BEIJING (Reuters) -- China's towering NBA sensation has declared his foot injury a non-issue ahead of August's World Championship warm-up games against the U.S. and Brazil in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou.

"As to my injury, I don't have any major concerns. Everything's going really smoothly," Yao told reporters at a news conference on Friday.

The 7-foot-5 All-Star broke his left foot playing for the Rockets on April 11, putting in doubt his participation in basketball's international showpiece starting in Japan on Aug. 19.

Wearing a pair of starched-white basketball sneakers and walking without a trace of discomfort, Yao said there were no worries about his recovery.

"Do I look like a guy with a foot injury?" he asked.

Yao's comments followed his appearance at a press conference launching a series of public service announcements promoting the Special Olympics to be held in his home town, Shanghai, in 2007.

As a Special Olympics ambassador, Yao said he was happy to make a contribution to the Games.

"Society cares for me and I care for society," he said.

Copyright 2006 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.

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