DISQUS

Joe Smith · 1 year ago

Does Yao really deserve to carry the flag? He's never won a medal in the Olympics, and he hasn't exactly had much success in the NBA in terms of playoff wins or championships. It seems like China just wants him to be the torch bearer because he is the most recognizable figure--in other words--China just wants to show off. I know this is a Yao Ming fan site, but it seems like there are other Chinese athletes who are more deserving of carrying the torch.

Although it's an honor, I'm actually disappointed if Yao is indeed the flag bearer because he's already done it (in 2004), and there are other people who are "just as" worthy, not "more" as you phrased it, except maybe Liu Xiang. But something tells me he's going to be doing something more important on Friday night than carrying the flag.

NBA playoff wins or championships don't have anything to do with it. China is one of the top teams in Asia, if not the best. And Yao Ming is unquestionably one of the best centers in the NBA. So it's not "showing off."

-- John

pryuen · 1 year ago

People just conveniently ignored Yao Ming is the most recognizable sports icon of China, and rather I should say the face of 2008 Olympics.

It has nothing to do whether he has yet any successes in playoffs or championship in NBA. Making the NBA and becoming one of the most competitive and dominant centre in the best basketball league of the world is in itslef an achievement.

Well, I agreed that achievement wise, he should not be the final one that light the Olympic flame on the cauldron. There are many many other more worthy senior elders, the pionners and pathfinders in Chinese sports that should get this top honor.

But I don't think we should grudge Yao Ming the honor of being the national flag bearer for a second consecutive time.....No one is more worthy of him for that honor: He is the tallest athlete in the whole China delegation.....and he surely can get all the eye-ball attention from the audiences in the stadium and in front of televisions around the world.

Beside being the national flag bearer is not an easy job. The flag pole is long and heavy.....Surely you don't want any other shorter Chinese men or women hoisting the national flag, as it looks very awkward. Can you imagine the legendary 1.5M Deng Yaping, a 4-time Olympic/World Champion in table tennis, hoisting the national flag?

George · 1 year ago

I think Yao and Liu Xiang are the only 2 people that deserves to carry the Chinese flag. And maybe Yan Can Cook or Ming Tsai. =)

AirChina23 · 1 year ago

One name comes in mind would be Xu Haifeng, the first Chinese to win a gold medal in the Olympics ever. Or Chinese sports legend Li Ning, who had won 3 gold medals in that same Olympics and achieved even more success in business. He did it in 1984 in LA btw. But yeah, the fact that Yao has carried it in 2004 would not make him the flagbearer this time around.

Unless, of course, if the flagbearer is limited to current athlete only. Then perhaps it will be Liu Xiang. All the sports legend I've mentioned above would probably be the one lighting the cauldron.

Wesley · 1 year ago

The news report in Hong Kong has already confirmed it according to the announcement from Beijing Olympic Association. GOGOGO Yao!!