    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
    [July 21, 2008]
    [Pages 1042-1043]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Dinner Honoring Current and Former United States Olympic
    Athletes
    July 21, 2008

        Ladies and gentlemen, Laura and I are
    thrilled to have you here. Welcome to the East Room of the White House.
    Chairman Ueberroth; Mr. Secretary--the--
    Veterans Affairs Secretary Peake; Members of
    the Congress; members of the 2008 United States Olympic and Paralympic
    teams; Mayor of Chicago, who will be
    hosting the 2016 Olympics; Ambassadors; supporters of the Olympics;
    distinguished guests: We're really glad you're here.
        I also do want to recognize Seldom Scene. They're the bluegrass band
    that will be playing after dinner in the Rose Garden.
        In a few weeks, the athletes here and others will participate in one
    of the greatest traditions in the world of sports. You're going to
    travel halfway around the globe, you'll step onto the field of
    competition, and you will represent the United States of America at the
    2008 Olympics. And we're really excited. And not only we're excited, but
    people who have worn the USA uniform before are excited with you. And we
    welcome all the previous Olympians who are with us today, and I want to
    thank you for coming.
        And you're not going to be alone in Beijing because you're going to
    be accompanied by the hopes and pride of millions of Americans. There's
    going to be a lot of folks in Beijing to watch you, including
    Laura and me. And I cannot wait to cheer you on.
    All the room have devoted years to training and preparation. You've
    developed the self-discipline that defines a champion. And you've proven
    yourself worthy of representing the Nation.
        The tradition you're carrying on is long and it is noble. It turns
    out, when the first American Olympians traveled to the 1896 Games in
    Athens, Grover Cleveland lived here in the House. The Oval Office had
    yet to be built. In those 112 years that have passed, we have been
    reminded time and again that the Olympics are not just a chance to
    celebrate our greatest athletes, they're an opportunity to demonstrate
    the strength of the human spirit.
        We were reminded of this truth in 1936, when Jesse Owens won four
    Gold Medals at the Berlin Olympics. We're reminded of the truth in 1972,
    when 80,000 spectators filled Munich's Olympic Stadium to honor 11
    Israeli athletes and coaches killed by a cowardly act of terrorism. And
    we were reminded of this truth in 2002, when a tattered American flag
    recovered from the ruins of the World Trade Center entered the Olympic
    Stadium in Salt Lake City and displayed to the world the resolve and
    resilience of our country.

    [[Page 1043]]

        Those of you who will be competing in this year's games in Beijing
    are continuing a proud tradition of athletic excellence and a proud
    tradition of representing our country with honor and dignity.
        We wish you luck. We wish you endurance. And we wish you victory.
    And now--[applause]. And before I ask Peter Ueberroth to join us, I would like to propose a toast to the Olympic
    athletes, past and present, and to the United States of America.

    Note: The President spoke at 7:31 p.m. in the East Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Peter V. Ueberroth, chairman, U.S.
    Olympic Committee; and Mayor Richard M. Daley of Chicago, IL.