President Bush has been urged by the Speaker of the House of Representatives to boycott the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games because of the way that China has handled the political unrest in Tibet.

Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, said that she was not calling for a US boycott of the Games themselves, just the opening ceremony on August 8. Mr Bush has already said that he would attend the Olympics and raise his concerns about China's human rights record in private talks with President Hu Jintao.

“I think boycotting the opening ceremony, which really gives respect to the Chinese Government, is something that should be kept on the table,” Ms Pelosi said in an interview with ABC’s Good Morning America. “I think the President might want to rethink this later, depending on what other heads of state do.”

China’s crackdown last month on anti-government protests in Tibet, which it says were orchestrated by the Dalai Lama, has drawn sharp international criticism and clouded preparations for the Beijing Olympics.

Chancellor Merkel of Germany has said that she will not attend the opening ceremony and President Sarkozy of France has left open the possibility that he might not attend.

Asked about Ms Pelosi’s suggestion, a White House spokeswoman said that Mr Bush viewed the Olympics as a sporting event and an important opportunity to support US athletes. “He has also made it very clear that the Olympics will shine a bright light on China regarding a variety of issues," she said. "These Games will provide China with an opportunity to put its best face forward."

In Beijing, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said that countries that boycotted the opening ceremony would only undermine their own interests. “The Olympics is a sporting event for people around the world. Not attending does not mean isolating China. Officials and heads of state who come to China are participating in a gathering of the Olympic family and show support for their own athletes,” spokeswoman Jiang Yu said.

“If someone wants to use the Olympic Games to flatter themselves it will not succeed. If they don’t participate, it is the same as leaving the Olympic family. It will undermine their own interests,” she said.

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