BEIJING -- It's up to Yao Ming himself and his doctors to decide whether the injured Houston Rockets center will participate in the Beijing Olympic Games in August, a Chinese sports official said on Wednesday.

"We respect our athletes and doctors' advice and will safeguard the athletes' health," said Cui Dalin, deputy director of the State General Administration of Sport, at a press conference on the sidelines of the First Session of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Yao, who received a surgery last week to repair a stress fracture in his left foot, wanted very much to play on behalf of his country at the Beijing Games, said Cui. "This is also what his fans across China are looking forward to."

While Chinese fans are looking forward to Yao's recuperation and return to the games at an earlier date, the official said the Chinese men's basketball national team have started a new round of training.

"We've told our players to prepare for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games without Yao Ming. Even without Yao, we'll play well at the Games and satisfy the Chinese people."