Intro:

The NFL's New England Patriots visited American president Barack Obama at the White House on Thursday (23rd April) in a celebration of their 28-24 win over the Seattle Seahawks in this year's Super Bowl.

Script:

SOUNDBITE: (English) Barack Obama, US President:

"I usually tell a bunch of jokes at these events, but with the Patriots in town, I was worried that 11 out of 12 of them would fall flat. All right, all right, all right. That whole story got blown a little out of proportion. All right. All right. All right."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Barack Obama, US President:

"But that's the story of the Patriots over this past 15 years. There's (Bill) Belichick and (Tom) Brady - the most successful player-coach tandem perhaps in NFL history. There's "the Patriot Way" - a group that values teamwork and hard work above all else, which is why these guys are able to shine even if the spotlight is not on them. And it works. Since the 2001 season, they have four championships - more than any other franchise in that span. Six Super Bowl appearances - more than any other franchise. Twelve division titles - you get the picture. In a league that's known for its parity, they have set a standard for excellence that we may not see again for a very long time."