Madame Tussauds unveils Yao Ming wax figure in NYC _English

The lifesize wax figure of Yao Ming, one of the most popular and beloved bascketball players in both China and the United States, is displayed at the Madame Tussauds in New York of the United States, March 18, 2009. On loan from Madame Tussauds Shanghai for six months, Yao's wax figure made its debut in Madame Tussauds New York on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

The lifesize wax figure of Yao Ming, one of the most popular and beloved bascketball players in both China and the United States, is displayed at the Madame Tussauds in New York of the United States, March 18, 2009. On loan from Madame Tussauds Shanghai for six months, Yao's wax figure made its debut in Madame Tussauds New York on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)
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NEW YORK, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Madame Tussauds, a famous wax museum headquartered in London, unveiled the wax figure of Olympian and Houston Rockets' seven-time all-star Yao Ming in New York on Monday.

Yao was welcomed - in wax - for the first time in the United States and welcomed by a troupe of Chinese acrobats performing a gravity-defying gymnastic slam dunk at the unveiling ceremony.

Yao's figure, dressed in his Houston Rocket's uniform and wearing sneakers donated by the NBA, is so tall that Merlin studio artists had to utilize scaffolding in order to sculpt the 2.29-meter wax likeness of the NBA's tallest player, according to a press release issued by public relations agent Rubenstein Communications, Inc.

On loan from Madame Tussauds Shanghai for six months, Yao's figure is posed as if he is about to shoot a basket.

The New York Chinese Culture Center's Acrobatic Troupe soared to tremendous heights performing a gymnastic slam dunk to help welcome Yao's figure to the United States.

Yao's figure will be in good company in the attraction's all-new "Sports Zone," which was also unveiled for the first time on the day.

Photographers take photos of the lifesize wax figure of Yao Ming, the most popular and beloved basketball player in both China and the United States, at Madame Tussauds in New York of the United States, March 18, 2009. On loan from Madame Tussauds Shanghai for six months, Yao's wax figure made its debut in Madame Tussauds New York on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

Photographers take photos of the lifesize wax figure of Yao Ming, the most popular and beloved basketball player in both China and the United States, at Madame Tussauds in New York of the United States, March 18, 2009. On loan from Madame Tussauds Shanghai for six months, Yao's wax figure made its debut in Madame Tussauds New York on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)
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According to the press release, this new interactive area dedicated to the love of sports will feature wax-immortalized athletes from past and present.

"In addition to rubbing-shoulders with legends such as New York Yankees' Derek Jeter and New York Mets' David Wright, Mdame Tussauds visitors will have the chance to box with Evander Holyfield, shoot hoops next to NBA great Kareem Abdull-Jabbar, tackle the defensive line alongside New York Glant's Eli Manning, stand on the podium with Olympic track and field star Florence Griffith Jyner and play Wii tennis with Billie Jean King looking on.

Three ladies have photos taken with the lifesize wax figure of Yao Ming, one of the most popular and beloved basketball players in both China and the United States, at the Madame Tussauds in New York of the United States, March 18, 2009. On a loan from Madame Tussauds Shanghai for six months, Ming's figure made its debut in Madame Tussauds New York on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

Three ladies have photos taken with the lifesize wax figure of Yao Ming, one of the most popular and beloved basketball players in both China and the United States, at the Madame Tussauds in New York of the United States, March 18, 2009. On a loan from Madame Tussauds Shanghai for six months, Ming's figure made its debut in Madame Tussauds New York on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)
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