I love the Google Doodle. Being reminded of festivals, events, famous artist’s birthdays and the like, plus, it’s a break from Google’s regular graphic minimalism. And, if you’re a kid, a few times a year, you get the chance to win stuff by designing a Google Doodle.
This time around the topic is “Doodle 4 Google – I Love Soccer”, to celebrate this year’s World Cup, taking place in South Africa in July. And like the World Cup, Doodle 4 Google – I Love Soccer is global. It’s open to kids aged between 4 and 17 years old. Google Australia employees will select the top 10 entries from Australia, from which the public will select the winner. That entrant’s doodle will be the design on the Australian Google homepage for 24 hours on the 13th of June, 2010.
That winning Australian entry then goes up against the one winning entry from every other participating country’s entries, and again, the public vote for the global winner. This seems like a bit of a flaw, possibly advantageous to the more populous countries, but still, that’s the rules.
Prizes
Global winner prize: the global winning doodle will be displayed on the Google homepage globally for 24 hours on 11th July 2010. The winner will win a holiday to South Africa offered by South Africa Tourism Board. That’s for 4 people including one adult, for 9 nights, and includes international flights, domestic transportation and accommodation.
Runner-up prize: the runner-up will win 2 VIP tickets to a Premier League football match in the UK offered by Sports New Media, including international flights, domestic transportation and accommodation in the city where the match takes place.
The rules
According to Google, “submitted Doodles will be judged on artistic merit, creativity and how well the entrant expresses their love of soccer in the title and supporting statement.”.
To get over trouble such as Google had in this year’s Australia Day Doodle competition, “The doodle must not show any representation, logo or symbol of a specific country or a team or a sporting event such as: soccer teams badges, country flags, soccer tournaments symbols or logos or mascot. (Such doodles will be disqualified to compete).”.
For more information, closing dates, consent forms, design templates and how to enter, visit the Doodle 4 Google – “I love soccer” website (link opens in a new window).