'NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week 2026' Attracts Over 2,900 Participants Across Five Days

Unites NBA legends, GBA students and teachers, and Macao community

Extending impact of mega event into local community

Promoting youth development and social inclusion

MACAO, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As an important initiative of The NBA China Games 2026, the NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week 2026 wrapped up Sunday, closing out an exciting week of community activities. Organized by Sands China and NBA Cares, the five-day programme fully embodied Sands China's commitment to serving the Macao community, leveraging the impact of a world-class sporting event to unite stakeholders from different backgrounds and regions to extend the event's benefits into the local community.

The Oct. 7-11 initiative received strong support and participation, engaging more than 2,900 individuals, including NBA legends, coaches and players; students from Macao, the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and Hainan province; members of Macao's social service organizations; senior executives from Las Vegas Sands and Sands China; and Sands Cares Ambassadors. Through a wide range of community engagement activities anchored by basketball, the Impact Week empowered local youth, fostered meaningful exchange across regions and cultures, and reinforced the values of inclusion and community cohesion.

Throughout the week, a distinguished lineup of NBA legends, players and coaches, together with prominent figures from the sporting world, visited local schools and community venues across Macao. Among them were NBA legends Ray Allen, Shawn Marion, Yao Ming, Mitch Richmond, Stephon Marbury, Cuttino Mobley and Chris Bosh; renowned Chinese basketball player Ding Yanyuhang, China women's basketball national team player Zhang Ziyu, and China short track speed skating Olympic gold medallist Wang Meng; and Sands Global Ambassador Sir David Beckham. Through close interactions with diverse community groups across Macao, they shared the values of sport and insights from their personal journeys.

Patrick Dumont, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Las Vegas Sands Corp., and chairman of the board and non-executive director of Sands China Ltd., said: "With the successful conclusion of The NBA China Games 2026, we are delighted to have extended the positive impact of this world-class sporting event into the Macao community, creating valuable opportunities for people of various ages and backgrounds to connect and engage. This year's Impact Week brought together more than 2,900 students, community members and volunteers, who shared in the excitement and care inspired by the event, while enabling NBA players and legends to experience first-hand Macao's diverse and inclusive attributes. The programme demonstrated the power of sport to connect people, foster inclusion and inspire the next generation.

"We extend our sincere gratitude to the Macao SAR Government, NBA Cares, our community partners, and the Sands China team members and Sands Cares Ambassadors for their steadfast support and active involvement, which helped bring this meaningful Impact Week to life. Looking ahead, we will continue to support the Macao SAR Government's policy direction and draw upon Sands China's extensive experience and strengths in attracting and staging world-class events. By further enhancing the synergies generated through the 'Tourism+' initiative, we aspire to contribute fresh impetus to Macao's economic diversification."

On Wednesday, the first day of Impact Week, Youth Day brought together 200 young participants from the GBA and Hainan province, who took part in basketball training, interactive exchange activities and friendly matches under the guidance of NBA legends and coaches. Through sport, the event fostered connections and friendships among young people across the Greater Bay Area.

The second day, Tip-Off Day, attracted approximately 400 participants, including representatives from various organisations and local and international media outlets. Current players from the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets joined local students in a basketball clinic and to assemble goodie bags, enabling participants to enhance their basketball skills while extending the spirit of caring into the community.

On Friday, School Day, an NBA legend and coaches visited Yuet Wah College, Macau, where they engaged with local students for a basketball clinic and a Chinese calligraphy experience. The event offered students a valuable opportunity to learn first-hand from world-class basketball professionals while promoting cultural exchange between East and West. Approximately 600 people participated in the day's activities.

On the fourth day, Health and Wellness Day, NBA legends joined executives from Las Vegas Sands and Sands China, together with social enterprise Happy Kitchen, a subsidiary of the Fuhong Society of Macau supported by Sands China, to prepare and distribute 200 boxed lunches to people in need in Macao. The initiative will provide a total of 1,500 meals to beneficiaries in the community. The day also featured wellness workshops aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles and well-being.

The Impact Week concluded with Sunday's Community Basketball Carnival, held at NBA HOUSE at The Venetian^® Macao and attended by a total of 200 participants, including NBA legends and coaches, athletes from Macau Special Olympics, members of local social service organisations and Sands Global Ambassador Sir David Beckham. Through a basketball clinic and family-oriented interactive experiences, the carnival promoted community engagement and social inclusion.

