UBS, which already is known for its sponsorship of Formula 1 motor racing, has turned to a different sport – basketball - to create some buzz and motivate attendees at its Greater China Conference, held in Shanghai.

UBS, which already is known for its sponsorship of Formula 1 motor racing, has turned to a different sport – basketball - to create some buzz and motivate attendees at its Greater China Conference, held in Shanghai.
 
Retired basketball superstar, Yao Ming – he used to play for the Houston Rockets – joined UBS chief executive Sergio Ermotti and around 1,700 delegates for the event.

After ending an illustrious basketball career in the NBA, the sports star set up the Yao Ming Foundation to help rebuild schools destroyed in the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. He is also an entrepreneur and investor. On the philanthropic side, he has participated in fundraising events such as in the NBA's off-season in 2003, helping to raise around $300,000 to help stop the spread of the SARS virus.

 In September 2007, he held an auction that raised $965,000 and competed in a charity basketball match to raise money for underprivileged children in China.

UBS describes this particular conference as its flagship conference globally.

In November last year, WealthBriefing, sister news service of this publication, was media partner at UBS’s annual philanthropy forum in St Moritz.