259
BEIJING — U.S. President George W. Bush flew in for China's Olympics party on Thursday fresh from criticising its rights record — but attention finally swung to sport with soccer powerhouses Brazil and Argentina off to good starts.
Mr. Bush touched down the day before Friday's opening ceremony after some of his bluntest comments yet about a nation many view as likely to rival his own for global hegemony this century.
China wants the 16-day Games to show its best face and paraded the Olympic torch at daybreak along a mist-shrouded Great Wall, surrounded by cheering masses, in a tradition dating back to the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
But to the annoyance of the Communist government, the Olympics have also galvanized its global critics, especially over Chinese rule in Tibet.
Videos
Beijing ready for its golden moment
China declared Thursday it was ready to stage one of the greatest Olympics ever, even as pollution concerns and human rights controversies hung over the event
Christian group protests in Beijing
Demonstrators from the U.S. were removed from Tiananmen Square, the second day running the same group had gathered there to criticize China's government
The Chinese government has spent $40 billion preparing for the Olympics
Pro-Tibet protests held across Canada
Demonstrators in Ottawa and Vancouver used petitions, chains and even a mock tank to protest Chinese human-rights abuses and the occupation of Tibet
Related Articles
Internet Links
Away from the politics, a Ronaldinho-led Brazil, who have never won Olympic gold in men's soccer despite five World Cup triumphs, beat Belgium 1-0.
Argentina kicked off against Ivory Coast, with Lionel Messi playing after a tug-of-war with Barcelona over his appearance. He celebrated by putting Argentina 1-0 up in the first half though Ivory Coast equalized in the second.
The soccer has started before Friday's official start of the Games in the Bird's Nest stadium that is the main venue. China's women's team also delighted the host nation with a win.
Across China, excitement has built as the tortuous and troubled torch relay draws to a close and the country's 1.3 billion people prepare for the Olympics' most expensive opening ceremony. All up, the Games have cost some $40 billion.
Officially-organized but wildly excited crowds cheered the torch through Beijing this week in images China hopes will erase memories of the Tibet protests on its international tour.
"There have been problems with the torch — but now is the time for the party!" said Weng Chengyu, a 28-year-old student as doves flew and confetti rained on the torch at the Great Wall.
Smog and sweltering heat remain a concern for athletes, though neither are unique to Beijing. Skies were hazy again on Thursday, but authorities, who spent $18 billion on cleanup moves, said air quality was fairly good.
August is thunderstorm season in Beijing, and organizers have talked of using experimental technology to "seed" rain clouds to ensure it stays dry for Friday's opening.
China's 7ft 6in basketball player Yao Ming will carry the host nation's flag at that ceremony. The two Koreas have failed to agree a joint march, as they did in 2000 and 2004.
Undeterred by a 100,000-strong security force in Beijing, small groups of protesters have popped up this week to demonstrate over Tibet, abortion and animal rights.
In the latest, plainclothes security officials dragged away three U.S. Christian activists on Thursday after they tried to protest for religious freedom in Tiananmen Square. And 40 competing athletes petitioned China for peace in Tibet.
Despite saying he was coming for sports not politics, Mr. Bush delivered a speech in Bangkok en route voicing "firm opposition" to China's detention of dissidents, human rights advocates and religious activists.
"The United States believes the people of China deserve the fundamental liberty that is the natural right of all human beings," said Bush, who will meet President Hu Jintao on Sunday.
Beijing defended its record, saying people enjoyed a range of freedoms. But it added a warning: "We resolutely oppose any words or actions which interfere in the internal affairs of another country in the name of issues such as human rights and religion."
Many Chinese have been offended by criticism of their nation ahead of the Games they view as a moment of national glory.
"Through the prism of the international media we are getting a pretty negative impression of China," said John Dewry, at the Asia Society in New York. "People who watch things closely in China will see the real story was the world being a bad guest."
Doping dominated the start of Athens 2004. But the International Olympic Committee said nobody was positive in 650 tests conducted so far on athletes reaching China.
