Bush mixes sports, politics at Olympics
Monday, 11 August 2008
BEIJING, Aug 10 (AP): In an Olympic medley of sports and politics, President Bush on Sunday called for more religious freedom in China, sought an end to an escalating conflict between Russia and Georgia and cheered US athletes as they dribbled and swam for the gold.
He also praised Chinese leaders for their swift response to a stabbing attack that killed the father of a 2004 US Olympian. Authorities tightened already-stringent security throughout the Chinese capital, and President Hu Jintao told Bush of China's "profound sympathy" for the victim's family.
"Your government has been very attentive, very sympathetic, and I appreciate that a lot," Bush said.
Todd Bachman, the father of Olympic volleyball player Elisabeth "Wiz" Bachman, was killed Saturday and his wife Barbara was gravely injured as they toured Beijing's 13th-century Drum Tower. The Bachmans of Lakeville, Minn., are in-laws of U.S. men's volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon.
The assailant, identified as Tang Yongming, 47, jumped to his death. The motive for the attack, which also left a tour guide wounded, remained unclear, though officials doubt Tang knew the Bachmans.
The president's meetings with Hu and other Chinese officials at the Zhongnanhai government compound came as Bush monitored deadly clashes between Russia and the former Soviet republic of Georgia, a staunch U.S. ally that Bush wants to see join NATO. The conflict erupted Friday when Georgian troops moved to retake control of South Ossetia, a region bordering Russia that gained de facto independence in 1992.
Bush expressed concern that the attacks were occurring in regions of Georgia that were far from the zone of conflict in South Ossetia. A senior official in Washington said Russia's use of overwhelming military force against Georgia, including strategic bombers and ballistic missiles, was "disproportionate to whatever threat Russia had been citing." The Bush administration official briefed reporters Saturday on condition his name not be used because of the sensitive nature of the situation.
Despite his official duties, Bush has made clear his main role at the Olympics was as America's First Fan.
Sunday was a U.S. sports fan's dream.
Bush and first lady Laura Bush, their daughter, Barbara, and former President George H.W. Bush, cheered from the stands of the Water Cube Olympic swimming venue as American Michael Phelps claimed the first of an expected string of gold medals by smashing his own world record in the 400-meter individual medley.
"God, what a thrill to cheer for you!" Bush told Phelps afterward.
Phelps told reporters he looked up at Bush just moments after winning, and the president nodded.
"That was a pretty cool feeling," he said.
He also praised Chinese leaders for their swift response to a stabbing attack that killed the father of a 2004 US Olympian. Authorities tightened already-stringent security throughout the Chinese capital, and President Hu Jintao told Bush of China's "profound sympathy" for the victim's family.
"Your government has been very attentive, very sympathetic, and I appreciate that a lot," Bush said.
Todd Bachman, the father of Olympic volleyball player Elisabeth "Wiz" Bachman, was killed Saturday and his wife Barbara was gravely injured as they toured Beijing's 13th-century Drum Tower. The Bachmans of Lakeville, Minn., are in-laws of U.S. men's volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon.
The assailant, identified as Tang Yongming, 47, jumped to his death. The motive for the attack, which also left a tour guide wounded, remained unclear, though officials doubt Tang knew the Bachmans.
The president's meetings with Hu and other Chinese officials at the Zhongnanhai government compound came as Bush monitored deadly clashes between Russia and the former Soviet republic of Georgia, a staunch U.S. ally that Bush wants to see join NATO. The conflict erupted Friday when Georgian troops moved to retake control of South Ossetia, a region bordering Russia that gained de facto independence in 1992.
Bush expressed concern that the attacks were occurring in regions of Georgia that were far from the zone of conflict in South Ossetia. A senior official in Washington said Russia's use of overwhelming military force against Georgia, including strategic bombers and ballistic missiles, was "disproportionate to whatever threat Russia had been citing." The Bush administration official briefed reporters Saturday on condition his name not be used because of the sensitive nature of the situation.
Despite his official duties, Bush has made clear his main role at the Olympics was as America's First Fan.
Sunday was a U.S. sports fan's dream.
Bush and first lady Laura Bush, their daughter, Barbara, and former President George H.W. Bush, cheered from the stands of the Water Cube Olympic swimming venue as American Michael Phelps claimed the first of an expected string of gold medals by smashing his own world record in the 400-meter individual medley.
"God, what a thrill to cheer for you!" Bush told Phelps afterward.
Phelps told reporters he looked up at Bush just moments after winning, and the president nodded.
"That was a pretty cool feeling," he said.