Ten Indian entries selected for Visa moving images contest

New Delhi, Feb 12 (UNI) With the Beijing Olympic Games fewer than 200 days away, Visa, the world's largest ATM networks, today announced 10 entries from India had made it to the final shortlist of the Visa Moving Images photography competition.

These four categories of the competition were themed upon the elements of the Olympic Games' motto -- Citius, Altius, Fortis (Faster, Higher, Stronger) -- and China.

The competition, which started on October 1 last year, gave Visa cardholders in the the Asia-Pacific region four opportunities to win packages for two to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, including tcikets to two events, sightseeing, airfares, accommodation and 5000 US dollars.

In total, 10 photographs taken by Indian amateur photographers made it to the final shortlist.

''While China's influence can be felt around the world through its culture, cuisine, people, festivals and landmarks, it was really interesting how our ten cardholders were able to capture both the traditional and modern aspects of this influence so creatively in their photographs,'' said Santanu Mukehrjee, Country Manager (South Asi), Visa International.

Shortlisted entries from 17 markets ranging from Pakistan to the Philippines are now on display at the Visa Moving Images web gallery -- www.visamovingimages.com -- where members of the public can vote for their favourite photographs.

Each visitor to the website will be able to cast one vote for up to three photographs per category. Voting concludes at midnight on February 15. Photographers whose entries receive the highest number of votes in each category will receive 500 dollars in prize money.

''We hope that as many people as possible will view and vote for their favourite photographs in the Visa Moving Images web gallery.

These are excellent works which capture the spirit of the Olympics and given the enthusiastic response we have received throughout the competition, there is definitely a palpable excitement around the upcoming games,'' Mr Mukherjee said.

Each category winner will be chosen by a panel of judges comprising four professional photographers and Vias executive management. The four category winners will be asked to submit up to eight photographs of their experience at the Beijing Olympics. One of these images will then go on to win an extra 3000 dollars in prize money.

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