BEIJING, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Ten individuals and one group were awarded the title of "people of the year in spreading Chinese culture" at a ceremony on Thursday night. The prize winners include Mo Yan, the laureate of the 2012 Nobel Prize in Literature, former NBA star with the Houston Rockets Yao Ming, and pianist Lang Lang, according to the event organizers. The headquarters of the Confucius Institute were also honored for their efforts to promote the Chinese language learning and culture worldwide. The event was organized by the Ministry of Culture, the State Council Information Office, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, and China Central Television.