Issued by India

Issued on Jun 12, 2014

Issued for : To mark the occasion, India Post is releasing a set of four stamps and a miniature sheet depicting action on the field and the mascot Fuelco on the day of the opening ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The stamps are an apt tribute to the football lovers in India and the world.

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

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500 p (2), 2500 p (2)

Stamps Printed : 0.9 million each

Miniature Sheet : 0.4 million

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : India Security Press, Nashik

About : 

• The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) is organizing the 20^th FIFA World Cup from 12^th June, 2014 at Brazil. The month long football battle, an ultimate test of endurance, zeal and mettle, is an eagerly awaited championship every four years.
• The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the governing body of football, was founded in May, 1904 in Paris with seven original members: France, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain (represented by Madrid FC), Sweden and Switzerland. This association is governed by the Swiss law and based in Zurich. It has 209 member associations and its goal, enshrined in its Statutes, is the constant improvement of football. FIFA employs some 310 people from over 35 nations and is composed of a Congress (legislative body), Executive Committee (executive body), General Secretariat (administrative body) and committees (assisting the Executive Committee).
• This association is responsible for holding the World Cup every four years. Ever since the first competition in Uruguay in 1930, FIFA’s flagship has constantly grown in popularity and prestige. The original idea of bringing the world’s strongest national football teams together to compete for the title of World Champions is credited to Jules Rimet. World Cup was organised three times in the 1930s in Uruguay, Italy and France, before the Second World War put a 12-year stop to the competition. When it resumed in 1950, the FIFA World Cup was hosted by Brazil. Since then the tournament has been hosted by 15 countries across all the continents.
• The 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil is one of the most awaited sporting events. Remaining true to its mission ‘Develop the game, touch the world, build a better future‘ the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Brazil has taken up the task to communicate the importance of the environment and ecology. Its mascot Fuleco can play a key role in creating environmental awareness. The term is a fusion of two words ‘fotebal‘ and ‘ecologia‘.
• This year 32 teams had been divided into eight groups (A-H) with each group comprising of 4 teams. The matches will be played from 12^th June, 2014 to 13^th July, 2014. The competition will start with the Group Matches followed by the Round of 16, Quarter Finals, Semi Finals and the Finals on 13^th July, 2014.
• Text : Based on the information from the FIFA website.

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Issued by Pakistan

Issued on Feb 12, 1990

Issued for : To commemorate 7^th World Hockey Cup, Lahore, Pakistan Post Office is issuing a stamp of Rs. 2/- denomination on February 12, 1990.

Design : The hockey players are shown artistically and symbolically in sketchy form in action through stain glass effect. The logo of the 7^th World Hockey Cup is depicted on the left hand margin of the stamp.

Designer : Mr. Mohammad Ali Khan (PSPC)

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Denomination : Rs. 2/-

Colours : Multi Colour

Size of stamp : 61.5 x 28 mm

Size of print : 56.5 x 23 mm

Perforation : 13C

Paper : 102 gms dual purpose coated PVA gum

Quantity : Four million

Number of stamps in a sheet : 27 stamps (3 x 9 rows)

Process of printing : Litho Offset

Printer : Pakistan Security Printing Corporation

About : 

• The idea of the World Cup was conceived by the Pakistan Hockey Federation some time in the late 1960s and the beautiful trophy for the winner was designed and donated by Pakistan.
• At FIH Council meeting held on October 26, 1969, it was decided to hold a World Cup Competition. The first World Hockey Cup tournament was held in 1971 in Barcelona, Spain. Pakistan donated the World Cup worth Rs. 600,000 (US $ 30000). His Excellency, the then Ambassador of Pakistan in Belgium, handed over World Cup to the FIH President on March 27, 1971.
• The 7^th World Hockey Cup will be organised by the Pakistan Hockey Federation on behalf of the International Hockey Federation. Pakistan will have the honour of holding the World Championship for the first time in a most befitting manner.
• Hockey is national game of Pakistan. The World Cup will, be a memorable occasion in the history of sports in Pakistan. Hundreds of thousands of hockey fans are expected to throng the National Hockey Stadium, Lahore during the tournament.
• Lahore, the city of culture, gardens and repository of Mughal Empire, welcomes the participants to the 7^th World Hockey Cup to be held at National Hockey Stadium, Lahore from 12^th to 23^rd February 1990. Apart from participating teams, top ranking officials and technical officials of Federation of International Hockey are coming to supervise the World Hockey Cup tournament from all over the world.
• The 7^th World Hockey Cup is the most prestigious Hockey Tournament. Teams from all over the globe will be participating. The teams have been divided into two pools. Pool ‘A’ consists of Argentina, Australia, France, Holland, India, USSR. Pool ‘B’ comprises of Canada, England, Ireland, Pakistan, Spain and West Germany. The matches on the two pitches are to be played on League basis. The winners of Pool ‘A’ will play against runners-up of Pool ‘B’ and winners of Pool ‘B’ will play against runners-up of Pool ‘A’ for the semi-finals. The winners of these matches will play finals of the championship. The remaining eight teams will compete in classification matches.
• Newly constructed National Hockey Stadium shall be the venue of the 7^th World Hockey Cup. It is located in a posh locality at Lahore and has a very pretty and picturesque surroundings. The Stadium has the capacity for 50,000 spectators providing all the amenities to players, organisers and spectators.
• National Hockey Stadium, Lahore is one of the best and biggest hockey stadiums in the world with the latest brand of system-90 Astro Turf pitch. The practising pitch has the system-5 Astro Turf. The provision of 2^nd pitch astro-turf was a must for the organisation of the World Hockey Cup competition. The new Astro Turf has been laid on the eastern side of the National Hockey Stadium. This was a challenging task; but the work was accomplished in the stipulated period.
• To facilitate working of international Press during World Cup tournament, special telecommunication arrangements have been improvised at the National Hockey Stadium with the active assistance of Telecommunication Authorities. Temporary telex, fax and international telephone have been installed besides other facilities including establishment of a temporary Post Office which will also sell postage stamps commemorating the 7^th World Hockey Cup.
• Pakistan has distinction of winning World Hockey Cup in 1971 (Barcelona – Spain), 1978 (Buenos Aires – Argentina), 1982 (Bombay – India) and Silver Medal in 1975 (Kuala Lumpur). These achievements are yet unparalleled. Pakistan had during the past few years facing a bad patch in international competitions; but is now facing the coveted World Hockey Cup competition with confidence. The statistical record of the World Hockey Cup since its inception is as follows :–
  

