Issued by India

Issued on Aug 5, 2024

Issued for : The Department of Posts and the Indian Olympic Association are delighted to release miniature Sheet consisting of four Commemorative Postage Stamps on XXXIII Olympics Paris 2024. These stamps honor the spirit of sporting excellence and international unity showcased at Paris 2024. Representing sports like Javelin Throw, Field Hockey, Sailing, and Table Tennis, each stamp celebrates the diversity and talent of athletes competing on the world stage. The Miniature Sheet captures the essence of the Olympic Games, serving as a cherished memento for collectors and enthusiasts. The First Day Cover, adorned with a distinctive cancellation mark, signifies the official commencement of the stamp’s circulation, adding a special touch to this commemorative collection. Through these stamps, we pay tribute to the dedication, perseverance, and sportsmanship of athletes who inspire us all with their remarkable achievements.

Credits :
Miniature Sheet/FDC/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Sh. Brahm Prakash

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise (4)

Miniature Sheets Printed : 111000

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• The 2024 Summer Olympics, fondly known as Paris 2024 or the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, are poised to be a momentous event in the world of sports, culture, and international camaraderie. Commenced on 26^th July 2024 in Paris, France, these Games hold special significance as they mark the centennial of the 1924 Paris Olympics, bringing a sense of historical continuity and celebration to the forefront. With a rich tapestry of 32 sports, 329 events, and an anticipated participation of 10,500 athletes from over 200 National Olympic Committees (NOCs), alongside the inclusion of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, Paris 2024 promises to be a truly global spectacle, showcasing the pinnacle of human athletic achievement.
• An unprecedented feature of Paris 2024 is its commitment to gender equality, symbolized by an equal representation of male and female athletes, a historic first in the Olympic Games. This milestone underscores the ongoing efforts towards inclusivity and fairness in the realm of sports, resonating with the Olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect. The inclusivity extends to the medal design itself, with each medal incorporating hexagon-shaped tokens of scrap iron from the original construction of the iconic Eiffel Tower, an emblem of French ingenuity and heritage. On the reverse side, the medals depict Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, set within the historic Panathenaic Stadium, with the Parthenon and the Eiffel Tower standing proudly in the background, symbolizing the timeless spirit of athletic triumph.
• India, with its rich sporting heritage and burgeoning talent pool, is poised to make its mark at Paris 2024 across various disciplines. The Department of Posts is issuing a set of four commemorative stamps featuring sports such as Javelin Throw, Field Hockey, Sailing, and Table Tennis to underscore India’s achievements and contributions to the Olympic movement. From the historic gold medal in Javelin Throw at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to the storied legacy of Indian hockey, exemplified by multiple Olympic medals, including eight golds, India’s sporting prowess continues to captivate and inspire.
• Moreover, the burgeoning popularity of water sports like Sailing and the emergence of Indian Table Tennis athletes on the global stage further underscore India’s growing footprint in diverse sporting arenas. With both the Men’s and Women’s Table Tennis teams qualifying for the Olympics for the first time in history, Paris 2024 heralds a new era of possibilities and potential for Indian athletes, signaling the country’s emergence as a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.
• At its core, the Olympic motto “Citius, Altius, Fortius” – Faster, Higher, Stronger – encapsulates the spirit of Paris 2024 and the enduring legacy of the Olympic Games. It serves as a reminder of the unyielding pursuit of excellence, the relentless drive for progress, and the boundless potential of human achievement. As athletes from around the world converge in Paris to compete on the grandest stage of all, they embody the values of determination, resilience, and sportsmanship that define the Olympic Movement, inspiring generations and uniting nations in the shared pursuit of a better world.
• Text : Referenced from content provided by Proponent.

The post India on Olympic Games Paris 2024 appeared first on iStampGallery.

Issued by India

Issued on Aug 5, 2016

Issued for : Department of Posts is proud to be a part of this celebration of sporting excellence and commemorates the XXXI^st Rio Olympic Games-2016 by issuing a set of four Commemorative Postage Stamps.

