SAPPORO,Japan - A Thai team claimed the title of Grand Champion at the 40th International Snow Sculpture Contest in Hokkaido, Japan, for a fourth time on Friday.
The Artist from the Wild. Photo courtesy of 64th Sapporo Snow Festivali.
The 40th International Snow Sculpture Contest was held as part of the 64th Sapporo Yuki Matsuri snow festival, held annually in Hokkaido's capital city Sapporo from Feb 5-11.
Teams representing 11 countries put their works on display at the city's Odori Park.
Thai representatives Kusol Boonkorbsongserm, Amnuaysuk Srisook and Kritsana Wongthet beat the rest of the field with their winning entry "The Artist from the Wild", a snow sculpture of a mother elephant drawing His Majesty the King's portrait on a canvas along with her three calves, the organisers announced.
"We wanted to give the message that an elephant is the symbol of Thailand. The action of the elephants show that they are intelligent and also loyal to the king of Thailand," Mr Kusol, the team leader, told the Daily News.
"I was very happy [we] got the prize. I felt relieved because the other teams' sculptures were all beautiful. I was nervous because I had no idea which style the judges would like."
Japanese spectators approached the Thai team after the competition and asked how talented snow sculptors could come from a country where it never snows, Mr Kusol added.
Finland claimed second place, with Indonesia third, Sweden in fourth, and Singapore in fifth.
Thailand previously won the competition in 2000, 2009 and 2010.
Runner-up from Finland, Can you hear the trill? Photo courtesy of 64th Sapporo Snow Festival.
The Artist from the Wild. Photo courtesy of 64th Sapporo Snow Festival.