CHINA: Chinese basketball superstar Yao Ming takes a break from training for upcoming world championships to support Special Olympics

China's 7 foot 6 inch pride and joy Yao Ming took a break from training to host a Special Olympics event in Beijing on Friday (July 21). The injured Houston Rockets center joined the China squad's training in the southeastern city of Guangzhou earlier in the month, raising hopes that he might be fit for this month's world championship in Japan. The 2.26 metres high Yao, who has been named the 2007 Special Olympics Games Ambassador and a Special Olympics International Global Ambassador, said stepping out to represent the Games did not conflict with training. "This is not a conflict in terms of time. We have been keeping in communication. Even if there are a few problems we can have that delt with through coordination. Being an ambassador for this kind of event does no harm to my injury. If you take a look at me do you think I look like someone with a foot injury?" said Yao Ming. Yao broke his left foot in NBA action in April and returned to China in June after surgery. China will warm up for Japan in a three-team tournament in Guangzhou, also featuring the United States and Brazil, on August 7 and 8. But at today's event the four-times NBA All Star seemed focused on the handful of athletes that joined him to rollout the Special Olympics' first public service announcements prior to the 2007 Summer Games in Shanghai. "As for paticipating in these kinds of social activities, I am obligated to contribute as much as I can as a member of society. This way people can understand society a little better, and learn things they should learn. We have always learned in school that it should be all for one and one for all. As for my foot injury, there is not too much to worry about. Everything has been going smoothly," said Yao. China will welcome around 10,000 people athletes with intellectual disabilities and coaches from around the world to compete in the 20 Special Olympics sports offered at the 2007 Games. Wang Dongshou - who received a T-shirt from Yao - is already a Special Olympics medalist, but he hopes to be part of the action come 2007. "Through taking part in the (Special Olympics) I want society to realise that we are no different than the rest of the people. As for my life, after I participated in the Special Olympics I managed to find a satisfying job for myself," said Wang Shoudong (pron: wahng shoh dohng). Wang won a gold medal in table tennis - boy's doubles - at the 2003 Dublin Special Olympics Summer Games, and now works at Starbucks. The nation has 13 million intellectually disabled people, according to Special Olympics China.

ITN Source | July 22, 2006

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