Credits :
Stamp / Miniature Sheet / Sheetlet / FDC : Sh. Brahm Prakash
Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Nenu Gupta

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500, 500, 2500 & 2500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.5 million each

Miniature Sheets Printed : 0.1 million

Sheetlets Printed : 25,000 each (6 Types)

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• The 2016 Summer Olympics officially known as the Games of the XXXI Olympiad, and commonly known as Rio 2016, is a major international multi-sport event in the tradition of the Olympic Games due to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. The 2016 Summer Olympic program features 28 sports and a total of 41 disciplines and 306 events which means 306 sets of medals. These sporting events will take place at 33 venues in the host city and at 5 venues in the cities of São Paulo (Brazil‘s largest city), Belo Horizonte, Salvador, Brasilia (Brazil‘s capital), and Manaus. More than 10,500 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees (NOCs), including first time entrants Kosovo and South Sudan, are scheduled to take part. India is participating in total 15 sporting events and a contingent of around 120 athletes of various sports is expected to participate in XXXI^st Olympic Games Rio.
  
• The host city of Rio de Janeiro was announced at the 121^st International Olympic Committee Session held in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 2 October 2009. Rio will become the first South American city to host the Summer Olympics. The logo of the 2016 Summer Olympics represents three figures, in the yellow, green, and blue of the Brazilian flag, joined at the arms and in a triple embrace, with the overall shape reflecting that of Sugarloaf Mountain. The logo was based on four concepts: contagious energy, harmonious diversity, exuberant nature, and Olympic spirit. The Olympic mascot Vinicius, named after Brazilian musician Vinicius de Moraes, carries designs traits of mammals and represents Brazilian wildlife. His design takes inspiration from pop culture, as well as video game and animation characters.
  
• The Olympic flame was lit at the temple of Hera in Olympia on 21^st April 2016, the traditional start of the Greek phase of the torch relay. On 27^th April, 2016 the flame was handed over to the Brazilian organizers at a ceremony at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens. The opening ceremony will take place in the Maracana Stadium on 5^th August 2016. The closing ceremony will also take place at the Maracana Stadium on 21^st August 2016.
  
• Department of Posts is issuing a set of four Commemorative stamps to mark this prestigious event. The stamps are a stylized portrayal of sportsmen engaged in Badminton, Shooting, Wrestling and Boxing where India got medals in the past edition of Olympics.
  
• Badminton – Badminton had made its first appearance in 1972 Summer Olympics as a demonstration sport. Two decades later, Badminton had its debut at the 1992 Summer Olympics and has been contested in 6 Olympiads. It is governed by the Badminton World Federation. In XXXI^st Olympic Games-Rio, a total of 172 athletes are expected to compete in five events: men’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s singles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. The sport demands excellent fitness: players require aerobic stamina, agility, strength, speed, and precision. It is also a technical sport, requiring good motor coordination and the development of sophisticated racquet movements. India won a bronze medal in Badminton in London Olympic Games 2012.
  
• Shooting – Shooting had its debut at the 1896 Summer Olympics. The International Shooting Sport Federation administers Olympic and non-Olympic shooting competitions. Shooting technique differs depending on factors like the type of firearm used, the distance from and nature of the target; the required precision; and the available time. Breathing and position play an important role when handling a handgun or a rifle. A maximum of 390 athletes will be able to compete in the fifteen events across these Games. India won Silver and a bronze medal in Shooting in London Olympic Games 2012.
  
• Wrestling – Wrestling is a combat sport involving grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. Wrestling has been contested at every modern Summer Olympic Games, except Paris Olympic Games held in 1900. It has been split into two disciplines, freestyle and Greco-Roman, which are further divided into different weight categories. Men compete in both disciplines whereas women only participate in the freestyle events, with 18 gold medals awarded. India won Silver and a bronze medal in Wrestling in London Olympic Games 2012.
  
• Boxing – Boxing is a martial art and combat sport in which two people wearing protective gloves throw punches at each other for a predetermined set of time in a boxing ring. Boxing has been contested at every Summer Olympic Games since its introduction to the program at the 1904 Summer Olympics, except for the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm. Till 2008 Summer Olympics Boxing was the male event only. However, since the 2012 Summer Olympics, women’s boxing is part of the program. India won a bronze medal in Boxing in London Olympic Games 2012.
  
• The Olympic motto is the Citius, Altius, Fortius, which is Latin for “Faster, Higher, Stronger”. The three values the Olympic Games promote are excellence, friendship and respect. They constitute the foundation on which the Olympic Movement builds its activities to promote sport, culture and education with a view to building a better world.
  
• Text : Based on the material available on the internet.

The post India in Games of the XXXI Olympiad 2016 appeared first on iStampGallery.

