Like millions of sports fans immersed in the Beijing Olympics, U.S. President George W. Bush hopped from one sport to another, cheering his athletes on.
Bush, who stayed in the host city of the Games from last Thursday to Monday, became the first incumbent U.S. president to attend an Olympics on foreign soil.
Avid cheerleader
As president, Bush's schedules are always filled with politics. But during the Olympics, it was not the case.
"I'm looking forward to cheering our athletes on," Bush said hours after his arrival. "I'm not making any predictions about medal counts, but I can tell you that the U.S. athletes are ready to come and compete in the spirit of friendship."
At the opening ceremony Friday evening, when the U.S. delegation was marching in the Bird's Nest, the National Stadium, Bush looked so excited that he stood up and clapped hands.
The next day, the sixty-two-year-old president went to various practice courts ranging from beach volleyball to softball, offering encouragement to U.S. players.
But the real excitement came when Bush on Sunday joined thousands of cheering spectators in the Water Cube, the cube-shaped 17,000-seat facility, to watch U.S. swimming sensation Michael Phelps demolish his own world record.
Bush also made his presence at a late night match between Yao Ming-led China and the NBA-laden Team USA in men's basketball. Bush and his father, former President George H. W. Bush, huddled with the U.S. team before the game to wish them luck.
"I was impressed by them. And of course they go out and put on a great performance," Bush said later, referring to US' 101-70 win over China.
"Chinese are great hosts"
Outside the sports venues, the world was also watching with great interest Bush's meetings with leaders at the Olympics, particularly the one with Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao.
Treated to a lunch banquet, Bush talked for hours with Hu in central government compound of Zhongnanhai in downtown Beijing.
As usual, the two leaders discussed about bilateral relations and other major international issues such as the Korean Peninsula and Iran nuclear standoff. But the ongoing Games and the athletes' performance were featured prominently in their talks.
Bush hailed the Games' opening "spectacular and successful" while the Chinese president congratulated Bush on the just-won victory of Michael Phelps, described the swimmer "an excellent athlete."
The amicable meeting was not dampened by the unexpected tragedy on Saturday when one American citizen was stabbed to death in Beijing, as Hu expressed "heartfelt sympathy" to Bush and the victims' family and pledged serious investigation. Bush thanked China for its quick response.
"I think the Chinese are being great hosts. The venues are fantastic. And our team is fired up - and so am I. I'm excited to be here. It's such a thrill to watch our men and women compete," Bush said before heading back to Washingtong D.C. on Monday afternoon.
Memories for family
For Bush and his family, the Beijing visit was also a good time to revive old memories.
Thirty-three years ago, when Bush rode a bicycle around Beijing during his father's term as chief of the U.S. liaison office in the city, neither of them expected they would together dedicate their country's new embassy here.
"This has got to be a historic moment. Father and son. Two presidents are opening up an embassy," the younger Bush said at the dedication ceremony of the new U.S. Embassy in Beijing that started at 8:08 a.m. Friday.
Sitting next to him was his 84-year-old father the older Bush who served as U.S. president from 1989 to 1993.
Saying this was his 19th or 20th visit to China since leaving the White House, the older Bush reminisced about his days in the Chinese capital. "In the 34 years since I first came to China, change has been one of the constants.
"The bicycles that used to dominate the roads now give way to more cars. When you come to the magnificent Bird's Nest and other architectural features that dominate the landscape, there can be no question that China has achieved something truly special and readied itself to host the Games," the former president said.
Following his father's suit, the younger Bush also recalled his earlier visit.
"In 2005, I had the opportunity to break in the mountain biking course. I am so proud of my efforts," Bush said.
He joked that he even thought of entering the competition himself. But his wife Laura reminded him "they don't give any medals for last place."
Bush relived his precious moments.
Dressed in a green T-shirt and black short, Bush started his Saturday by biking more than an hour on the Laoshan Olympic mountain-biking course, the same one as in 2005.
"I can remember riding my bike around Beijing in 1975, and it is unbelievable how much this has changed," Bush said.
(Xinhua News Agency August 11, 2008)