Basketball carnival to support Yao Foundation charity game

NBA China announced it will host the inaugural NBA Cares - Yao Foundation Charity Carnival for fans on July 1 in support of the Yao Foundation Charity Game.

The carnival, which will be held in the outdoor square at the MasterCard Center in Beijing before the game, is designed to thank fans for their support and demonstrate the NBA's passion for giving back to communities in China and around the world.

The carnival will be open to the public from 4 pm to 8 pm to provide fans with the opportunity to play basketball before the tip-off of the Charity Game at 7:30pm inside MasterCard Center.

The carnival is a basketball, fitness and entertainment event where fans will have the opportunity to shoot, slam, dribble and drive on the full size court and participate in Measure Up activities including Tall and Short, Arm Span and Get-a-Grip.

During the carnival, NBA China will also host an NBA FIT basketball clinic for 80 students from the Huangzhuang Migrant School. Coaches will teach students basketball skills and lead them through a series of exercise routines while emphasizing the importance of living an active and healthy lifestyle.

"This carnival is a great way to say thank you to the fans that are joining this celebration of the game and supporting these important charitable efforts," said NBA China CEO David Shoemaker.

"Our partnership with Yao Ming demonstrates our shared commitment to youth development and giving back to society through basketball."

Seven NBA players; Tracy McGrady of the San Antonio Spurs, Chris Singleton of the Washington Wizards, George Hill of the Indiana Pacers, Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors, Luis Scola of the Phoenix Suns, Metta World Peace of the Los Angeles Lakers and Joakim Noah of the Chicago Bulls will participate in the Yao Foundation Charity Game against the national team.

In 2012, NBA China and Yao Ming announced a broad and comprehensive partnership to further participation and youth basketball development in China. Through this partnership, NBA China and Yao will collaborate on basketball and social development programs for Chinese youth.

Supported by NBA Cares, the Yao Foundation launched the inaugural Hope School Basketball Season in 2012 in 47 Hope Schools around China, providing underprivileged children with the chance to experience the joy of basketball and the values of sportsmanship. In 2013, the Yao Foundation Hope School Basketball Season expanded to 70 Hopes Schools with the participation of more than 40,000 children.

The partnership with Yao complements the NBA's rich history and long-term commitment to basketball development in China. The NBA first hosted the Chinese national team in 1985 and is currently in the fourth year of a joint coaching program with the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) which has trained more than 580 coaches. In September 2011, the CBA Dongguan Basketball School – an NBA Training Center was launched for elite players ages 12-17. Since then, the school has trained over 1,000 youth players and coaches.