BEIJING, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese basketball player and NBA star Yao Ming has been picked to hold the national flag at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games on Friday night.

Cui Dalin, deputy head of the Chinese Olympic delegation, made the announcement at a press conference on Thursday afternoon.

Only those athletes with high sport caliber, good sport ethics and good public image could be chosen to carry the nation's flag, Cui said. "We have many such athletes, and we decide to pick Yao Ming after careful consideration."

Yao carried China's national flag at the opening ceremony of the Athens Games four years ago.

Further explaining why China chose Yao as the national flag bearer again, Cui said, "Yao can perfectly represent Chinese athletes, as he is an excellent athlete with good sport skills, sport ethnics and public image."

Born in 1980, Yao is a professional basketball player now serving the Houston Rockets of the U.S. National Basketball Association (NBA). He is currently the tallest player in the NBA, standing 2.26 meters.

Yao, a Shanghai native, was picked as No.1 draft pick by the NBA Houston Rockets in 2002. He has been selected to start for the Western Conference in the NBA All-Star Game in several seasons.

Yao is married to Ye Li, a former player for the China women's national basketball team.

Previously, 110 meters hurdlers Olympic champion Liu Xiang, "diving queen" Guo Jingjing and veteran volleyball player Zhao Ruirui were all tipped as hot favorites for carrying the national flag at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games.

But Cui told journalists that all these candidates are only the prediction of the media.

What's interesting, the national flag bearers for Chinese delegations since 1984 have been selected from the men's basketball team.

Wang Libin was China's flag bearer in the opening ceremony of 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, Song Tao for 1988 Seoul Olympics, Song Ligang for the 1992 Barcelona Games, Liu Yudong for 1996 Atlanta Olympics and 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

Cui Dalin also briefed journalists that the 639 athletes in China's Olympic Delegation will compete in 28 sports, 38 disciplines and 262 events.

Cui said, veteran diver Guo Jingjing, shooter Tan Zongliang and basketball player Li Nan have consecutively attended the Olympic Games in Atlanta, Sydney and Athens.
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