Nikon Photo Contest International competition supports children's 'Right to Play' Scheme

Thursday July 27, 2006

Nikon is pleased to support the worldwide ‘Right to Play’ initiative which encourages children to take part in sports and improve confidence with its Nikon Photo Contest International (NPCI) 2006/7.

Nikon’s support of the ‘Right to Play’ scheme, which began at the 1994 Winter Olympics, coincides with the 31st biennial NPCI competition. The 2004/5 competition attracted over 30,000 entries from more than 10,000 entrants on the theme of ‘At the Heart of the Image’.

The NPCI has grown in popularity and prominence since the first contest in 1969 and has attracted almost 1.25 million images from almost 300,000 photographers, over 30 years. There are two main categories for the 2006/7 NPCI competition, ‘free subject’ and ‘Smile, Smile, Smile!’, with a total of 33 prizes to be awarded by a panel of international photographers.

Nikon has set up a special project that coincides with the 2006/7 competition, supporting the ‘Right to Play’ humanitarian scheme. The ‘Right to Play’ initiative encourages children to take part in sports and play to help with their development, give them confidence and improve their relationships with other children and adults.

Nikon is establishing a number of pan-European and local schemes to raise awareness and contributions for the ‘Right to Play’ initiative which will be directed towards a specific scheme in Africa or Eastern Europe. For every entry to the NPCI 2006/7 competition Nikon has announced that it will donate 2 Euros per entry into the Nikon ‘Right to Play’ fund.

Since it was launched in 1994, the ‘Right to Play’ programme has attracted widespread support from international organisations such as UNICEF and UNHCR, as well as corporate backers who have combined to raise $18 million to help children in African and Asian countries.

Martina Beckmann, Nikon Europe Manager Communications and Marketing Services, said: “The ‘Right to Play’ foundation is important to Nikon and the more entries we get to this year’s NPCI, the more funds we will allocate to making our support of the scheme a resounding success.”

Details of Nikon’s support for the ‘Right to Play’ programme and information about how to enter the NPCI 2006/7 can be found at a dedicated website, www.npci.info

Ends

Contact
Yvonne Billenkamp-Schaefers
Nikon Europe BV
T. +31- (0)20-4496222
F. +31- (0)20-4496297
Email: marcom@nikonbv.nl

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