China's Hu stresses Games hopes, worries over Yao's foot

BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese President Hu Jintao cheered on his nation's Olympics gymnasts and synchronized swimmers and worried over basketball star Yao Ming's foot in a visit highlighting the government's hunger for a successful Games.

Hu visited Chinese athletes training in the national capital with just over two weeks before the Olympics, and without mentioning medals, he made it clear that high hopes rest on them.

"I've come here today to cheer you on and give you a boost," Hu told synchronized swimmers, the People's Daily and other official papers reported on their front pages on Thursday.

"The Chinese synchronized swimming team will certainly perform outstandingly in the Beijing Olympic Games."

In the visit on Wednesday, Hu dropped in on the basketball team, whose 7-ft 6-in star Yao Ming is recovering from a fracture of his left foot that left fans worried he would not make the Games.

"The whole people of the country have been worried about your foot injury. How are you recovering?" Hu asked Yao.

Yao said, "It's recovering okay."

Beijing's preparations for the Games in August have been clouded by security jitters, lingering air pollution and tensions over potential protests. But Hu's heavily publicized visit underscored the government's hopes that a strong showing in the arena will bring a patriotic boost.

"All the country's people fervently look forward to a splendid and stirring Beijing Olympic Games," Hu told sports officials after his inspection visit. "They also fervently await the Chinese team achieving good results in these Games."

The state leader also visited volleyball, gymnastics and table tennis hopefuls, as well as cooks and doctors.

"We're determined to repay the motherland and the people with the best results," the captain of the national volleyball team, Feng Kun, told Hu.

Chinese sports officials have said they are determined doping will not blight next month's competition. A Chinese race walker, swimmer and wrestler have all been banned from competition after testing positive for banned substances this year.

Hu said his country's team should be "totally clean".

"As the host of these Olympic Games, we have a responsibility to lead by example in anti-doping," he said.

(Reporting by Chris Buckly; Editing by Valerie Lee)

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