Children live Beijing Olympics through art

Fifty-seven paintings by schoolchildren on the Beijing Olympics have been entered in a competition on the games organised by the China Cultural Centre in Valletta.

Organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, through the Youth Service Organisation, as well as by the Malta Olympic Committee (MOC) and the Chinese Embassy, the competition aroused a lot of interest with entries from 12 schools, according to Zheng Hao, director of the China Cultural Centre.

The competition was open to two groups: Group A for those in Years 1 to 3 and Group B for students in Years 4 to 6.

A panel of judges selected five winners from each group, having one painting placing first, two placing joint second and two, joint third.

Four of the five winners in Group A and one from Group B were from the Paola Primary A while in Group B three of the winners came from De La Salle College, Junior School, Cottonera.

The winners in Group A were, First Prize: Sheldon Saliba, Year 3, Paola Primary A.

Second prize winners: Jeremy Abdilla, Year 3 and Melanie Apap, Year 3, both from Paola Primary A.

Third prize winners: Chantea Balzan, Year 3, St Benedict, A Primary, Żurrieq and Liam Azzopardi, Year 3, Paola Primary A.

Group B First Prize: Leonard Schembri, Year 5, De La Salle College, Junior School.

Second prize winners: Neil Grech, Year 5, De La Salle College, Junior School, and Tesmarie Busuttil, Year 4, Primary B, Żejtun.

Third Prize winners: Annie Diao, Year 5, St Ignatius College, Primary Qormi, St Sebastian and Jeremy Caruana, Year 5, De La Salle College, Junior School.

The first prize consists of a limited edition souvenir of the games which are to start in the Chinese capital on August 8. The other prizes consist of other souvenirs of the Olympics.

The panel of judges consisted of the Chinese Ambassador; a representative from the Ministry of Education and one from the MOC; two members of the China Cultural Centre and two art teachers recommended by the Ministry of Culture.

The prize-giving ceremony will be held on September 24, when China marks its National Day. The students, their parents, heads of school and art teachers involved will be invited.

"The idea behind these competitions is to create an exchange of ideas and culture enabling children to appreciate what they have and how to share it with others. Also such events give children a lot of confidence by showing their talent in public from an early age," Mr Zheng said.

The paintings are on show at the China Cultural Centre until September 10.