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Bush to attend Beijing Olympics

Washington: Asking China to use restraint in dealing with protesters, the U.S. on Friday indicated that President George W Bush’s plans to attend the Beijing Olympics would not be influenced by unrest in Tibet.

“The President’s position about the Olympics has been that this is not a political event but a chance for athletes to compete at the top of their class,” said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino. The spokeswaoman was reponding to a question on whether Mr. Bush would reconsider his plans to go to the Bejing Olympics.

“The President’s position is that this should be about the athletes and not necessarily about politics,” she added.

Ruling out boycott of the Beijing Olympics, Ms. Perino said a message had been sent to China on the need for restraint in Tibet.

“One of the things the President has said, also, in regards to this is that any country who’s going to be hosting the Olympics will have a bright light shined upon it and it is a chance for that country to put its best face forward,” she said.

The spokeswoman said the U.S. was “very concerned” about what’s happening in Tibet.

“The President, as head of state, has spoken very frankly to President Hu,” she added.

The same view was echoed by State department spokesman Sean McCormack.

“I would just reiterate what the President said about the Olympics: that we view this as a significant international sporting event. We’re going to treat it as such,” he said.

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