Yao Ming to partner HCCR as relay race comes to China

Organizers of the Hood to Coast Relay (HCR), an overnight, long-distance relay race held in the U.S. state of Oregon, are taking the race from Oregon all the way to China.

The Hood to Coast Race Series has announced a new event for 2016, Hood to Coast China, transplanting the same race formula from Oregon to Shandong Province.

The first Chinese race will take place in November 2016 in Qingdao, the largest city in Shandong Province, situated on the scenic eastern coast of China. The route is yet to be officially approved but it will likely run from Laoshan Mountain along the coastline to Quingdao and then down to the shore.

And to add clout to Hood to Coast China, organizers have teamed up with former NBA star and Chinese mega-celebrity Yao Ming. Starz Sports has already worked the athlete's "Yao Pao" brand into Chinese events, and they'll be trotting it back out for Hood to Coast China, featuring the slogan "Yao Pao Run Together."

"This sport gradually becomes our lifestyle, and this lifestyle is also going to become part of our character, and our character is going to lead us to where we want to be," Ming said.

Source: oregonlive

Proofread by John Devlin