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Basketball star Ming to carry flag for China

07/08/2008

Houston Rockets star Yao Ming has been given the honour of carrying the flag for Olympic hosts China at the opening ceremony tomorrow.

The 7feet 6inch Ming, who is the tallest player in the NBA, carried the Chinese flag at the last Olympic games at Athens, where he led the team to eighth position in basketball.

The criteria ... is that the bearer should be a skilled sportsman, with excellent sporting ethics and a positive public image,'' said Cui Dalin, the deputy chief of China's Olympic team.

"There are many in the Chinese delegation who fill the bill. What to do? After careful consideration, the delegation decided that the flag bearer for the Chinese delegation should be Yao Ming.''

Ming started his career in his homeland in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), before moving to the NBA in 2002 to join the Rockets.

The 27-year-old has been a huge success in the NBA and has been named in the All NBA Team three times.

Meanwhile, world number one tennis player Roger Federer will emulate Ming and carry the flag of his country Switzerland for a second time.

Federer described the responsibility as "one of the great moments in my career" and will carry the flag on his 27th birthday.