China's Olympic hopes turn on Yao's injury
BEIJING, China -- Yao Ming's season-ending injury prompted shock and concern in his native China on Wednesday, though hopes were high he would still make August's Beijing Olympics.
Yao Ming speaks to reporters Tuesday after it was announced he would miss the rest of the NBA season.
The emotional response highlights the NBA star's role as the world's best known Chinese athlete and far and away the most popular sports figure in China.
For many Chinese, Yao embodies the country's collective hopes for global competitiveness and international acceptance. While China is not considered a leading Olympic medal contender in basketball, the 2008 Olympic hosts see Yao as one of the faces of the games and are counting on him to lift the event's global profile.
"The only thing offering Yao Ming any solace at this time is that his injury will not force him to miss the Beijing Olympics of his dreams," leading newspaper Titan Sports said in a front page article.
China's Basketball Association called a snap news conference Wednesday afternoon to discuss Yao's condition, portraying the development almost as an issue of national security.
"This is highly sensitive, so don't send any foreigners" to attend the news conference, the association's deputy director, Hu Jiashi, told The Associated Press, without explaining further.
Spokesmen for the Chinese Olympic Committee said they had no immediate comment.
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The Houston Rockets and NBA All-Star center was ruled out for the season Tuesday with a stress fracture in his left foot, dealing a major blow to his team's playoff hopes.
While word of Yao's injury arrived too late for most Chinese newspaper deadlines, it was a leading item on the main national midday television news report.
Doctors blamed the injury on accumulated stress on the bone, rather than any single incident. Titan said the true cause was the Rockets' failure to provide a reliable substitute for Yao, forcing him to play long minutes every game.
"In fact, exhaustion was really the major reason behind Yao Ming's injury," the paper said.
Yao's injuries elicit major concern among Chinese sponsors and television stations broadcasting Rockets games, since viewership tends to fall dramatically when he is not playing.
Apart from Yao, the Chinese national team also boasts former Dallas Mavericks center Wang Zhizhi, the first Chinese player in the NBA, along with 2.11-meter (6-foot-11) power forward Yi Jianlian of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Yao Ming speaks to reporters Tuesday after it was announced he would miss the rest of the NBA season.
The emotional response highlights the NBA star's role as the world's best known Chinese athlete and far and away the most popular sports figure in China.
For many Chinese, Yao embodies the country's collective hopes for global competitiveness and international acceptance. While China is not considered a leading Olympic medal contender in basketball, the 2008 Olympic hosts see Yao as one of the faces of the games and are counting on him to lift the event's global profile.
"The only thing offering Yao Ming any solace at this time is that his injury will not force him to miss the Beijing Olympics of his dreams," leading newspaper Titan Sports said in a front page article.
China's Basketball Association called a snap news conference Wednesday afternoon to discuss Yao's condition, portraying the development almost as an issue of national security.
"This is highly sensitive, so don't send any foreigners" to attend the news conference, the association's deputy director, Hu Jiashi, told The Associated Press, without explaining further.
Spokesmen for the Chinese Olympic Committee said they had no immediate comment.
Don't Miss
China shutters Olympians away
Special report: Olympics Countdown 2008
The Houston Rockets and NBA All-Star center was ruled out for the season Tuesday with a stress fracture in his left foot, dealing a major blow to his team's playoff hopes.
While word of Yao's injury arrived too late for most Chinese newspaper deadlines, it was a leading item on the main national midday television news report.
Doctors blamed the injury on accumulated stress on the bone, rather than any single incident. Titan said the true cause was the Rockets' failure to provide a reliable substitute for Yao, forcing him to play long minutes every game.
"In fact, exhaustion was really the major reason behind Yao Ming's injury," the paper said.
Yao's injuries elicit major concern among Chinese sponsors and television stations broadcasting Rockets games, since viewership tends to fall dramatically when he is not playing.
Apart from Yao, the Chinese national team also boasts former Dallas Mavericks center Wang Zhizhi, the first Chinese player in the NBA, along with 2.11-meter (6-foot-11) power forward Yi Jianlian of the Milwaukee Bucks.
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