Issued by India

Issued on Jul 25, 2012

Issued for : Department of Posts is proud to be a part of this celebration of sports and humanity by commemorating London 2012 Olympic Games by issuing a set of four Commemorative Postage Stamps and a Souvenir Sheet.

Credits :
Stamp / FDC & Souvenir Sheet : Kamleshwar Singh
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 2000, 500, 2000 & 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.4 Million Each

Souvenir Sheet : 0.4 Million

Sheetlet : 0.02 million

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : India Security Press, Nasik

About : 

• The London Olympics commencing on 27^th July 2012 with the theme slogan ‘Inspire a Generation‘ are a much awaited event for the sports enthusiasts across the globe. The slogan reflects one of London‘s key Olympic legacy pledges which is ‘to inspire a generation of young people to take part in local volunteering, cultural, and physical activity’. It is only since 1988 that the host cities have adopted their own motto/slogan for the Olympic Games. The earlier official Olympic motto was “Citius, Altius, Fortius” – which means “Faster, Higher, Stronger”.
• London is the first city to have the privilege of hosting the modern Olympic games third time, having previously done so in 1908 and 1948. At the London Games, around 10,500 athletes will compete across 26 sports with the epicentre of competition being Olympic Park. Located in Stratford, East London, Olympic Park has seen 2.5 square kilometres of industrial wasteland transformed into a green space which will provide the community ‘state of the art’ sports venues as well as one of the largest urban parks created in Europe in over 150 years.
• Wenlock has been chosen as the official Olympic mascot and Mandeville as the official Paralympics’ mascot for London 2012. Wenlock is named after the village of Much Wenlock in Shropshire – which hosted a precursor to the modern Olympic Games in the 19^th century. Mandeville is named after Stoke Mandeville, Buckinghamshire, UK, where the first Paralympic Games were held in 1948.
• Department of Posts is issuing a set of four Commemorative stamps to mark this prestigious event. The stamps are a stylized portrayal of sportsmen engaged in Volleyball, Rowing, Sailing and Badminton.
• Volleyball – Volleyball made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo 1964 Games for both men and women. Volleyball is played by two teams of six players each. The object of the game is to land the ball in the opposition’s half of the court. The key attacking move is the set and spike, in which a player feeds the ball (the set) for a teammate to power it into the opposition’s court (the spike). Volleyball requires power and quick reactions from the players.
• Rowing – Rowing has been staged at all Olympic Games since making its debut on the Olympic programme at Paris in 1900. Women’s Rowing events joined the Olympic programme at the Montreal Olympics, 1976. Rowing events are head-to-head races, ranging from Single Sculls to the Eight which is contested by teams of eight rowers with a cox. There are also lightweight events, where there are weight limits on the athletes in each boat. Rowing depends on a combination of strength and stamina. Technique and teamwork are vital to ensure getting the maximum speed and distance out of every stroke. A rower or team must time their race to perfection, ensuring that they have enough energy left for a fighting finish, if necessary.
• Sailing – Sailing made its Olympic debut in Paris 1900 with both men’s and women’s competitions. With the exception of St. Louis 1904, the sport has appeared at every Olympic Games since. Sailing is both a technical and tactical sport. Athletes need to be masters of their boats, getting the most out of them in terms of speed and performance. They must also be able to adjust to changing conditions and race tactically to ensure the best position at each stage in the race.
• Badminton – One of the most dynamic Olympic sports, Badminton made its full Olympic debut at Barcelona 1992. Badminton is a fast and dynamic sport. Players need to be incredibly fit and agile, have lightning quick reactions and excellent judgement. Doubles players must be in perfect harmony, working together as a team.
• The Olympic Games celebrate the eternal quest for excellence and the capability of sportspersons from different nations, cultures and background to come together and compete fairly and honestly to promote peace and international harmony.
• Text : Rashi Sharma (Based on the material downloaded from the Internet).

The post India on XXX Olympiad, London appeared first on iStampGallery.

Issued by India

Issued on Aug 8, 2008

Issued for : India Post is proud to commemorate the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, Beijing 2008 with issue of a set of four beautiful stamps.

Credits :
Stamp & FDC : Kamleshwar Singh
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500, 500, 1500 & 1500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.8 Million each

Miniature Sheet : 1.00 Million

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nasik

About : 

• The theme slogan of XXIX Olympic Games 2008 “One World One Dream” fully reflects the essence and the universal values of the Olympic spirit – Unity, Friendship, Progress, Harmony, Participation and Dream. It expresses the common wishes of people all over the world, inspired by the Olympic ideals, to strive for a bright future of Mankind. In spite of the differences in colours, languages and races we share the charm and joy of the Olympic Games, and together we seek for the ideal of Mankind for peace. We belong to the same world and we share the same aspirations and dreams.
  
