Nancy Pelosi, 83, shows Sunak how it’s done as he wimps out of baseball throw

07 June 2023 , 11:11

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Nancy Pelosi, 83, proved she was made of stronger stuff as she threw the opening ball at their game (Image: Getty Images)

Nancy Pelosi has shown Rishi Sunak how it’s done after he wimped out of throwing the first pitch at a baseball game.

The PM has turned down the invitation to perform the honour as the Washington Nationals take on the Arizona Diamondbucks on tonight.

But Mrs Pelosi, 83, proved she was made of stronger stuff as she threw the opening ball at their game yesterday evening.

The former speaker of the US House of Representatives was cheered as she lobbed the ball at Screech, the Nationals’ bald eagle mascot.

Mr Sunak is on a two-day visit to Washington DC that will include a meeting with Joe Biden at the White House.

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The former speaker of the US House of Representatives was cheered as she lobbed the ball (Getty Images)

He will be the guest of honour at the special baseball game to celebrate "UK-US friendship" this evening.

It will involve a military flyover, performances by the Royal Marine Corps of Drums and the Washington Tattoo, as well as the singing of “God Save the King” and the “'Star Spangled Banner”.

Special guests traditionally throw a ball to mark the start of the game.

But Mr Sunak will seek to avoid embarrassing himself in front of the 40,000-strong crowd by opting to shake hands with the players instead.

Stuart Taylor, a former Army serviceman who runs the Allied Forces Foundation, will throw the ball in his place.

Celebrities who have accepted the honour in the past include singer Mariah Carey - who managed to do it wearing 4in heels in Tokyo, Japan, in 2008.

Rishi Sunak is on a two-day visit to Washington DC that will include a meeting with Joe Biden at the White House (AP)

Mr Sunak will hold his fifth meeting with Mr Biden since he became PM at the White House tomorrow.

The pair are due to speak about issues including the war in Ukraine and how countries around the world respond to developments in Artificial Intelligence.

Later this afternoon the PM will go to Capitol Hill where he will hold talks with senior Republicans and Democrats.

US firms will announce £14billion worth of new investments in the UK as part of the trip.

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During the visit, Mr Sunak is staying at The President's Guest House, Blair House, which is located opposite the White House.

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John Stevens