Yao to miss start of camp for Special Olympics

Rockets star is expected to join team in Austin on Oct. 4

Damien Pierce
Rockets.com Staff Writer
HOUSTON -- Rockets star center Yao Ming will miss the start of training camp to attend the opening of the Special Olympics in Shanghai.
休斯顿 -- 火箭队中锋姚明因为参加在上海举办的特殊奥运会缺席前两日的训练营。

The Rockets star, who has been asked to play a prominent role in the event taking place in his hometown, is expected to miss the team's media day and first two practices in Austin.

Yao will join the team's training camp on Oct. 4.
姚明将于10月4日参加训练营。

"This is a difficult situation for both our organization and Yao, given the importance of these initial practices," Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said. "Yao understands the value of being with his team at the start of training camp, but considers this a vital obligation. Yao is an extraordinary player who is often asked for extraordinary service to his nation and home city."

The Rockets center will be fined an undisclosed amount for missing the team activities, per the NBA's collective bargaining agreement. Yao has been working out with the team's coaching staff in Houston and China to make sure he's in shape by the time he joins the team in Austin.

"As a Global Ambassador of Special Olympics, I was requested to participate and play a role in the opening ceremony of 2007 Special Olympics World Games in my hometown of Shanghai," Yao said. "I feel it is an obligation that I must meet. I realize that missing the first few days of camp will put me behind my teammates in learning our new coach's system, but I will work very hard to make sure that I do not hurt our team's progress as we prepare for the start of the new season."
作为特奥会的全球大使，我被要求参加在我的家乡上海举办的2007年世界特殊奥运会的开幕式。我感觉这是我的责任。我同时也意识到缺席几天训练会让我落后于其他队友。但是我会尽量不影响全队的进展。