PARIS - Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government, a frequent critic of China's human rights record, confirmed Wednesday it will send a representative to the opening of the Olympic Games in Beijing.

But the Tory government is still undecided over exactly whom to send with less than a month to go before the elaborate ceremonies to kick off the Games on Aug. 8.

"The Government of Canada is planning to have government representation at the Beijing Games," Canadian Heritage department spokeswoman Josianne Jalbert stated in an e-mail response Wednesday to a request made last Thursday. "The final composition of our delegation is still being determined."

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who holds the six-month presidency of the European Union, confirmed Wednesday he will attend after musing for weeks he may boycott as a result of China's crackdown in Tibet.

France had been a particular target of Chinese nationalist fury because of perceived slights, such as Sarkozy's criticisms and the violent protests in Paris streets that greeted Olympic torch-carriers in April.

U.S. President George W. Bush, saying he didn't want to mix sports and politics, announced last week he will attend.

Former Alberta MP David Kilgour, a harsh critic of China's rights record and in particular the government crackdown on Falung Gong practioners, criticized Ottawa for not taking a stronger stand.

"I think no human dignity-respecting government should send anyone to the opening ceremony," Kilgour told Canwest News Service in an e-mail. "That would at least make a small gesture without penalizing the athletes, as a full boycott would do."

Sarkozy met Chinese President Hu Jintao at the G8 summit in Japan on Wednesday and told him of his decision, ending weeks of uncertainty over his presence at the Games.

"The president of the republic has confirmed to the Chinese president his intention of traveling to Beijing on Aug. 8 to take part in the opening ceremony of the 29th Olympic Games," the French presidency's office said in a statement.

As well as France, Sarkozy would represent the EU because France holds the rotating presidency of the 27-nation bloc, the presidential office's statement said.

However, opponents in France accused Sarkozy of putting commercial ties before human rights.

"I have a different view of what a head of state should be. He is not a door-to-door salesman," said Robert Menard, head of Reporters without Borders, who warned his organization would protest in Beijing on Aug 8.

Sarkozy had said his presence at the Olympics depended on China's willingness to talk to the Dalai Lama, comments that irritated China, which considers Tibet an internal affair. Two meetings between envoys of the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader and the Chinese government have taken place, and another one is scheduled for October, a French official said.

Sarkozy has agreed with Hu not to make a public statement regarding Tibet before the October meeting, the official said.

"We are in a phase of discreet dialogue on this topic between the president of the republic and the Chinese president, and we are in agreement that nothing will be said about this."

China's crackdown on Tibetans after deadly riots in March sparked worldwide protests over Beijing's policies.

Some Beijing residents reacted cooly to the news Sarkozy would be coming.

"Chinese people should show him the same respect and give the same warm welcome they would to other leaders," said consultant Dai Feng, 23. "But we should not forget about the humiliations that he has put on us."

With files from Reuters

© Canwest News Service 2008