President George W. Bush has welcomed the selection of Beijing as host of the 2008 Olympic Games.

He called the IOC's decision an opportunity for China to "show the world a modern face," in a White House statement released by spokesman, Ari Fleischer on Monday.

The statement warned that the US will continue to track China's human rights record in the build up to the Games and will speak out where necessary.

"The president is a sportsman and recognizes the right of athletes to compete in as nonpolitical environment as possible," Fleischer said.

He noted that Bush has already raised specific human rights cases with Chinese President, Jiang Zemin, in their conversations.