Willem-Alexander and Máxima in Beijing

The Dutch Royal House said Thursday that Prince Willem-Alexander, a member of the International Olympic Committee, will attend the Beijing Games next month. The sports-loving prince will attend the 120th sitting of the IOC in Beijing from Aug. 5-7 and then will stay in the Chinese capital for the Olympics, the Royal House confirmed in a statement.

There was never any question about his attendance, but the Prince will briefly leave the games to deliver the opening speech at World Water Week in Sweden. Willem-Alexander is a regular visitor to the Olympics. At the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy, he sat with his wife Princess Máxima loudly cheering on Dutch speedskaters. Máxima will travel to Beijing as well.

A Dutch lawmaker earlier this year called on government leaders and heads of state to boycott the Olympics to protest China's human-rights record, but his call has largely been ignored. The Dutch government has long said it does not support such a boycott. © GPD; Photo: © GPD AP