  Venue			No. of Teams	Victory Stand
  Year	Place	Country		Winner	Runners-up	3rd position
  1971	Barcelona	Spain	10	Pakistan	Spain	India
  1973	Amsterdam	Holland	12	Holland	India	W. Germany
  1975	Kuala Lumpur	Malaysia	12	India	Pakistan	W. Germany
  1978	Buenos Aires	Argentina	12	Pakistan	Holland	Australia
  1982	Bombay	India	12	Pakistan	W. Germany	Australia
  1986	London	G. Britain	12	Australia	England	W. Germany

• Mr. Bashir Moojid, the designer and artisan from the Pakistan‘s Army’s Corps at Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, had designed and shaped the World Cup Trophy as per the idea of the then PHF President. The World Cup is a magnificent trophy, 65 centimetre high and 11.56 kilograms in weight, made from gold (895 grams), silver (6815 grams), ivory (350 grams) and teak wood (3500 grams). The trophy stands mounted on a 12 cms high blade base beautifully inlaid with ivory. The trophy itself consists of a globe depicting the world in silver and gold, on top of which is a ball and hockey stick with gold and silver.
• The insignia of World Cup carries two sticks, with a hockey ball, one at the top and second at the bottom of a round circle indicating the world. Pakistan Hockey Federation insignia has been plated in the middle of the World Cup. Colour scheme indicates green and white colours of Pakistan flag.
• Gold medals will be awarded to the winners, silver medals to the runners-up and bronze medals will be given to 3^rd position. A specially donated ‘Cup’ will be given to the champion country.
• A cultural show of 1000 troupe will be presenting the folk dances of the four Provinces on the opening day.
• The 7^th World Hockey Cup is a great historic occasion in the field of sports in Pakistan.
• (Contributed by : Pakistan Hockey Federation).
  
• Issued by: The Director General, Pakistan Post Office, Islamabad. 

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Issued by India

Issued on May 31, 1986

Issued for : The Department of Posts is happy to issue a special stamp on the occasion of World Cup Football ’86 to be held in Mexico.

Description of Designs : A special stamp of 500 P denomination has been designed by Kumari Vandana Joshi. The first day Cover and the cancellation design has been prepared by Smt. Alka Sharma.

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Overall size : 4.06 x 2.73 cms.

Printing size : 3.71 x 2.38 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Unwatermarked P.G. matt coated gummed paper

Number printed : 15,00,000

Number per issue sheet : 40

Printing process : Photogravure

Printed at : India Security Press

About : 

