Bush and Sarkozy to Attend Olympics Opening Ceremony

China's Olympics organizers received a political fillip today when the US president, George Bush, accepted an invitation to attend the opening ceremony despite calls from human rights groups for a boycott.

The French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, who had indicated he would shun the games, is also likely to attend, according to French media.

The two leaders were under pressure not to attend the games after the violent unrest in Tibet this year drew attention to Beijing's poor human rights record.

The White House said Bush's attendance at the ceremony was not a political statement.

"He believes he's going to China to support first and foremost our athletes. He sees this as a sporting competition," said spokeswoman Dana Perino.

But the sensitivity of the issue was apparent in the timing of the announcement on the eve of a three-day holiday, when media attention was focused elsewhere.

The two candidates to replace Bush - Barack Obama and John McCain - have called on the president to boycott the event if there is no improvement in China's human rights record.

Save Darfur, an NGO aimed at pressing China to intervene in the conflict in Sudan, said the president's decision was "disappointing".

But President Bush is keeping a promise made last year at a summit with the Chinese president, Hu Jintao.

According to French media, Sarkozy has now confirmed he will attend the event at the "bird's nest" stadium in Beijing. The president's office said it would make an announcement next week.

Gordon Brown has said he will not attend the opening ceremony, but he will be in Beijing for the handover of the Olympic torch to London.