They claim this is the first time a US President has attended the Olympics (when not hosted by the US). I find that hard to believe. Is that 100% true, or just in a Communist country?
It’s true. Why wouldn’t you believe it?
If it is for security reasons, that’s one thing. But, I hope it is not because the US Presidents simply couldn’t care less about attending an event that attempts to unite the world in a peaceful activity.
As a general rule, US Presidents do not globe trot on a regular basis for the purpose of attending things like sporting events, etc. Usually, we send someone from the administration, if we send anyone at all.
President Bush is attending this Olympics because he wishes to underline the importance of China to the United States, even though we are critical of many of their internal and foreign policies. It’s not quite so important to underline the importance of a country like, say, Australia to the US.
It’s because high-value targets at mass events are sitting ducks regardless of what the Secret Service has to say about it, especially if the Secret Service has to coördinate its efforts with a multinational force composed partially of countries we’re only officially semi-friendly with. This year, China’s growing importance as a world power seems to trump that.
Imagine the Munich Massacre if a sitting President were even theoretically available to be kidnapped. The Secret Service can only handle so many strokes a year.
Also, because both the Olympics and Presidential elections are in the same 4 year cycle, there are usually a lot of other more important domestic polictal responsibilities going on near the Olympics.
Bush is a sports nut, and this is his chance to be feted at the Olympics as head of State.
And this isn’t true of every country?
So nothing to do with the olympic ideal then about sport transcending petty political differences and bringing the nations together?
Ironically, in attempting to show that political differences can be put aside by attending the Beijing olympics, Bush is putting the political differences to the fore by only attending the Beijing olympics.
He’s proving the exact opposite of what he’s setting out to prove.
:rolleyes:
The PM of Australia is there too. What’s his reason for attending? And all the other heads of state that were at the games? Reading back at previous posts, I can only imagine what a security logistical undertaking that must have been. That many heads of state or higher ups together in one place would be a Cobra Commander’s dream.
Yeah, :rolleyes:
Hanging out with all of the other heads of government.
Rubbing shoulders with the Australian team and hoping that some of the glory (should they do anything spectacular) rubs off on him.
Showing off his linguistic skills - he speaks Mandarin.
Any or all of the above I’d say.
:dubious:
That used to be the VP’s job, back when the job function was joked about as being “attending foreign funerals”.
Anybody know if he talked with Putin about the Georgia attacks while seated next to each other for the opening ceremonies?
I know he is reported to have discussed the situation with the Prime Minister while Putin was still in Beijing (Putin left yesterday to head to Vladikavkaz, the capital of North ). Whether that came at the opening ceremony or not, I don’t know. I did not see that he was next to the Premier, but I wasn’t looking carefully.
ETA: Actually, he sat in an aisle seat with Laura next to him, so he himself did not sit next to anyone other than his wife. That may have been intentional. 
Oh, for the good old days! 
Bob Costas had an interview with the president earlier this evening. Among other things, Bush said that he spoke to Putin in person at the Olympics and he spoke to Medvedev on the phone about the situation in South Ossetia.