JEDDAH, 1 September 2004 — Five Saudi children have returned from Athens where they took part in a global youth art competition run on the sidelines of the just-ended Olympic Games.
“Participation in the contest was interesting and we’re thrilled to emerge winners,” said Suha Al-Shehri who was one of five Saudi winners in the 17-nation contest. The other local winners were Rana Michal Al-Amri, Salam Taraben and Lina El-Shamy, all from Jeddah, and Saeed Ali Hafez of Abha.
They were the first to represent the Middle East on behalf of “Visa Olympics of the imagination” (VOI) global youth art competition since it was first launched in 1994. Jeddah’s House of Artists, which enjoys the patronage of Saudi General Presidency of Youth Welfare, supported the VOI contest.
“We’re proud that our children have won the contest,” a House of Artists executive said. Banque Saudi Fransi, Riyadh Bank, Samba and Saudi Hollandi Bank support VOI across the Kingdom.
Saudi winners were among 29 children from 17 countries who visited Athens to attend a special award ceremony at the Olympic Games.
The international grand prize during VOI 2004 was awarded to 10-year-old Lu Li Han from China for her illustration titled “dance on staff.” Lu Li Han and one of her parents will attend the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy, as guests of Visa.
They received medals from Gerhard Heiberg, chairman of the IOC marketing commission, five times Olympian Prince Albert of Monaco, Hans van der Velde, president and CEO of Visa Europe and Viviane Reding, European commissioner for education and culture.
Prince Faisal ibn Al-Hussain of Jordan also attended along with Olympians including Sir Steve Redgrave and Rosa Motto.
Winners together with a parent each were flown to the Greek capital for the Olympics. They witnessed four Olympic events.
“We also participated in cultural activities including tours of the Parthenon and Athens, as well as visits to the coast and amusement parks,” another winner said.
First launched at the 1994 Olympic Winter Games in Norway, VOI has seen nearly a million school children, aged between 9 and 13, submit an original piece of art based on selected themes.
The vision portrayed through the children’s artworks emphasized the Olympic spirit and the benefits of a united, harmonious and peaceful world, said Ihab Ayoub, Visa International’s country manager for the Kingdom.