• The 2008 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad is a Summer Olympics event that was held in Beijing, People’s Republic of China from August 8 to August 24, 2008 and followed by the 2008 Summer Paralympics from September 6 to September 17. 10,500 athletes were expected to compete in 302 events in 28 sports, just one event more than was on the schedule of the 2004 games. The 2008 Beijing Olympics also marked the third time that Olympic events had been held in the territories of two different National Olympic Committees (NOC); at the 2008 Olympics, equestrian events was held in Hong Kong, which competed separately from mainland China.
  
• The Olympic Games were awarded to Beijing after an exhaustive ballot of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on July 13, 2001. The official logo of the games, titled “Dancing Beijing”, features a stylised calligraphic character Jing, meaning capital, referring to the host city. The mascots of Beijing 2008 are the five Fuwa, each representing both a colour of the Olympic rings and a symbol of Chinese culture. The Olympic slogan, One World, One Dream, calls upon the world to unite in the Olympic spirit.
  
• The ancient Olympic Games were primarily a part of religious festival in honour of Zeus, the father of the Greek gods and goddesses. The festival and the games were held in Olympia, a rural sanctuary site in the western Peloponnesos. The athletes were all male citizens of the city-states from every corner of the Greek world, coming from as far away as Iberia (Spain) in the west and the Black Sea (Turkey) in the east.
  
• The ancient Olympic Games began in the year 776 B.C. when Koroibos, a cook from the nearby city of Elis, won the stadion race, a foot race 600 feet long. According to legends Heracles, the creator of Olympic Games in honour of his father Zeus, walked in straight line for 400 strides and called this distance a “stadion” (Latin: stadium, “Stage”) that later also became a unit of distance. That is why a modern stadium track is 400 meters in circumference – the distance a runner travels in one lap (1 stadium = 400m).
  
• For almost 12 centuries the Games were held in Olympia every four years. Thereafter the games went into oblivion. It took 1503 years for the Olympics to return. The first modern Olympics were held in Athens, Greece, in 1896. The man responsible for its rebirth was a Frenchman named Baron Pierre de Coubertin. To organise the Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was established, with the Greek Demetrius Vikelas as its first president. It was the largest international sports event ever held until that time. The Greek officials and public were so very enthusiastic, that they proposed to have the monopoly of organising the Olympics. The IOC decided differently, however, and the second Olympic Games took place in Paris, France. Paris was also the first Olympic Games where women were allowed to compete.
  
• From the 241 participants from 14 nations in 1896, the Games grew to nearly 11,100 competitors from 202 countries at the 2004 summer Olympics in Athens.
  
• The Olympic movement uses many symbols, most of them representing Coubertin’s ideas and ideals. The Olympics Rings are the most widely used symbol. These five intertwined rings represent in unity of the five inhabited continents (with the Americas regarded as one continent). The five coloured rings on a white field from the Olympic Flag. The colours, white, red, blue, green, yellow, and black, were chosen such that each nation has at least one of these colours in its national flag. The flag was adopted in 1914, but the first Games at which it was flown were Antwerp, 1920. It is hoisted at each celebration of the Games.
  
• The Olympic Motto is “Citius, Altius, Fortius”, a Latin phrase meaning “Swifter, Higher, Stronger”. Coubertin’s ideals are probably best illustrated by the Olympic Creed:
  “The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well”.
  
• Prior to each Games, the Olympic Flame is lit in Olympia, Greece and brought to the host city by runners carrying the torch in relay. There it plays an important role in the opening ceremonies. Though the torch fire has been around since 1928, the relay was introduced in 1936.
  
• The Olympic mascot, an animal or human figure representing the cultural heritage of the host country, was introduced in 1968. It has played an important part of the games since 1980 with the debut of Misha, a Russian bear.
  
• Today the Olympic Games is the most important and largest sporting event in the world. It is called “the longest lasting social activity that exists” and is followed by billions of spectators around the world. The modern Olympics have been growing constantly and new sports have been added to fit the needs of people.

The post India in XXIX Olympiad, Beijing 2008 appeared first on iStampGallery.

