US Olympic athletes 'bummed' at ban on 'selfies with Obama'

Some of America's Olympic athletes have reportedly said that they were not permitted to click selfies with US President Barack Obama when they visited the White House.

Although the White House stated that it is a longstanding practice because taking individual photos with hundreds of people would not be practical, however, US baseball star David 'Big Papi' Ortiz took a selfie with Obama during his team Boston Red Sox's visit to the White House.

According to News24, Nick Goepper, a bronze medallist in slopestyle skiing, said that he was a little 'bummed' after he was told to keep his cellphone in his pocket as he tried to sneak a photo, adding that if they were allowed, there would have been 150 people with selfies with the president right now.

Aerials skier Emily Cook also agreed with Goepper's statement, although she added no one was barred from talking general pictures during the general visit to the White House.

The report mentioned that the Olympic athletes were visiting the White House after competing in Sochi, Russia, in the Winter Olympics February.

Although the White House confirmed that the athletes were asked not to take their own photos with Obama as it has been practice for years for an official photographer to take pictures for large groups instead, it however, insisted there was no outright prohibition of selfies.

Ortiz's selfie shows the sunglass-clad slugger grinning while standing next to the president and holding up a uniform with 'Obama' across the back, the report added.