White House Leaves Open Possible Bush Absence at Olympic Opening Ceremony

WASHINGTON — The White House, offering somewhat mixed signals on Tuesday, left open the possibility that President Bush could skip the opening ceremony when he goes to China in August for the Summer Olympics.

Spokeswoman Dana Perino said Bush still plans to attend the games but noted that no schedule has been set on exactly what events would be on his itinerary.

"The president can always make a change," she said. "But the president has been clear that this is a sporting event for the athletes, and that pressuring China before, during and after the Olympics is the best way for us to try to help people across the board in China, not just Tibetans."

Bush is being pressured to skip the opening ceremony as a way to protest China's crackdown on Tibetan protesters and what is viewed by some as China's refusal to use its influence to help quell violence in Sudan.

Sen. Hillary Clinton on Monday called on Bush to skip the ceremony because of the developments in Tibet and "the failure of the Chinese government to use its full leverage with Sudan to stop the genocide in Darfur."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she will go to the games but not the opening ceremony. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has not ruled out skipping the ceremony.

Attendance at the opening ceremony – often a signature event at an Olympics – could be interpreted as support for Chinese officials organizing the games. Skipping the ceremony in favor of attending competitions could be viewed as support for U.S. athletes, and not the Chinese officials running the games.

Perino said Tuesday Bush's "position on this has been very clear."

"The key part of what the president can do as the president of the United States is before, during and after the Olympics, push very hard for increased human rights, press freedoms, and political freedom in China," she said.

But asked specifically if her comments means Bush might skip the opening ceremony, Perino said, "I wouldn't put it that way, no."

She declined, however, to offer more detail.

At a February news conference, Bush said, "I'm going to the Olympics because it's a sporting event, and I'm looking forward to seeing the athletic competition."

"But that will not preclude me from meeting with the Chinese president, expressing my deep concerns about a variety of issues, just like I do every time I meet with the president," Bush said.