Do you care to make a friendly bet with President Obama on which country’s going to win more medals, the U.S. Or Russia?

VLADIMIR PUTIN: No, of course not. We never make such bets. Barack is a huge sports fan and I can see it. He is in terrific shape and gives it enough of his attention. Not just to playing sports, but also to promoting sports. We wish success to our U.S. friends, U.S. athletes. As far as medals, those too are an important element of any sports even, including Olympics. What is even more important to me is to see that our national team is capable, effective and holds promise.