U.S. Artist Wins 2004 Olympic Art and Sport Contest



by Carla O'Connell - U.S. Olympic Committee (719-866-4846)













COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. - - Sergey Eylanbekov, a Russian-born artist who now calls Long Island, N.Y., home, has won first prize in the sculpture category of the Olympic Art and Sport Contest 2004. The two-phase competition was a cooperative effort of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the National Olympic Committee (NOCs), including the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).

In November 2003, Eylanbekov’s acrylic sculpture, “Five Continents”, was judged a winner in the USOC national contest, which was hosted by the United States Sports Academy’s American Sport Art Museum and Archives. “Olympic Finish”, a painting by former pro football player Ernie Barnes, earned first place in the graphics category. Both pieces were submitted by the USOC as entries into the international competition, which was under the direction of the IOC Commission for Culture and Olympic Education, and attracted works from some 60 artists representing 39 countries and five continents.

The award-winning art, three sculptures and three graphic works, is on display until June at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland. During the 2004 Olympic Games, the pieces will be put on show in Athens, Greece. In the graphics category, the winning entries came from the People’s Republic of China, Cuba and Italy. In addition to Eylanbekov’s sculpture, the honored creations were by artists from the People’s Republic of China and Chinese Taipei.

An award ceremony is scheduled for June 10 in Barcelona, Spain, during the World Forum on Education, Culture and Sport. As an international first-place winner, Eylanbekov will receive $30,000 (U.S.).

For additional information, please contact the USOC Media & Public Relations Division, 719-866-4529.









Author: Carla O'Connell
Organization: U.S. Olympic Committee
Phone: 719-866-4846