Barack Obama is sending Russia a clear message about its treatment of gays and lesbians with his choices to represent the United States as delegates at the Winter Olympics in Sochi.

The tennis great Billie Jean King will be one of two openly gay athletes in the US delegation for the opening and closing ceremonies. For the first time since 2000 the US will not send a president, former president, first lady or vice-president to the games.

Russia has come under fierce criticism for passing national laws banning "gay propaganda". Though the White House did not specifically address the Russian laws in making its announcement on Tuesday, spokesman Shin Inouye said the delegation "represents the diversity that is the United States" and that Obama "knows they will showcase to the world the best of America diversity, determination and teamwork".

The White House said Obama's schedule would not permit him to attend the games.

"It's a positive sign to see openly gay representatives in the delegation," said Michael Cole-Schwartz, spokesman for the Human Rights Campaign, a gay advocacy group that recently sent a letter urging Obama to include gays and lesbians in the delegation. "Hopefully it sends a message to the Russian people and the rest of the world that the United States values the civil and human rights of LGBT people."

King said she was "deeply honoured" to be named to the delegation.

"I am equally proud to stand with the members of the LGBT community in support of all athletes who will be competing in Sochi and I hope these Olympic Games will indeed be a watershed moment for the universal acceptance of all people," said King, who will attend the opening ceremony.

Caitlin Cahow, a hockey player, is the other openly gay representative to the delegation. She will attend the closing ceremony.

The US Olympic Committee made no comment about the sexual orientation of the delegation. In a nod to its disapproval of the law, however, Usoc recently revised its non-discrimination policy to include sexual orientation.

France and Germany are among the other countries who will not send their presidents to Sochi for the Games.

Earlier this year Obama rejected the idea of a US boycott of the Olympics despite a number of differences with Russia, including the anti-gay law.

This move sends a strong signal: in 2010 Joe Biden led the delegation as vice-president, and in 2012 Michelle Obama carried out the role as first lady.

This year's group is led by the former homeland security secretary Janet Napolitano. Others include Michael McFaul, the US ambassador to Russia; figure skater Brian Boitano; and presidential adviser Rob Nabors.

King is a 39-time grand slam title winner across singles, doubles and mixed, a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and one of the most prominent advocates of equality for women in sports and society over the past several decades.

She will attend the Olympics in a country that is creating tension for several key players because of the laws, including the International Olympic Committee, which awarded the Games to Russia.

Earlier this month the IOC president, Thomas Bach, said Russia would set up public protest zones in Sochi for "people who want to express their opinion or want to demonstrate for or against something".

Meanwhile the IOC approved a letter going out to athletes reminding them to refrain from protests or political gestures during the Sochi games, reiterating Rule 50 of the Olympic charter, which forbids demonstrations on Olympic grounds.

Bach had previously spoken of assurances from Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, that gays would not be discriminated against in Sochi. But the Russian law has raised questions about what could happen to athletes who wear pins or badges or carry flags supporting gay rights.

Earlier this fall the skier Bode Miller was one of the few American athletes to speak out against the Russian law, calling it "absolutely embarrassing".