Bangkok--6 Dec--TQPR Thailand Second trip up for grabs with next competition category open for submissions Eighty six entries from across Asia Pacific, including two from Thailand have been shortlisted in the first stage of the Visa Moving Images photography competition. The competition offers Visa cardholders a chance to win a package for two to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Visa cardholders from Thailand took the opportunity to capture their interpretation of the theme ‘faster’, which derives from the first element of the Olympic Games motto Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger). Shortlisted entries are now on display at the Visa Moving Images web gallery www.visasupporters.com/movingimages and visitors to the site can vote for their favorite photos. “The caliber of the amateur photographers was quite extraordinary as seen in the entries from across the region and we were very impressed by how beautifully and artistically some of the images expressed the meaning of “Faster” - the first word of the Olympic motto,” said Soomboon Krobteeranon, Visa International country manager for Thailand. Judging of the winning ‘Faster’ image will be conducted in January 2008 and the announcement of the results will follow thereafter. The competition, which started on 1 October, has now moved into the second stage, based on the second element of the Olympic Games motto ‘Higher’. Entries can be submitted until 12 November. “If the quality of the ‘Faster’ entries is any indication, we can expect our creative Visa cardholders to be submitting some spectacular photos in the ‘Higher’ category,” said Mr. Krobteeranon. In all, four prizes, each comprising a package for two to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, including tickets to two events, sightseeing, airfares, accommodation and US$5,000 in spending money will be awarded as part of the competition. The competition is open to Visa credit, debit and prepaid cardholders in Asia Pacific who wish to share their creative flair and photography skills to capture images that best illustrate each element of the Olympic Games’ motto — Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger), and China, the host country of what many expect to be the best Games ever. The competition is open to amateur photographers only, aged 18 and above. About Visa: Visa operates the world’s largest retail electronic payments network providing processing services and payment product platforms. This includes consumer credit, debit, prepaid and commercial payments, which are offered under the Visa, Visa Electron, Interlink and PLUS brands. Visa enjoys unsurpassed acceptance around the world and Visa/PLUS is one of the world's largest global ATM networks, offering cash access in local currency in more than 170 countries. For more information, visit www.corporate.visa.com. For further information, please contact: Tom Van Blarcom / Suparat Photivichit TQPR Thailand Tel: 0 2260 5820; Fax: 0 2260 5847-8; Email: [email protected]