Bush Has Olympic Hopes

President Bush said Monday that he is “fired up” for the coming Olympics in China, and hopes that the U.S. mountain biking team needs some help.

During a speech at the White House to members of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams, Bush said, “Some of you are young — the youngest teammate is a 15-year-old diver — and some of you are older. There’s a 58-year-old sailor, which gives this 62-year-old mountain biker hope that you may need me in Beijing.”

Bush has repeatedly expressed a great deal of excitement for the games, including an attempt at scoring tickets for the U.S.-China men’s basketball game from Chinese President Hu Jintao.

“I’m really looking forward to watching the American Olympic team compete, particularly with the mighty Chinese team. And I’m hoping to get tickets for the U.S.-Chinese basketball game. If you could help me get a ticket, I’d appreciate it,” Bush said at a press conference with the Chinese leader at the G8 conference in Tokyo.

– Beth Sussman