White House: Bush still will go to Games

WASHINGTON, April 11 (UPI) -- Presidential candidates may say they'd boycott the Beijing Summer Olympics, but U.S. President Bush hasn't changed his plans, the White House said Friday.

"The president's position on the Olympics has not changed," White House spokesman Scott Stanzel told reporters. "He plans to go to the Olympics to support American athletes who are there competing."

Several world leaders said they will boycott the opening ceremonies to protest China's human rights record and its crackdown in Tibet.

When asked about Bush attending the opening ceremony, Stanzel said, "We haven't ... made any announcements about the president's specific schedule."

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said he would not attend the Olympics unless China's position regarding Tibet and the Dalai Lama changed. Democratic presidential contenders Sens. Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois urged Bush to boycott the opening ceremonies.

Stanzel said he didn't know whether Bush and Pope Benedict XVI, who will be in Washington next week, would issue a joint statement concerning Tibet or China.

The Dalai Lama will be in Seattle while the pope is in Washington.