Aramco announces multi-year partnership with the Yao Foundation and unveils community court

• Aramco announces multi-year partnership with the Yao Foundation to promote sports education and youth empowerment across China
• Announcement made during the unveiling of latest “Shoot for the Future” basketball court revamp project

Aramco, one of the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, and the Yao Foundation, an organization committed to promoting young people’s healthy development, today announced a partnership dedicated to delivering community and school sports facilities across China.  

The partnership aims to build or renovate over 60 rural and urban community basketball and multipurpose courts over the next three years, with the objective of supporting communities and young people to follow their dreams through sports.

The announcement was made today in Guomao, Beijing, with Yao Ming, Yao Foundation founder and NBA Hall of Fame basketball player, and Mohammed Y. Al Qahtani, Aramco Downstream President, formally unveiling the partnership’s new court, which is located outside of Aramco’s Beijing office.  

In addition to marking the beginning of this exciting new alliance, the court unveiling is also a milestone for Aramco’s “Shoot for the Future” basketball court revamp project, which began in the Dongdan Courts, with support from the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) in Beijing.

The project aims to inject new energy into community basketball in China while using innovative basketball court materials. Like the courts in Dongdan, the Guomao court utilizes recycled plastic for the flooring, with the aim of showcasing the increasingly important role that advanced materials are expected to play in the circular carbon economy.

 

Yao Ming, Chairman of the Yao Foundation, said: “Aramco has opened up new possibilities for our partnership, and we aim to continue to work together to promote the sport of basketball and support teenagers’ development. This strategic alliance leverages the Yao Foundation’s expertise in supporting rural youth basketball and Aramco's proud history of innovation and community engagement.” 

Saleh Y. Al Zaid, President of Aramco Asia, said: “Partnering with Yao Foundation is another major milestone for Aramco in China. Aramco is investing to be one of the world’s leading converters of hydrocarbons into the essential materials that support economic and social progress – in China and around the globe. Advanced materials made from hydrocarbons have the potential to help build a lower-carbon future. We look forward to continuing working with the Yao Foundation to take this project forward and positively impact many lives.” 

Jiang Jian, General Manager of CBA League (Beijing) Sports Co., Ltd., said: “Together with Aramco, we’re elevating professional basketball in China to an even higher level and also inspiring the next generation of players and fans.”

Other distinguished guests in attendance included Aramco Executive Vice President of Products & Customers Yasser M. Mufti, Aramco Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications Khalid Al-Zamil, Aramco Asia Managing Director (China) Nader Al-Arfaj, Aramco Asia Vice President of Public Affairs Yousef Al Mutairi, Secretary-General of the Chinese Basketball Association Xu Lan, YAO Foundation Secretary-General Ye Dawei, China World Trade Center Company General Manager Zhi Luxun, China World Trade Center Company Deputy General Manager Cheng Yong Meng, SABIC Senior Manager of Sales (North China) Li Qiang.