Basketball Star Yao Ming Is UNEP's First Environmental Champion

"I am delighted and greatly honored to accept the UN Environment Programme's offer to become their first ever Environmental Champion," said Yao.

"In my role as Environmental Champion, I will work with governments, the private sector and the public to promote good and effective management of our environment so we can preserve the planet for future generations," he said.

Yao Ming and Lin Hao lead the Chinese Olympic athletes through the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games. August 8, 2008 (Photo by Liu Dawei courtesy Xinhua)

Standing 7'6" (2.29m) tall, Yao is the tallest player in the NBA. He is a national icon in China and carried the Olympic Flame into Tiananmen Square on August 6, as well as being his country's flag-bearer at the opening ceremony.

"I welcome Yao Ming to our team," said UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner, who is in Beijing for the Olympic Games. "As one of the most high profile athletes in these Games and with a fan base of millions across the world, I am sure he can help us raise public awareness on the environment and climate change issues."

Yao said he will work with young people around the world and try to inspire them to plant trees, use energy efficient light bulbs, harvest rainwater and to become environmental champions in their own communities.

The affection the Yao has for young people was evident at the opening ceremony last night as he led the Chinese athletes around the National Stadium together with nine-year-old Lin Hao, a pupil from the area of China's Sichuan province hit by an earthquake who helped to rescue his classmates from the rubble of their school.

After the Sichuan earthquake, Yao donated $2 million dollars to relief work, and created a foundation to help rebuild schools destroyed in the quake.

"As a sportsman," Yao said, "I believe sport has a major role to play in promoting environmental issues."

"As the world celebrates the Beijing Olympic Games, I would also like to call upon the organizers of all major sports events in the world to make sure they use public transport facilities, build proper waste management systems and use greener forms of energy," he said.

"I sincerely believe small actions done by many over a long period of time can really bring about positive change. By doing a little now we can avoid doing a lot later," said Yao. "Please join me in this global team effort."

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2008. All rights reserved.