Issued by Iraq

Issued on Sep 24, 2006

Issued for : 2004 Summer Olympics held at Athens

Picture : Different Sport events : 100d – Soccer Players, 150d –  Runners and 500d – Various Athletes

Colour : Multicolour

Type : Stamps, Mint condition

Denomination : 100, 150 & 500 Dinar

Perforation : 14½ x 14½ (for 100d & 150d) and Imperforated (500d : size 10.00 x 7.00 cms.)

The post Iraq on XXVIII Olympiad, Athens appeared first on iStampGallery.

Issued by India

Issued on Aug 13, 2004

Issued for : The Department of Posts is proud to issue a set of four stamps on the 28^th Olympics.

Design : Stamps featuring Olympic themes have been popular with collectors since the first modern Olympic games, when Greece issued 12 commemorative stamps in 1896. Since then many nations have issued stamps on the Olympic Games theme.

To honour the Olympic spirit and to reflect India’s striving towards excellence in sports, four stamps are being brought out by India Post to commemorate the 28^th Olympic Games. These stamps feature the disciplines of wrestling (Rs. 5/-), shooting (Rs. 15/-), hockey (Rs. 15/-) and athletics (Rs. 5/-).

Credits :
Stamp & FDC : Kamleshwar Singh
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Se–tenant Block of 4 Stamps, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500, 500, 1500 & 1500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 3 Million each

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : Calcutta Security Printers Ltd.

About : 

• The greatest show on earth, where continents converge, nations compete, human endurance and strength extends its known limits, where history is repeated and often re-written, where the sporting spirit soars citius, altius, forteus, i.e. faster, higher, stronger, and finds echoes transcending all boundaries, of colour, race or ideology, the Olympic Games, resurrected from antiquity continues its revered tradition as a pan-global tradition in modern times.
  
• The ancient Olympic Games began in 776 BC, when the first athletic contest, a 170 metres foot race, was held at the sacred place of Olympia in Western Peloponnese, in honour of the Olympian Zeus, and was won by one Coroibos. The Games steadily expanded with the introduction of other races and a pentathlon event consisting of running, discuss throwing, long jump, javelin and wrestling. The original prize was the coveted olive wreath but valuable gifts followed, along with recognition for the victors who were specially honoured by their home towns and states. The prestige of the ancient Olympic Games was such that warring states would cease hostilities in order to honour the ceremonies. This is the spirit that has, in general, endured.
• The Olympic Games were banned by the Roman Emperor Theodosius-I in the 4^th century AD. Revival of the games came after a long time when Baron Pierre de Coubertin (1863-1937) made efforts which led to the forming of the International Olympic Committee in 1894, and the first modern Olympic Games was held in Athens in 1896. The International Olympic Committee passed a resolution in its meeting at Sorbonne (France) in 1894 that competitions be held every four years on the lines of the Greek Olympic Games, and that every nation be invited to participate in them.
• India is one of the oldest members of the International Olympic family. India‘s participation in the Olympic Games dates back to 1900, when a lone Englishman participating on behalf of India won one Silver and one Bronze medal in Athletics. Subsequently, India has regularly participated in the Olympic Games since 1920. India has the distinction of winning six Gold medals in consecutive Olympic Games in Hockey till 1956. Thereafter in the Tokyo and Moscow Olympics also gold medals in Hockey were won by India. In recent times, India won a Bronze medal in 1996 at Atlanta in Tennis through Leander Paes, and in 2000 at Sydney in Weightlifting through Karnam Malleswari. In both Atlanta and Sydney India participated in 13 disciplines. In the 28^th Olympics being held in Athens from 13^th to 29^th August, 2004, India will be participating in 14 disciplines.

The post India at XXVIII Olympiad 2004 appeared first on iStampGallery.

Issued by India

Issued on Sep 17, 2000

Description of Stamp Designs : The four stamps portray Hockey, Tennis, Weightlifting and Discus. The Designs which attempt to capture the excitement of sporting action are indicative of India’s quest for Olympic glory.

Credits :
Stamp & FDC : Kamleshwar Singh
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : First Day Cover

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 300, 600, 1000 & 1500 Paise

Overall size : 2.9 x 2.9 Cms.

Printing size : 2.9 x 2.9 Cms.

Perforation : 13.5 x 13.5

Paper : Matt Chromo

Stamps Printed : 3 million each

Number per issue sheet : 40

Printing Process : Photo Offset

Printer : Calcutta Security Printers Ltd.

