Cui Dalin, the Deputy Director of the General Administration of Sport, made the announcement to journalists at a press conference in the Main Press Center today.

Cui said the Chinese delegation was very careful with its choice since a flag bearer should symbolize China's sporting spirit. So only those with a high sporting caliber, excellent ethics and a positive public image were considered.

Yao, who plays center for China's national basketball team and the NBA's Houston Rockets, donated a large amount of money to the victims of the Sichuan earthquake, thus making him the perfect flag bearer.

By The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad