Co-organized by "NBA Care" and Special Olympics East Asia, the NBA team Milwaukee Bucks that came to China for the China Open competition attended a half day Basketball Clinic with the SO athletes from Beijing Haidian Special School and Chao Yang An Hua School at Beijing Olympic Basketball Arena on October 17 2008. NBA Commissioner Mr. David Stern, adidas Vice-president of marketing Greater China Mr. Paul Pi and SOEA Managing Director Ms. Anna Chan attended the activity.

The participating NBA players and Special Olympics athletes were divided into three groups to practice passing, dribbling and shooting. All SO athletes, meeting face to face and playing with their adorers, were so excited that the court was full of excitement and laughter through the whole session.

 

Be a fan of Special Olympics—the group photo

 

NBA Commissioner David Stern made a speech

 

SO athlete Gu Yeming and Mr. Stern

 

SOEA Managing Director Ms. Anna Chan and adidas Vice-president of marketing Greater China Mr. Paul Pi

 

NBA player Tyronn Lue made demonstration to SO athletes

 

NBA player Michael Redd shooting with his eyes closed

 

Bongo playing freestyle street basketball

 

NBA players signed for SO athletes after the clinic

NBA Cares is the league's social responsibility initiative that builds on the NBA's long tradition of addressing important social issues in the United States and around the world. NBA Cares works with internationally-recognized, youth-serving organizations that are geared toward Education, Youth and Family Development and Health-Related Causes. In China, NBA Cares works closely with SOEA in the past years, organizing Special Olympics Basketball Clinics in several Chinese cities including Beijing and Shanghai.