Chinese player Yi Jianlian appealed Friday for donations to the victims of earthquake in Sichuan, China from NBA fans all over the world.
The Milwaukee Bucks' forward was filmed at the headquarter of the NBA China Friday night. Yao Ming, center of the Houston Rockets, took similar clips in the United States on Thursday.
Their clips, which were recorded in Mandarin, English and Cantonese (only from Yi), will be broadcasted through NBA matches to the world.
"The topic after training these days was earthquake," Yi said of his national basketball teammates. "We exchanged updated news, talking about our feelings. Almost every dorm set the television channels on earthquake news in the night."
"All I can do now is to do all my best at the Olympics. A better result will give more consolation to the victims of the earthquake," he added.
The NBA set off a mission with the China Red Cross Society to appeal the fans and players to donate for victims in Sichuan.
The clips will also be broadcasted on the screen of the NBA Caravan during its visit to 26 Chinese cities.
(Xinhua News Agency May 17, 2008)