(CNN) – Tennis great Billie Jean King will not attend the Winter Olympic Games.
King released a statement saying that her mother is seriously ill and she needs to be with her family at this time.
President Obama appointed King as a member of the official U.S. presidential delegation for the opening ceremonies at the 2014 games.
The White House says Caitlin Cohow, who was named as a member of the delegation in the closing ceremonies, will take King's place.
Neither President Obama nor any other high level U.S. officials will be attending the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.
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