JEDDAH, 25 May 2004 — Five Saudi children have been chosen as winners of a global art contest. The children were asked to illustrate how the Olympic Games could help create a better future and were chosen on the basis of artistic merit and originality. A special ceremony will be held for the winners from around the world at the Athens Olympic Games in August this year.
The winners are Suha Mohammad Al-Shehri, Rana Meshaal Al-Omari, Salam Amir Taraben and Lina Mohamed El Shamy, all from Jeddah, and Saeed Abdulrahman Ali Hafez from Abha.
The key values depicted in all of the winners’ artwork were unity and peace. The illustrations from Al-Shehri and Taraben portrayed children from diverse backgrounds uniting on an image of the globe, while Hafez’s brightly colored view of a sports arena stressed that participation and dedication are the pillars of a successful future.
Al-Omari’s portrayal of Saudi families in traditional attire as spectators called for reverence of all cultures and El Shamy’s artwork personifying animals and aliens as athletes was themed on uniting mankind with every other form of life on earth and beyond.
The winning artworks will be displayed at a special exhibition to be held during the Athens Games and featured on screensavers, postcards and other merchandize.
The children are the first to represent the Middle East in the Visa Olympics of the Imagination contest since it was first launched in 1994.
The competition gives children between the ages of 9-13 years, who may not otherwise have a chance to be involved with the Olympics, a way to participate through art and learning, and experience the thrills of the Games.
As guests of Visa, each winning child and a parent will be given a six-day trip to the Olympics in Athens. They will participate in a special medal ceremony together with 25 other VOI winners chosen from across 16 countries. In addition, they will attend a number of Olympic events, participate in local activities and will have the opportunity to sightsee around the Greek capital.
“The VOI program offers an unmatched opportunity for the community to be involved in one of the world’s most historic events,” said Iain Jamieson, vice president of Visa International’s business development unit for the Middle East.
