WASHINGTON — President Bush today lifted restrictions to allow firearms to be shipped to China for U.S. athletes competing in shooting events at the Olympic Games.

Bush also cleared the way for sending mobile high-definition television cameras embedded with military-grade gyroscopes to China for use by American filming crews.

Bush said the shipments will be approved on a case-by-case basis, and the equipment will be returned to the United States after the Games.

The restrictions are in place to bar the shipment of munitions and sensitive military equipment to China.