Yao Ming‘s NBA Pension Sparks Discussion on Athlete Welfare in china
News that former NBA star Yao Ming has become eligible for an NBA retirement pension has recently become a trending topic on Chinese social media platform Weibo. the hashtag ”Yao Ming receives 157,000 yuan (approximately 31.4 million won) in pension every year” rose to prominence as users discussed the benefits available to players under the NBA’s labor-management agreement.
Yao Ming, 45, played nine seasons in the NBA and now qualifies for the pension as he meets the league’s criteria of having been an officially registered player for more than three years. Players can begin receiving pension payments at age 45, though opting for earlier payments results in a reduced total amount – currently around $1,800 USD per month, or approximately $22,000 USD annually (157,000 yuan). Waiting until age 62 significantly increases the monthly payout to over $15,000 USD.
The attention surrounding Yao Ming’s pension eligibility has ignited a broader conversation within China regarding athlete welfare and support systems. Many netizens expressed admiration for the NBA’s pension program, commenting on its fairness in compensating players based on their contributions, regardless of nationality.
However, the news also prompted critical commentary, with some users questioning the contrast between the NBA’s support for its former players and the situation faced by retired athletes in China. This criticism stems from concerns about the lack of extensive support for Chinese athletes after their competitive careers end.
Former Chinese national swimming team member Huang Xiaomin, an olympic silver medalist and Asian Games gold medalist, highlighted the challenges faced by retired Chinese athletes. She noted that many lack academic qualifications, suffer from injuries sustained during their careers, and struggle to reintegrate into society, often finding limited opportunities beyond coaching positions at local sports schools. Huang stated that even securing a coaching role is competitive,and unemployment is a common outcome. She further asserted that the Chinese Communist Party provides insufficient support for these retired athletes,leading to situations where even world champions struggle financially.
While the General Management of Sports includes athlete retirement within the broader social security system, concerns about inadequate support for medalists led to the introduction of the ‘Athlete Lifetime Guarantee Public Interest Project’ in September of last year. This project prioritizes approximately 130 potential Paris olympic medalists, providing monthly stipends of 6,000 yuan (about 1.2 million won) for gold medalists, 5,000 yuan (about 1 million won) for silver medalists, and 4,000 yuan (about 800,000 won) for bronze medalists, along with existing welfare provisions.
Despite this initiative, critics point out that even the gold medal stipend may not cover living expenses in major Chinese cities and that the program’s benefits are currently limited to a select group of athletes.
