China meet the United States today in what is likely to be one of the most watched basketball games in history.

The clash between Yao Ming, the 2.26m Chinese giant who plays for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association and US stars Kobe Bryant, who plays for rival American team, the Los Angeles Lakers, and LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers has been much anticipated.

NBA rivals Yao Ming and Kobe Bryant will fight for their countries in Beijing. [Agencies]

The 18,000 sell-out crowd at the Wukesong Indoor Arena will include President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and US President George W. Bush.

Yao, a center with the Rockets, knows his squad is likely to find America a very difficult opponent but says it will be a great occasion for the Chinese players.

"There won't be many opportunities to play an American all-star team. I have been waiting for this moment for such a long time," he said.

"We're clearly not at the same level as the American team but we won't give up the chance to play against the best players in the world. It won't be easy but it will be an honor and a precious memory, one that will last a lifetime."

Bryant, a guard in the US team, says it will be an experience for him playing against Asia's first NBA star on his home soil. "Yao has been great for basketball in China," Bryant said. "People have seized on that. It continues to globalize the game."

China does not have a strong track record against the US. Since their first Olympic showdown in 1984, when American college players crushed China 97-48 at the Los Angeles Games, China has never been close to beating the US -- it lost by 49 points in Soeul in 1988, 63 points in Atlanta in 1996 and 47 points in the Sydney 2000 Games.

China has fared slightly better at the World Championships, but only very slightly, losing by only 19 points in Indianapolis in 2002 and then by 31 points in Japan in 2006.

China's goal this year is to reach the quarterfinals, but it will be a tough task for them to get out of Group B. After the clash with the US today, the host country will then have to face world champions Spain, African champions Angola, world champion runners-up Greece and then Germany, which includes Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki.

But regardless of how China fares in its group, Chinese basketball officials believe the opener will be a milestone in sports history for both the US and China.

"It's more than a game," Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) chief Li Yuanwei said. "The game will be a perfect summary of co-operation in the field of basketball between the two nations, and I am sure there will be more to come after it."

American superstars are carried away by the historical moment as well. LeBron James, who has experienced the excitement of the NBA Finals in 2007, still expects to be amazed at tonight's game.

"I expect to be electrified. It's probably going to be the most watched game in the history of the world," he says. "It's going to send a lot of chills through my body just to be there and be part of it."

US coach Mike Krzyzewski said the US and China now share a passion for basketball. "We feel like we share a passion with this country for basketball and we feel honored our first game is against China," he said.

"We will feel that spirit of international sport and the heights a team can reach when it plays for its country. Starting off the Olympics like that is a very important thing for us. Chinese people have been amazing to our team. They'll treat us with respect."

In an online poll conducted by China Daily (chinadaily.com.cn), 76 percent of respondents said they preferred to have this tough opening match than one against an easier opponent.

"You cannot imagine a harder opening game than this, but I like it," said China's Yi Jianlian, who plays for the New Jersey Nets. "You could feel the atmosphere as soon as the draw was announced. It was like a party, inviting the most talented players from two countries that are moving closer in the world of basketball."