    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
    [August 8, 2008]
    [Pages 1128-1129]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks to the 2008 United States Summer Olympic Team in Beijing
    August 8, 2008

        Congratulations for representing the finest nation on the face of
    the Earth. The honorary captain and I are
    proud to be with you. We're here to wish you all the very best.
        First, I want to say thanks to the U.S. Olympic Committee, chaired
    by Peter Ueberroth, CEO Jim
    Scherr, Judge Charles Lee. I wasn't exactly sure what to say to you, except to start
    with, God, I love our country, and I love what we stand for, and I love
    being with you.
        Laura and I and a lot of our family are here
    to cheer you on. We're just a handful of a lot of folks who care about
    you a lot. There are going to be a lot of people pulling for you. We
    want you to win as many golds as you possibly can.
        We appreciate all the hard work you've put in to get to this spot.
    It's got to be really exciting, thinking about marching in that stadium
    and representing our country. So I guess all I've got to say is, go for
    it, give it all you've got, and may God bless you.

    [[Page 1129]]

    Note: The President spoke at 6:44 p.m. in the Fencing Hall. In his
    remarks, he referred to former President George H.W. Bush, honorary
    captain, and Charles Lee, chef de mission, 2008 U.S. summer Olympic
    team. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language
    transcript of these remarks.