Bush meets US athletes bound for Beijing


US President George W. Bush (R) returns a salute from the Paralympic athlete Scott Winkler during a ceremony where Bush honoured US athletes bound for Beijing in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, July 21, 2008. [Agencies] 

Speaking to dozens of the members of the US Olympic team in the Rose Garden, the president said he hopes they will represent the "American character" to the world, being "humble in victory and gracious in defeat."

"By showing respect for your competitors, you will demonstrate America's respect for the world, " he said.

Bush also said he is very excited about attending the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics and he is "fired up and ready to go," apparently borrowing a famous phrase from US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama.

The US Olympians presented the president a US Olympic team jersey printed with "Bush 08", which Bush gladly accepted.

The president, a sports fan himself, jokingly said that if the US Olympic team doesn't think he's too old, maybe he can compete in the Olympic bicycle games.

Bush will attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics on August 8 and will probably watch some early basketball games and swimming events.