Former NBA star and Special Olympics ambassador Yao Ming interacts with fans during a Special Olympic sports meet for students from local high schools at Shanghai Luwan Gymnasium yesterday. Japanese footballer Nakata Hidetoshi was also present.

More than 150 Special Olympics athletes from three special schools took part in the “Play Unified” event. The event was inspired by the simple principle that playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding.

Yao Ming plays table tennis with Special Olympics athletes during an event at Luwan Sports Center in Shanghai, June 12, 2015.More than 150 Special Olympics athletes from three special schools took part in the “Play Unified” event. The event was inspired by the simple principle that playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding. Yao Ming, a Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics, attended the event to support its "Play Unified" youth campaign that aims to inspire and mobilize youth around the world to connect with people with intellectual disabilities and to create more inclusive communities.

Play unified is a sports campaign to bring people together and break down the stereotypes.