Top Olympic athlete Yao Ming is the UN Environment Programme's first-ever Environmental Champion, UNEP announced on August 09. Basketball megastar Yao Ming, who plays for the National Basketball Association (NBA) and for China's Olympic team, is one of the most famous athletes in the world today. He is a national icon in China and carried the Olympic Flame into Tiananmen Square on 6 August, as well as being his country's flag-bearer at the Opening Ceremony.

'I am delighted and greatly honored to accept the UN Environment Programme's offer to become their first ever 'Environmental Champion'', Yao Ming said. '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.' Yao Ming said he will work with young people across the world and try to inspire them to plant trees, use energy efficient light bulbs, harvest rain water and to become environmental champions in their own communities.