US President George W. Bush said yesterday he was looking forward to cheering on the athletes at the Olympic Games in Beijing. Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda also officially announced in the northern Japanese resort of Toyako Sunday that he would attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.

?Bush announced several days ago that he would go to the Olympics' opening ceremony.

Fukuda made the announcement at a joint news conference in the northern Japanese resort of Toyako with U.S. President George W. Bush.

Fukuda said that he kept his decision up to now because he had to work out his schedule since there would be an important domestic event the day after the opening ceremony. But now he found it possible to attend both events.

Bush also reiterated at the press conference that he would be present at the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony.

"I view the Olympics as an opportunity for me to cheer on the athletes," he said.

"Not going to the opening ceremony for the games would be an affront to the Chinese people," he said.

Fukuda and Bush are here to attend the three-day Group of Eight (G8) summit that will begin Monday. Before the press conference, the two leaders held bilateral talks that touched on a wide range of issues.

(Xinhua News Agency July 7, 2008)