CRI contest awards ceremony held in Lhasa

　　(Source: CRIENGLISH.com)

　　Cui Yuying, minister of the Publicity Department of the CPC Committee of Tibet, presents a certificate to Linda Rosen, one of the top prize winners of CRI's ‘Beautiful Tibet' knowledge contest during the awards ceremony in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, July 3, 2009. (Source: CRIENGLISH.com)

　　BEIJING, July 4 -- Winners of CRI's "Beautiful Tibet" knowledge contest received specially-designed certificates and warm appreciation from contest sponsors Friday in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, on the fourth day of the winners' tour in Tibet.

　　CRI listeners from the UK, Germany, France, the Czech Republic, Columbia, Nepal and India received awards, and Leela Mani Paudyal, from Nepal, and Xavier Jacques Olry, from France, delivered speeches on behalf of all prize winners.

　　Vice director of CRI, Wang Yunpeng, and Wang Mingxing, vice minister of the Publicity Department of the CPC Committee of Tibet, gave speeches welcoming and offering their appreciation to the winners.

　　Linda Rosen from the UK, the only winner from an English-speaking country, said she was excited to win the top honor.

　　"I was so excited. I phoned my parents and friends when I won the prize. They couldn't believe it. I was very much looking forward to coming back to Tibet again," she said.

　　Officials from CRI and the Publicity Department of the CPC Committee of Tibet pose for a photo with top prize winners of the "Beautiful Tibet" knowledge contest after the awards ceremony in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, July 3, 2009. (Source: CRIENGLISH.com)

　　It's the second time Linda has visited the area. She said she hopes that more and more of her friends can have the chance to visit this mysterious place.

　　"It's very exciting to come here. I would encourage them (my friends) to try visiting (Tibet) as they can."

　　The "Beautiful Tibet" travel knowledge contest was cosponsored by CRI and the News Office of the People's Government of Tibet Autonomous Region. It ran from April 20 until June 10.

　　Launched on CRI's eight foreign language websites (English, French, German, Spanish, Czech, Nepali, Indian, and Tamil) and its Chinese website, the contest was designed to be a window into the real Tibet.

　　Netizens from 32 countries around the world participated in the contest. Seven of them won the grand prize, a free eight-day trip to Tibet.