About : 

• The Olympic Games, held once in every four years, are the greatest sporting events on the globe. They celebrate human excellence, the pinnacle of which is achieved when the mind and body strive in unison, motivated by a spirit of adventure.
• The ancient Olympic celebrations, which had its origin in Greece in the eighth century B.C., came to an end in 393 A.D. when the games were abolished by the Roman emperor Theodosius I, after Greece had lost its independence. However, the efforts of Baron Pierre Coubertin (1863-1937) of France led to the revival of the Olympics towards the end of 19^th century. The games of the I Olympiad of the modern cycle were held under the patronage of the King of Greece in 1896 in Athens. The games have been held regularly every 4 years thereafter, except for the years of the two world wars, and have grown in number of sports, besides the number of disciplines within each sport. The Olympic motto “Citius, Altius, Fortius” – swifter, higher, stronger, made its appearance at the Antwerp games in 1922. Its inventor was a Dominican, Father Henry Didon.
• India is one of the oldest members of the International Olympic family. India’s participation in Olympic Games dates back to 1920 and the country has been participating in all the Olympic Games ever since. India has the credit of winning six gold medals in consecutive Olympic Games in Hockey till 1956. Thereafter in Tokyo and Moscow Olympics, gold medals were won. India has the credit of occupying the fourth place in 1956 Olympic games in Football, the game of the masses.
• To improve the India’s medal tally in the Olympic Games, the country is on course to adopt modern scientific approach in grooming talented youth in sports, backed by professional administrative management of sports. The National Sports Policy of the country spells out a time-bound programme to provide infrastructure of sports and physical education in villages and towns and appropriate equipment to sports persons. It enjoins upon the governments to preserve playfields and open spaces and emphasises the necessity of effective training and competition programmes for preparation of national teams to participate in international competitions. The Government has also launched various sports promotion schemes for creation of infrastructure as well as providing incentives to sports persons.
• India and Sydney Olympic Games
  • India would be fielding a 72 member team with 49 men and 23 women athletes in XXVII Olympic Games to be held from 15 September to 1 October 2000 at Sydney. The country will participate in 12 disciplines viz. Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Hockey, Judo, Rowing, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Weightlifting and Wrestling. The Department of Posts joins the sports lovers of the country in extending its good wishes to the Indian contingent to return form Sydney with creditable performances to gladden the hearts of all Indians.
• Text : Based on material furnished by the Indian Olympic Association.

The post India in XXVII Olympics 2000 appeared first on iStampGallery.

Issued by India

Issued on Jun 25, 1996

Issued for : The Department of Post has, from time to time, highlighted sports events, particularly the Olympics. Special postage stamps have been issued on the occasion of the 19^th, 20^th, 23^rd and 25^th Olympic Meets. The Department is now very happy to issue this set of 2 stamps on the ‘Spirit of Olympism’ on the occasion of the 26^th Olympic Meet which also marks hundred years of Olympics.

Design : One of the stamps depicts the Marble stadium of Athens with an impression of Parthenon in the background and the other, the Olympic torch which has been carried since the first meet. The First Day Cover is a visual depiction of the Olympic motto. The torch is repeated on the cancellation.

Design Credit :
Stamp & FDC : Suresh Kumar
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamps, Postal Used

Colour : Four

Denomination : Two Stamps of 500 Paise each

Overall size : 2.90 x 3.91 cms.

Printing size : 2.55 x 3.65 cms.

Perforation : 13.5 x 13.5

Paper : Matt Chromo

Stamps Printed : 0.7 Million each

Number per issue sheet : 40

Printing Process : Photo Offset

Printer : Calcutta Security Printers, Kanpur

About : 

• The Ancient Olympic Games were started in 776 B.C. at Olympia, Greece. Thereafter, the Games, were held at four year intervals until they were abolished in 393 A.D. During the period of the Games, there would be a complete cessation in conflicts and wars between participating City States of ancient Greece and eventually came to be known as ‘Olympic Truce‘.
• The modern Olympic Games were first held in Athens in 1896 through the single-minded efforts and determination of Baron Pierre de Coubertin, a brilliant educator and scholar, but not an athlete. He recognised that sports tournaments open to all countries in the world would represent the ideals of fraternity and equality. It would generate the sense of brotherhood amongst peoples and nations. It is these ideas together with the ideas of the Ancients which constitute the ‘Spirit of Olympism‘. In Olympic Games of 1896, only 13 countries participated. This number increased to 171 in 1992, representing almost all the nations on earth.
• The Olympic Games at Atlanta scheduled in July-August 1996 celebrates the centenary of the modern olympic movement. This includes a rededication to the ideals of the olympic movement as set out by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, and as reflected in the ‘Spirit of Olympism’ namely, ‘ALTIUS’, ‘CITIUS’, ‘FORTIUS’.

