WASHINGTON -- President George W. Bush hosted some of the members of the U.S. Olympic team in a Rose Garden ceremony Monday, when he wished the team good luck before they head to Beijing for the games.

Among those in attendance were beach volleyball players Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh, who won gold at the 2004 Athens Games, and softball player Jennie Finch, who presented Bush with a Team USA jersey.

"America's Olympians have two very important things in common: God-given talent and appreciation for the hard work required to achieve true excellence," Bush said.

The president added: "Olympians don't rest on their laurels, they wear them."

The 2008 Olympics begin with the opening ceremony on Aug. 8 in Beijing. Bush plans to be there, despite critics who said his presence will signal acceptance of the Chinese government's human rights abuses.

Bush previously said bypassing the opening ceremony would be an insult to the Chinese people.

On Monday, the president expressed his excitement over attending the upcoming Olympics.

"I'm fired up to go," Bush said.

Bush also told the Olympians that they will represent the United States' character during the games. The president said they will be "humble in victory and gracious in defeat." He added, "by showing respect for your competitors, you will demonstrate America's respect for the world."

After the opening ceremony, the president is expected to stick around to cheer the Americans in some early basketball games and swimming events. In fact, at the recent G8 summit Bush jokingly asked Chinese President Hu Jintao to hook him up with tickets to the U.S.-China basketball game.