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.

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

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 decided to pick Yao Ming after careful consideration."

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

(Xinhua News Agency August 7, 2008)