Throughout the week, around 200 Sands Cares Ambassadors actively participated in the various activities, reaching out to schools and communities alongside NBA players, coaches and representatives from different sectors to serve the community. Through their dedicated volunteer efforts, they helped ensure the smooth delivery of the week's charitable initiatives while exemplifying Sands China's commitment to giving back to society and serving the community.

In addition to the Impact Week, the expanded and enhanced NBA HOUSE Macao 2026, free and open to the public, was held over five days at Halls A and B of The Venetian Macao's Cotai Expo, where it was widely enjoyed by residents and visitors alike, attracting more than 70,000 visits. NBA HOUSE served as a basketball-themed festival that combined basketball, music and entertainment, fashion and retail, interactive technology, and specialty dining offerings, extending the excitement of the games beyond the court to a broader audience. In doing so, it expanded the reach of the event, enriching Macao's "Tourism + Sports" offerings, and further reinforcing Macao's position as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure.

"NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week 2026" was an initiative of Sands Cares, the global corporate citizenship programme of Sands China's parent company. As an important stakeholder in the Macao community, Sands China has actively fulfilled its corporate social responsibility for more than two decades. Through the programme, the company strives to connect with and serve the community, give back to society, and work alongside different sectors to build a more vibrant and inclusive Macao community.

For high resolution photos, please visit:

https://it-ezshare.sands.com.mo/exweb/share/799a8d43-934c-47af-a781-38f60a20ec4e

About Sands China Ltd.

Sands China Ltd. (Sands China or the Company) is incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability and is listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (HKEx: 1928). Sands China is the largest operator of integrated resorts in Macao. The Company's integrated resorts on the Cotai Strip comprise The Venetian^® Macao, The Plaza^® Macao, The Parisian^® Macao and The Londoner^® Macao. The Company also owns and operates Sands^® Macao on the Macao peninsula. The Company's portfolio features a diversified mix of leisure and business attractions and transportation operations, including large meeting and convention facilities; a wide range of restaurants; shopping malls; world-class entertainment at The Venetian Arena, The Londoner Arena, The Venetian Theatre, The Parisian Theatre, The Londoner Theatre and Sands Theatre; and a high-speed Cotai Water Jet ferry service between Hong Kong and Macao. The Company's Cotai Strip portfolio has the goal of contributing to Macao's transformation into a world centre of tourism and leisure. Sands China is a subsidiary of global resort developer Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS).

For more information, please visit www.sandschina.com.

Sands Cares

A firm believer in the importance of corporate social responsibility, Sands China Ltd. engages with the local Macao community as a part of Sands Cares – the charitable giving programme of parent company Las Vegas Sands Corp. Sands Cares integrates the company's philanthropic work worldwide in four key areas: financial giving, community problem solving and collaboration, in-kind donations, and team member volunteerism.

Key areas of Sands Cares in Macao include the Sands Cares Ambassador programme for volunteering in the local community; charitable contributions to NGOs and community organisations; and sponsorship of community events.

For more information, please visit www.sands.com/sands-cares/.

About NBA Social Impact & Inclusion and NBA Cares

NBA Social Impact & Inclusion drives change on issues facing fans and communities by advancing needed resources and proven partners. We create data-driven strategies and programming to empower colleagues to bring their best self. NBA Cares works with NBA players and teams to highlight important issues through the NBA's digital, social and broadcast channels, live events and partnerships.

Media contacts:
Corporate Communications, Sands China Ltd.
Mabel Wu
Tel: +853 8118 2268
Email: mabel.wu@sands.com.mo

Jesse Chiang
Tel: +853 8118 2054
Email: jesse.chiang@sands.com.mo

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'NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week 2026' Attracts Over 2,900 Participants Across Five Days

'NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week 2026' Attracts Over 2,900 Participants Across Five Days

'NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week 2026' Attracts Over 2,900 Participants Across Five Days

'NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week 2026' Attracts Over 2,900 Participants Across Five Days

'NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week 2026' Attracts Over 2,900 Participants Across Five Days

'NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week 2026' Attracts Over 2,900 Participants Across Five Days

'NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week 2026' Attracts Over 2,900 Participants Across Five Days

'NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week 2026' Attracts Over 2,900 Participants Across Five Days

'NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week 2026' Attracts Over 2,900 Participants Across Five Days

'NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week 2026' Attracts Over 2,900 Participants Across Five Days

'NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week 2026' Attracts Over 2,900 Participants Across Five Days

'NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week 2026' Attracts Over 2,900 Participants Across Five Days

New "DISCOVER" Channel Connects Global Shoppers with Curated Brands and Distinctive Products from China

SINGAPORE, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Taobao Tmall World ("Taobao") today announced a comprehensive upgrade to its cross-border shopping experience, expanding direct access worldwide to curated stores and products from China known for their quality, distinctiveness, and originality. Taobao has identified a trend in cross-border demand for Chinese goods, from seeking "low prices" to prioritizing "distinctiveness" and "quality." To meet this evolving need, Taobao is leveraging its catalog of over 3 billion products available for cross-border purchase and its trusted official logistics network. On the supply side, Taobao is combining AI with human curation through a four-criteria selection framework – Quality, Distinctiveness, Price Competitiveness, and Service – to establish the "Taobao Curated Supply System", which systematically identifies distinctive, well-made stores and products and recommends them to cross-border shoppers on an ongoing basis. At the same time, the app is refining its recommendation algorithms, enhancing AI shopping assistants, and launching the new "DISCOVER" channel to spotlight distinctive brands.

Kicking off with the Double 11 Festival, Taobao is partnering with popular actor Zhang Linghe to promote to cross-border shoppers worldwide the six refreshed experiences of the "Everything and Anything" brand following its comprehensive upgrade: QUALITY, TASTE, LIFESTYLE, TRENDY, SMART, and SURPRISE. This move leads cross-border e-commerce from traditional "shelf-based search" into a new era of "discovery-driven shopping."

Global Demand for Original Chinese Brands Keeps Heating Up

Riding the "Quality and Distinctiveness" Wave, Taobao Unveils Six Refreshed User Experiences

In recent years, original Chinese products and content, including designer toys, dramas, animation, and games, have captivated global audiences. Many international travelers use the Taobao app the moment they arrive in China, ordering unique finds and having them delivered directly to their hotels. This growing demand for discovering distinctive "original Chinese brands and products" that are hard to find locally continues to gain momentum in many different ways. Taobao has also observed a clear shift in cross-border shopping preferences: from price-driven purchases to those centered on quality, distinctiveness, and personal taste. During the 2025 Double 11 Festival, the number of cross-border users choosing higher-priced items increased significantly, with high-value shoppers (spending over RMB 500 per order) growing by 10% year-on-year. The data shows that cross-border consumers are moving beyond basic availability and affordability toward a higher standard: "buying quality and buying distinctive."

Ye Tian, General Manager of Taobao Tmall World, said: "The core value of Taobao is anchored in a cross-border catalog of over 3 billion products offering quality at competitive prices, reinforced by trusted cross-border logistics and localized services we have been building in individual markets over time. This ecosystem empowers cross-border users to fulfill diverse lifestyle needs and express personal style through shopping. Responding to users' increasingly evolving expectations, we have launched an upgrade across six refreshed user experiences this year—spanning a curated supply system built on the four criteria of quality, distinctiveness, price competitiveness, and service, in-app feature enhancements, the new DISCOVER channel, advanced AI shopping assistants, a redesigned user interface for cross-border shoppers, and upgraded cross-border logistics. Every critical touchpoint in the cross-border shopping journey has been refreshed. We invite users everywhere to open the Taobao app now and experience the joy of discovery-driven shopping on 'Everything and Anything' firsthand."

Responding to the global trend, Taobao strengthens the "Everything and Anything" brand value globally, meeting users' needs in each market for more personalized, more joyful everyday exploration and discovery. The six refreshed user experiences are defined as follows:

1. QUALITY: Enjoy Trusted Quality on Taobao.
2. TASTE: Shop Stylish Designs on Taobao.
3. LIFESTYLE: Embrace Diverse Lifestyle on Taobao.
4. TRENDY: Catch the Viral Trends on Taobao.
5. SMART: Upgrade to a Smarter Life on Taobao.
6. SURPRISE: Discover Unexpected Finds on Taobao.