The post India on Spirit of Olympics 1996 appeared first on iStampGallery.

Issued by Nepal

Issued on Dec 31, 1992

Issued by :
His Majesty’s Government
Postal Services Department
Nepal Philatelic Bureau
Kathmandu

Design : The present postage stamp brought out to commemorate this important international sports event depicts a picture of Marathon and Shooting alongwith the impressive logo of the Barcelona Olympics.

Designer : K. Karmacharya

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Denomination : 25 Rupees

Colour : 4 Colours

Size : 25 mm x 35 mm

Format : Vertical

Paper : Stamp Paper

Quantity : 1,000,000 (One Million)

Sheet : 50 Stamps per sheet

Process : Offset Lithography

Printer : Helio Courvoisier S. A., Switzerland

About : 

• The 25^th Summer Olympics Games was organised in Barcelona, Spain from 25^th July to 9^th August, 1992. 162 countries including Nepal had sent their teams to take part in the 25^th Olympic Games in Barcelona. Nepal had participated in three disciplines including a demonstration Game.

The post Nepal in Olympic Games, Barcelona ’92 appeared first on iStampGallery.

Issued by India

Issued on Aug 8, 1992

Description of Designs :
Stamp : Pulak Biswas
First Day Cover : Shankha Samant
Cancellation : Shankha Samant

Type : Stamps, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 100, 600, 800 & 1100 Paise

Overall size : 3.91 x 2.90 cms.

Printing size : 3.55 x 2.54 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Imported Un W/M gravure coated Gummed Stamp Paper

Number Printed : 10,00,000

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press

About : 

• The ancient Olympic celebrations staged every four years were started by the Greeks to honour their god Zeus. Through their sporting actions at the Olympiads, man was shown as offering a tribute to the gods. The ancient programmes had boxing with bare fists, wrestling in which violence was paramount, racing over stades (distance of approximately 200 metres) besides the popular chariot races.
• While these Games were based on the concept which was later to be termed as amateurism, the winner of various events at the Olympics were suitably awarded by the royalty. The winner of the chariot race was the most decorated and revered and his prize was 100 vases of olive oil besides other gifts, like food supply, arches or statues in their honour.
• But the ancient Olympics came to an end in 393 AD when Emperor Theodosius banned the Games.
• A French man named Baron Pierre de Coubertin dreamt of reviving the Olympics in their pure form. But it was only in 1892 that he dared to make his idea public. By 1894 he was able to garner up enough support and towards November, Athens was chosen as the first Modern Olympics were declared open by King George I of Greece. The games had 42 events in ten disciplines and there were a total of 285 participants. A new era had dawned.
• Hockey was introduced in the Olympics in 1908 at London and was included in 1912 at Stockholm, with England emerging winners both times. But the discipline was dropped in 1920 and 1924 before being revived in 1928, when India first took part in it and won the gold medal. India were to win the gold at the next five Olympics in 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952 and 1956 before losing to Pakistan in 1960. India won the hockey twice in 1964 and 1980 to make it seven golds overall.
• Boxing had always been a part of the Olympics. They have a history from the ancient Olympics and when Modern Olympics came into being in 1896, they were on the programme. India won a bronze medal in wrestling in 1952 through K D Jadhav. It was the only medal India has won at the Olympics apart from hockey (upto 1992), in which it has won seven gold, one silver (in 1960) and two bronze (in 1968 and 1972).
• Discus throw is a part of the athletics programme and this event has often been portrayed on ancient Greek paintings and carvings.
• Gymnastics is the mother of all sports and is an aesthetic display of the architectural ability of the human form. This has now become an integral and essential sports disciplines in all competitions.
• Olympic Torch which is lit at the temple of Zeus is carried by relay of runners to the main venue to be lit before Commencement of the games. At Barcelona the torch was ignited by a lighted arrow shot by an ace archer.

The post India in XXV Olympics 1992 appeared first on iStampGallery.