Special report:   2008 Olympic Games 

    WASHINGTON, March 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush is not to cancel his attendance at the Beijing Olympics this summer, said the White House here on Thursday.

    "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 presidential spokeswoman Dana Perino, asked whether the president would rethink his plans to go to this summer's Olympics after the recent riot in Tibet.

    She added that Bush's position is "that this should be about the athletes and not necessarily about politics."

    Bush agreed to go to the Olympics during a meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao in Australia last September during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

    A month ago, Bush told the BBC in an interview that he would attend the Beijing Olympics as scheduled. "I'm going to the Olympics. I view the Olympics as a sporting event," he said.

Foreign nations voice support for China's handling of Lhasa riot

   BEIJING, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Foreign nations voiced their support for China's legitimate actions to handle the violence in Lhasa in recent days, expressing their opposition to the secessionist activities and the politicization of the Beijing Olympics. Full story

Pakistan, officials of some countries oppose politicization of Olympics

    BEIJING, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan Foreign Ministry and government officials from Belarus, Tunis and Ecuador have recently expressed their support for China in its effort to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity and their opposition to politicize the Beijing Olympics. Full story

More countries reject boycott of Beijing Olympics

    BEIJING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- More countries have made statements on the recent riots in Lhasa, capital city of China's Tibet autonomous region, voicing opposition to attempts to politicize the Beijing Olympic Games by making use of the Tibet issue. Full story

Singapore opposes calls to boycott Beijing Olympics

    SINGAPORE, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Singapore on Tuesday voiced its strong opposition to the calls to boycott the Beijing Olympic Games in August this year.

    "The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports opposes the call from some quarters to boycott the Beijing Olympic Games," said the ministry in a statement on Tuesday night. Full story