Photo Exhibit Captures Universal Language of Sport

In September 2002, an international jury met in Tokyo to select, out of 2,158 entries from Asia/ Pacific countries, the 100 photos that best expressed “The Joy of Sport.”

The contest was organized by  the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s Asia/ Pacific Cultural Center in Tokyo.

These 100 photos are now in Phnom Penh as part of an Asean touring exhibition.

Held at the Cambodia National Commission for Unesco near In­de­pendence Monument, the exhibition explodes with excitement and laughter as professionals and amateurs of all ages are shown en­gaged in their favorite sports.

In Gu Taojin’s pho­to, a Chinese boy’s face reflects all the tension of having to fight, at 6 years old, in front of other children. But in Cambo­dian photographer Chhoy Pi­sei’s photo, an athlete shows no emotion other than intense concentration in the boxing ring.

Maung Ba Oo of Burma captured the pure joy on the face of a girl about to complete a high jump attempt; and Yeoh Chan Chew of Malay­sia caught the elation of white-water raft­ers navigating a rough spot.

In Japan, motorcyclists are airborne as they jump over a hill in Takeda Jiichi’s photo. And in Cambodia, horses run at top speed in Sothy Tang Chhin’s pho­to of the Pouhea Pou commune annual race in Kandal province.

ACCU chose sports as the theme for its 25th photo contest to help people communicate across cultures, said Tan Theany, Cam­bodia Com­mission secretary-general. “In sports, people speak the same language,” she said.

Since Cambodia was to be the exhibition’s last stop, the commission obtained approval from ACCU to keep it in the country, said Yos Eang, the commission’s deputy secretary general. The commission has been discussing ways to make it useful, he said.

One project may involve exhibiting the photos at Sorya Shopping Center, with an information booth on AIDS and drug abuse, said Fabrice Lauren­tin, HIV/AIDS program liaison for Unesco and the UN Children’s Fund. This could take place as soon as April, he said.

Until then, the photos will re­main at Cambodia National Com­mission for Unesco.