BRESSANONE, August 3, 2008 (AFP) - Pope Benedict XVI said Sunday he hoped athletes taking part in the Olympic Games in Beijing would do so 'in the true Olympic spirit'.

Addressing pilgrims gathered for the weekly Angelus prayer at his Alpine summer retreat in northern Italy, Benedict said he hoped the Games would demonstrate that sport would 'once again be a guarantee of fraternity and peace between different peoples'.

Seven top Russian woman athletes were temporarily suspended from the Games in a doping controversy last week, the latest in a series which has seen top athletes from several countries suspended.

'I am happy to send my most cordial greetings to the organising country and to the participants, primarily the athletes, with the wish that they can give the best of themselves, in the true Olympic spirit,' said Benedict.

'I sincerely hope that the Olympic Games will give the international community a beautiful example of cohabitiation between people from the most diverse origins, in respect for common dignity,' the pope said.

The Games, which start on Friday and run through until August 24, are being seen by many world leaders as an opportunity to pressure China into rights concessions, particularly with regard to Tibet.