President Obama welcomes U.S. Olympians and Paralympians to the White House.

President Obama shakes hands with a Paralympic athlete during a ceremony at the White House September 14 to welcome the 2012 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams.

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams paint “a portrait of what this country is all about — people from every walk of life, every background, every race, every faith,” Obama told the athletes. "It sends a message to the world about what makes America special.”