The majority of Americans support China's hosting of the Olympics, and it is a consensus across party and ideological lines, a new poll has found.

The survey, released by the Associated Press and survey agency Ipsos Wednesday, showed 55 percent of the respondents support the Beijing Olympics, while two-thirds of them said they are interested in it.

Between 51 and 45 percent want the U.S. team to capture as many medals as possible in Beijing, according to the survey.

It is also showed gymnastics remains the most popular Olympic sport event among Americans, followed by swimming and track and field.

The telephone poll of 1,001 U.S. adults was conducted over Aug. 7 to 11.

(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2008)