How can Yao Ming play in the U.S. for the Rockets then go be on the Chinese Olympic Team?

Question

And he probally resides here. So he lives here and Works here and isn't an American Citizen? That seems strange to me. Okay sorry I guess I am just stupid.

Answer 1

Part of the agreement for China letting Yao play  in the USA was in the next Olympic games he plays for China.

But I think he is done playing for them after the games, he is hurting bad

BTW, Yao is very sweet, Met him and the Hong Kong team in 02 when we came back through HK with our newly adopted daughter..

Answer 2

Ming is a citizen of China.  China agreed to let him play for the Rockets, but he must play for his own country in the Olympics

Answer 3

Most of the above answers are actually incorrect.  While Yao is Chinese, that is NOT that reason he's representing China (ie., there are Chinese, Italians, Jamaicans, etc. that are representing USA in the Olympics).  

You need to be a citizen of that country to represent that country in the Olympics.  Working in the country is not relevant since you don't have to be citizen to work in that country.

Answer 4

d**n what a question! If you live and work in China, you do Olympics for China? Unbelievable! How old are you?

Answer 5

He's Chinese!!!

Answer 6

He's Chinese, as in born in China

Answer 7

I have a problem with ANY professional athlete playing in the Olympics.  I dislike allowing Yao Ming to play for China as much as allowing Kobe Bryant to play for the USA.  Where are the amateur athletes that do it for the love of the sport, and not the cha-ching in the pocket book...

Answer 8

I have heard of a lot of athletes who live in one country to train and work, but are actually citizens of another country, so they represent that country in the Olympics.

I'm curious though, if someone has dual-citizenship, can they represent either country?

And there are a lot of people who live in the US as a lawful resident and are legally allowed to work, but they do not have US Citizenship.

Answer 9

Let's see hear......He's CHINESE

Answer 10

just because you live here doesn't mean you're an american citizen

btw, dirk novinski(not sure of spelling) of the Dallas Mavericks is on the German team in the olympics

Answer 11

He's a chinese citizen. You have to be an american citizen to compete in the Olympics for America. But you don't have to be an American citizen to play for the NBA

Answer 12

A little fact: not everyone that lives in the U.S. are citizens. And you need to be a citizen of a country to be in the olympics for that country.