Beijing, July 15, 2005 - Community outreach activities at the inaugural Basketball without Borders Asia Camp tipped off today with a Special Olympics Basketball Clinic sponsored by McDonald's. In addition to helping 80 Special Olympics athletes enhance their skills on the court; the clinic was also significant in raising awareness about Special Olympics in China, as well as further develop the relationship between Special Olympics and the NBA.

NBA players and coaches including Yao Ming, Tony Parker of San Antonio Spurs, Bostjan Nachbar (New Orleans Hornets), Samuel Dalembert and Kyle Korver (Philadephia 76ers), helped the 80 Special Olympics athletes and partners aged 8-14 years old improve their shooting, dribbling, rebounding and passing skills. The afternoon clinic ended with selected Special Olympics athletes playing a 5-on-5 All-Star Game. Xicheng and Chongwen Special Education Schools participated in the clinic, along with their local Special Olympics Unified Sports® partners from Chongwen and Xicheng school districts, as well as from Western Academy of Beijing, an international school.

Houston Rockets center Yao Ming was named a Special Olympics Global Ambassador in June 2004, and his hometown of Shanghai will host the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games. His support for the organization has been a contributing factor in the growth of Special Olympics programs in China . Special Olympics China is expected to surpass its growth goal of 500,000 athletes by the end of 2005, making it the largest Special Olympics program in the world.

"Our athletes are excited and honored to be improving their basketball skills with the help of such NBA legends. We are grateful to the NBA and McDonald's for this opportunity and their continued support for Special Olympics in China and around the world," remarked George Smith, Managing Director of Special Olympics East Asia. "Giving our athletes this kind of rare opportunity shows the world that athletes of varying skills and calibers can help each other not only in regards to improving their athletic abilities, but also in heightening a mutual understanding and respect between people with and without intellectual disabilities."

About Special Olympics

Special Olympics is an international organization that changes lives by promoting understanding, acceptance and inclusion between people with and without intellectual disabilities. Through year-round sports training and athletic competition and other related programming for more than 1.4 million children and adults with intellectual disabilities in more than 150 countries, Special Olympics has created a model community that celebrates people's diverse gifts. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy and friendship. There is no cost to participate in Special Olympics. Visit Special Olympics online at www.specialolympics.org and www.specialolympicseastasia.org

About Special Olympics Unified Sports ®
The Special Olympics Unified Sports ® initiative brings together Special Olympics athletes and individuals without intellectual disabilities who are of similar age and ability to train and compete on the same team. The concept of combining athletes with intellectual disabilities and those without (called Partners) was first introduced in the United States in the mid-1980s to provide another level of challenge for higher ability athletes and to promote equality and inclusion. Today, the initiative includes virtually all Special Olympics sports and Unified Sports competitions are an important part of Special Olympics World Games, as well as local, State and National Games. Partners and Athletes gain a deeper mutual understanding and respect for each other as a result of spending many hours training and competing together.

About Basketball Without Borders Asia

Basketball without Borders, the NBA's premier international basketball and community relations outreach program, uniquely combines basketball instruction and educational programs addressing important social issues. The camp, which features current and former NBA players and team personnel as camp coaches, is designed to promote friendship, healthy living and education through sport. Led by native son Yao Ming, star center of the Houston Rockets, the first Basketball without Borders Asia will take place July 14-17 at the Beijing Olympic Training Facility in Beijing, China .

For more information, please contact:

Sau Ching Cheong NBA Asia ( 852 ) 2843 - 9668 scheong @nba.com

Karen Fang Special Olympics East Asia (86) 1391-002-8297 kfang@specialolympics.org