A charity basketball game featuring NBA star center Yao Ming, two-time regular season MVP Steve Nash and Carmelo Anthony will be played here on September 14, according to the organizers.

The Chinese men's national team will play against a team composed of NBA stars in this charity game, which was launched by Yao and Nash, with all the incomes to be donated to help improve educational environment for poor children in Western China.

"More than half a year ago, Nash mentioned this idea to me and I thought it is great. Then we began to make it into reality," said Yao at the press conference.

"I promise you that every penny of the money we get from this game will be duly used on poor children in Western China," Yao added.

Nash, who woke up at 5 am in Phoenix City for the press conference, said on telephone that he felt very happy to launch this game together with Yao and do something for poor children in China.

Other NBA players to participate in this charity game are Baron Davis of the Golden State Warriors, Leandro Barbosa of the Phoenix Suns, Yao's Houston Rockets teammates Bonzi Wells, Chuck Hayes, Mike James and 2007 NBA top draft pick Greg Oden of the Portland Blazers and No. 4 draft pick Mike Conley of the Memphis Grizzlies.

(Xinhua News Agency August 31, 2007)