More than Choice, Value and Local Service: Discover Exclusive Products on Taobao

New Curated Supply System Brings China's Signature Stores to the World

Taobao's strength in product selection is powered by China's comprehensive and agile manufacturing supply chain and its vibrant merchant ecosystem. Cross-border users can already buy over 3 billion products on Taobao, spanning apparel and accessories, home and furniture, smart electronics, pet supplies, designer toys, sports and outdoor products, and more – meeting everyday needs while serving niche interests and fast-moving trends. This delivers Taobao's signature "Everything and Anything" promise: whatever you need, always within reach.

With this brand experience upgrade, Taobao is further strengthening its supply of distinctive stores and products, making it easier for cross-border users to discover well-made and well-designed stores from China. Building on existing breadth, efficiency and price advantage, Taobao has applied its four criteria - quality, distinctiveness, price competitiveness, and service – and integrated AI-driven selection with human expertise to build a systematic curation framework. From the vast catalog, it has unearthed over 4,000 original-brand stores and 6 million curated products, creating a distinctive selection of products for cross-border shoppers. Through dynamic updates and always-on recommendations, users need only open the Taobao app to instantly find quality goods, new trends, and distinctive items rarely seen in their local markets.

From Shelf-Based Search to the Joy of Discovery

Taobao "DISCOVER" Channel Is Live — Curated Finds, Premium Quality, Endless Joy

The all-new DISCOVER channel is now live. Built on the Taobao Curated Supply System, it organizes distinctive stores and products into 15 themed categories – women's fashion, women's footwear, menswear, furniture, toys, stationery, pet supplies, fitness, and automotive accessories, among others – tailored to the categories, interests and lifestyles cross-border users love most. Powered by an upgraded personalization algorithm, the channel surfaces stores and curated items upon entry. Users can explore brands' signature aesthetics, hero products, and brand story, effortlessly finding pieces that match their personal style and taste.

Note: The DISCOVER feature is only available on the Chinese version of the Taobao app. The multilingual version does not support this function.

Taobao is also continuing to refine its AI shopping assistant suite, including AI Try-On, AI Virtual Makeup, AR Room Placement for furniture, Voice-Search-by-Hold, and AI Pet Care Guides. These tools help users judge sizing, how pieces coordinate, and how large furniture will look in their space, removing friction from buying certain categories online. Taobao will also roll out more than 30 AI Lifestyle Experts covering topics such as styling and baking. Through in-depth conversation, these AI experts help users pinpoint their true needs and cut through choice overload, helping them find products that better meet their needs amidst a vast catalog.

Regarding localized content, the Taobao app regularly publishes local topic series such as "Taobao NowWear," "Taobao Trend," and local rankings, weaving product discovery into the topics local shoppers are already buzzing about and bringing the shopping experience closer to everyday needs.

Taobao Official Logistics: A Comprehensive Upgrade for Seamless Global Delivery

On-Time Delivery with Loss/Damage Compensation • Flat-Rate Shipping for Bulky Items • Easier Local Return Experience

Since 2016, Taobao has continuously invested in cross-border infrastructure, culminating in a direct-shipping network covering 20 markets by 2025, with free shipping introduced in select markets. This year, Taobao Official Logistics takes another step up, elevating the user experience through three core pillars - GUARANTEE, CONVENIENCE, and ASSURANCE – to deliver a trustworthy and highly predictable journey for cross-border users.

• GUARANTEE: Taobao's official logistics guarantees cross-border users both transparent costs and stable delivery times — a dual certainty. Depending on market conditions, Taobao offers tiered delivery commitments such as 1-, 3- and 6-day options, so Taobao's specialty goods arrive on the scheduled date at the agreed shipping cost.
• CONVENIENCE: Simpler, within-reach cross-border logistics — one-tap direct shipping, end-to-end parcel tracking, and flat-rate direct shipping for bulky items across 10 markets worldwide. And Taobao Official Logistics now offers door-to-door delivery and installation in Hong Kong, China. Singapore has already reached a milestone of free shipping on large furniture, significantly lowering the barrier to using cross-border logistics.
• ASSURANCE: Taobao promises compensation for any lost or damaged parcel, backed by one-stop platform customer service that assists users throughout the process. The Local Returns service is further upgraded in 13 markets, so more cross-border users can return items conveniently nearby.

 

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Taobao Upgrades 6 Refreshed Experiences for Cross-Border Users

Taobao Upgrades 6 Refreshed Experiences for Cross-Border Users

Taobao Upgrades 6 Refreshed Experiences for Cross-Border Users