(BEIJING, May 31) ¨C The awards ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Landscape Sculpture Design Collection Contest was held on May 31, with 5 gold prizes handed out. Sculptor Ye Zongming's "Platform Diving" work was honored, along with "Kuafu Chasing the Sun" by sculptor Xu Songtao, "Eternal Flame," by Tian Ziyang, "Lily" by Mexican sculptress Yvonne Domenge, and "The Flowering" by French sculptor Joel Strill.

Ye Zhongming comes from earthquake-affected Sichuan. In his acceptance speech, he described sculpture as the concentration of beauty and love, and stated that the most beautiful sculptures are in people's hearts. "Those who are sacrificing their lives at the epicenter of the earthquake and those who risked their lives to bring the Olympic flame to the top of Mount Qomolangma are beautiful in our hearts," he said.

A number of heroes from the disaster relief frontline and Qomolangma Torch Relay Team, as well as several teachers from the earthquake-devastated Beichuan Middle School, were Saturday night's award presenters. They all expressed their beliefs and determination to mold the Olympic spirit into the future rebuilding of the earthquake-struck areas.

Liang Wei, Jiang Xiaoyu, Zhao Wenzhi and other officials from the Beijing government and BOCOG sent Fuwa-themed gifts to children in Sichuan, wishing them a happy Children's Day. They hoped to boost the children's confidence and optimism with the Olympic spirit.

This collection contest is a major cultural event dedicated to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Since its lunch in August of 2005, the organizing committee received more than 2,000 sculptures from 84 countries. About 400 of these were exhibited in dozens of cities on the Chinese mainland and more than 30 foreign cities such as London, Rome, Moscow, Atlanta and Lausanne. There were 29 gold, silver and bronze medal winners and 50 Olympic Ring winners. Most of these prize-winning sculptures will be on display in the Beijing Olympic Green.

(Photo credit: Li Han)