NBA star Yao Ming will appear at an Expo gala on July 5 (This Sunday) as an Expo ambassador to help raise donations for children who suffered in the Sichuan earthquake and those in impoverished regions.

Money raised at the gala will be used to buy Expo 2010 tickets for these children.

The basketball player will also participate in other Expo events to raise eco-friendly awareness among the public on July 5, which will mark the 300-day countdown to the Expo.

Yao said he was excited about Expo and would do everything he could to fulfill his role as an ambassador.