"For many years Yao Ming has put his charisma in the service of charity and public wellbeing projects. In May 2003 he called for the public to fight SARS, standing out as a model athlete advocating for public good. In following years, also acting as an individual, he backed Paralympics programs, donated stem cells, campaigned for the protection of sharks, combated AIDS and campaigned for the reconstruction of areas hit by the Wenchuan earthquake. He also rounded up players from both the NBA and China's national basketball team for charity tours. In 2008 he established the Yao Foundation to fund education in the less developed western areas and handed out aid to children in disaster-affected regions," Xiao Tian, deputy director of the General Administration of Sports of China, reminded everyone at a farewell ceremony for Yao Ming on July 25 in Beijing. The basketball star, who announced his retirement from the sport five days earlier, received three awards at the event, including the Olympic Order in Gold from the Chinese Olympic Committee. Xiao Tian said the success of Yao provides three kinds of inspiration: pursuit of excellence, constant self-improvement, and living up to one's social responsibilities.