SOURCE / PRESS RELEASE
Shooting for the Future: Aramco, Yao Foundation announce community basketball court revamp project
On May 9, 2025, a ceremony marking a remarkable collaboration was held in Beijing. 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, officially announced the beginning of a partnership dedicated to delivering community and school sports facilities across China. Together, they will advance the development of sports education across China, empowering the healthy growth of young people. This collaboration also signifies a new opportunity for the development of China's sports education philanthropy.
The "Shoot for the Future" basketball court revamp project employs innovative technologies and advanced materials to upgrade sports facilities. The newly unveiled China World Basketball Court features sports flooring made from recycled plastic materials, highlighting the critical role of advanced materials in a circular carbon economy and showcasing Aramco's commitment to sustainable development.
The project has received support from the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). The Beijing Dongdan Basketball Court, one of the first public courts to undergo renovation, has already demonstrated the program's positive impact.
Saleh Y. Al Zaid, president of Aramco Asia, said: "Partnering with the 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., remarked: "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." He said that Aramco is not only focused on the CBA League itself but also actively expanding into new community and youth initiatives, which aligns with the CBA's aspirations. Therefore, their future promotional efforts will continue to advance in both directions, fostering the development of professional basketball and China's community basketball culture.
"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," said Yao Ming, chairman of the Yao Foundation, expressing his high hopes for the partnership. He noted that this strategic partnership leverages the Yao Foundation's expertise in supporting rural youth basketball and Aramco's proud history of innovation and community engagement.
Ye Dawei, secretary-general of the Yao Foundation, also spoke highly of the collaboration. He emphasized that Aramco's focus on community building and sustainable development, along with its commitment to creating basketball opportunities for residents and youth at the grassroots level, aligns perfectly with the Yao Foundation's philosophy. Moreover, Aramco's application of sustainable development concepts in court construction - transforming recyclable plastics into safe and healthy sports flooring materials - sets a strong example from an ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) perspective. "Through this collaboration, the Yao Foundation aims not only to support youth sports development but also to promote sustainability and environmental awareness, achieving multiple goals at once."
It is worth noting that some rural schools often face challenges such as dilapidated facilities, a lack of qualified coaches, and insufficient sports activities and competitions. However, with Aramco's support, these issues are expected to be effectively addressed. Ye Dawei explained that, on one hand, high-quality facilities will attract children to participate in basketball; On the other hand, the Yao Foundation will collaborate with universities to send students majoring in sports to teach in rural schools, train rural PE teachers, and organize leagues at various levels, establishing a comprehensive system of teaching support, teacher training, and competitions. This ensures the project's sustainability by complementing hardware improvements with software support. Additionally, the initiative will prioritize larger township central schools unlikely to be merged in the short term and incorporate high-tech elements such as AI cameras installed under basketball hoops, allowing players to scan a code and replay their game footage - a feature designed to inspire more rural youth and community members to embrace sports. The project will also establish mechanisms for courts to remain open to rural residents, maximizing their role in rural cultural vitalization by serving the community beyond school hours.
Jiang Jian also highlighted the significance and promising future of the "Shoot for the Future" basketball court revamp project. "This is just the beginning. We hope they will be able to expedite the program's rollout, expanding it to many regions across the country, including rural areas, which holds great importance for young people."
The deep-blue eco-friendly sports flooring and smart basketball hoop systems complement each other in this community sports space co-created by Aramco and the Yao Foundation. It not only reflects the multinational energy giant's efforts to translate technological innovation into community joy but also embodies the sports philanthropy organization's vision of empowering rural vitalization through the passion of sports. As recycled plastics are transformed into court foundations through advanced processes and AI cameras capture every leap, the power of business for good is redefining the meaning of development.
At Guomao in Beijing, where Saudi Aramco's Beijing office is located, Yao Ming, chairman of the Yao Foundation and NBA Hall of Famer, and Mohammed Y. Al Qahtani, Aramco downstream president, jointly announced this significant partnership. Additionally, they witnessed the unveiling ceremony of the latest revitalized court under the "Shoot for the Future" basketball court revamp project. The newly renovated China World Basketball Court not only marks a promising start to their collaboration but also represents another important milestone in the project initiated by Aramco.
The "Shoot for the Future" basketball court revamp project employs innovative technologies and advanced materials to upgrade sports facilities. The newly unveiled China World Basketball Court features sports flooring made from recycled plastic materials, highlighting the critical role of advanced materials in a circular carbon economy and showcasing Aramco's commitment to sustainable development.
Under the partnership, Aramco and the Yao Foundation will 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 project has received support from the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). The Beijing Dongdan Basketball Court, one of the first public courts to undergo renovation, has already demonstrated the program's positive impact.
Saleh Y. Al Zaid, president of Aramco Asia, said: "Partnering with the 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., remarked: "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." He said that Aramco is not only focused on the CBA League itself but also actively expanding into new community and youth initiatives, which aligns with the CBA's aspirations. Therefore, their future promotional efforts will continue to advance in both directions, fostering the development of professional basketball and China's community basketball culture.
"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," said Yao Ming, chairman of the Yao Foundation, expressing his high hopes for the partnership. He noted that this strategic partnership leverages the Yao Foundation's expertise in supporting rural youth basketball and Aramco's proud history of innovation and community engagement.
Ye Dawei, secretary-general of the Yao Foundation, also spoke highly of the collaboration. He emphasized that Aramco's focus on community building and sustainable development, along with its commitment to creating basketball opportunities for residents and youth at the grassroots level, aligns perfectly with the Yao Foundation's philosophy. Moreover, Aramco's application of sustainable development concepts in court construction - transforming recyclable plastics into safe and healthy sports flooring materials - sets a strong example from an ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) perspective. "Through this collaboration, the Yao Foundation aims not only to support youth sports development but also to promote sustainability and environmental awareness, achieving multiple goals at once."
It is worth noting that some rural schools often face challenges such as dilapidated facilities, a lack of qualified coaches, and insufficient sports activities and competitions. However, with Aramco's support, these issues are expected to be effectively addressed. Ye Dawei explained that, on one hand, high-quality facilities will attract children to participate in basketball; On the other hand, the Yao Foundation will collaborate with universities to send students majoring in sports to teach in rural schools, train rural PE teachers, and organize leagues at various levels, establishing a comprehensive system of teaching support, teacher training, and competitions. This ensures the project's sustainability by complementing hardware improvements with software support. Additionally, the initiative will prioritize larger township central schools unlikely to be merged in the short term and incorporate high-tech elements such as AI cameras installed under basketball hoops, allowing players to scan a code and replay their game footage - a feature designed to inspire more rural youth and community members to embrace sports. The project will also establish mechanisms for courts to remain open to rural residents, maximizing their role in rural cultural vitalization by serving the community beyond school hours.
Jiang Jian also highlighted the significance and promising future of the "Shoot for the Future" basketball court revamp project. "This is just the beginning. We hope they will be able to expedite the program's rollout, expanding it to many regions across the country, including rural areas, which holds great importance for young people."
The deep-blue eco-friendly sports flooring and smart basketball hoop systems complement each other in this community sports space co-created by Aramco and the Yao Foundation. It not only reflects the multinational energy giant's efforts to translate technological innovation into community joy but also embodies the sports philanthropy organization's vision of empowering rural vitalization through the passion of sports. As recycled plastics are transformed into court foundations through advanced processes and AI cameras capture every leap, the power of business for good is redefining the meaning of development.