• Interest in international football began in 1872, when the first match between any two countries was played. This was Scotland Vs England in Glasgow. The idea of the World Cup was, however, conceived in France. Its true parents were, indeed, two Frenchmen: Jules Rimet, after whom it was first named and Henri Delaunay. Rimet was the President of the French Federation FFF for 30 years from its beginning in 1919 and President of FIFA, the Federation Internationale des Football Association, from 1920 to 1954.
• The very first meeting of FIFA took place in Paris in 1904, and decided that it alone had the right to organise a world championship. This right was not to be exercised for twenty six years. In 1920, at FIFA’s Antwerp Congress, concurrent with the Olympic Games, the idea of a World Cup, previously much debated, was accepted in principle. In 1924, at the Paris Olympics, the FIFA meeting discussed it in more serious detail, while a dazzling and hitherto obscure Uruguayan side walked off with the trophy of soccer tournament.
• In 1930, the first World Cup Tournament was held in which thirteen countries took part, only three being from Europe. Today, there are no fewer than 150 nations who are members of FIFA, the world governing body whose headquarters are in Zurich.
• The World Cup with its finals every four years following the example of Olympic Games is firmly ensconced in the world of sports and is now simply called the FIFA World Cup. The competition has been held in Uruguay (1930), Italy (1934), France (1938), Brazil (1950), Switzerland (1954), Sweden (1958), Chile (1962), England (1966), Mexico (1970), West Germany (1974), Argentina (1978), Spain (1982) and now is scheduled for Mexico in 1986.

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Issued by Pakistan

Issued on Jun 5, 1985

Issued for : Pakistan Post Office is issuing a commemorative postage stamp of the denomination of Re. 1/- to commemorate the victory of Pakistan in the Asian Games, the World Cup and the Olympic Crown.

Designer : Adil Salahuddin

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Denomination : Re. 1/-

Colours : Green, black, beige & brown

Size of stamp : 60 x 30.50 mm

Size of print : 57 x 27.50 mm

Perforation : 13 C

Quantity : 500,000

Number of stamps in a sheet : 16 (Sixteen)

Process of printing : Litho Offset

Printers : Pakistan Security Printing Corporation

About : 

• It is difficult to pin point the origin of the game of Hockey. Some authors say that its place of birth is Greece, while others say, it started in Asia. This game was brought to the sub-Continent in 1896 by the British Forces. It soon spread out and became very popular. Field Hockey, for the first time, won recognition in 1908 when it was included in the IV Olympics Games held at London. It was in 1928 that Hockey team from this sub-Continent entered in the Olympics held at Amsterdam, Holland. The team gave an excellent performance and won the Gold Medal.
• As an independent state in August 1947, Pakistan‘s Hockey talent, though abundant, was disorganised. Pakistan was placed fourth in the 1948 and 1952 Olympic Games. In the 1956 Olympic Games at Melbourne, Pakistan reached the final for the first time but lost to India by a solitary goal.
• Pakistan finally got the much-needed and well-deserved morale-booster at the Asian Games at Tokyo in 1958 when it won the Gold Medal relegating India to second place on a better goal average. And the crowning achievement came in 1960 when Pakistan won its first Olympic Gold at Rome.
• Pakistan has an enviable record in this game. In the Asian Games since 1958, Pakistan has won six times and lost only once. Out of the 5 World Cup Tournaments, Pakistan lifted the Trophy 3 times and was once placed second. In the Olympic Games, so far, Pakistan has won 3 Gold, 3 Silver and 1 Bronze Medals. In the 6 Champions Trophy Tournaments, held so far, Pakistan has annexed the Trophy twice and was placed second on two occasions.
• GRAND SLAM
  • Munich was avenged at Los Angeles in 1984. The Pakistan Hockey Team, to the great delight of millions of Hockey fans in Pakistan, regained the Olympic Crown after sixteen years. With this victory, Pakistan achieved the rare distinction of winning the Grand Slam as they have captured three major titles i.e. the Asian Games, The World Cup and now the Olympic Crown.
• LOS ANGELES OLYMPICS-1984
  • Pakistan had to fight every inch of the way to the semi-final with fortunes fluctuating with every match. Australia and Holland came to the Tournament as “hot favourites”. They claimed a long list of achievements against the World Cup holders.
  • Pakistan team demonstrated the touch of class which enabled them to beat the formidable Australians in the semi-final. The final between Pakistan and West Germany can be termed as a clash between Asian artistry and European technique. It was a treat to watch our side play with West Germany. From the first whistle of the match to the last each one of its moves was an execution of dazzling stick-work and artistic wizardry. Never before did victory look so good and justifiable as it did at Los Angeles.
  • The victory of Los Angeles should give a great fillip to the game in Pakistan where public interest in Hockey was beginning to ebb prior to the Olympic Games at Los Angeles.
• ASIAN CUP
  • Pakistan retained the Asia Cup Hockey title at Dhaka during January 1985, by defeating a hard-fighting Indian team in extra-time after playing a 1-1 tie in regulation time. Now the immediate target for Pakistan Hockey team is the next Champions Trophy to be held later this year and the World Cup which will be played in England subsequently.
  • Over the years it has become increasingly clear that competition among the hockey-playing nations in the world is becoming tougher than before, and still greater efforts would be required to maintain our position at the top.
• Issued by : The Director General, Pakistan Post Office, Islamabad. 

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Issued by Pakistan

Issued on Jan 31, 1982

Issued for : Pakistan Post Office is issuing two commemorative postage stamps of the denomination of Re. 1/- each to commemorate the victory of Pakistan in the 5^th World Cup Hockey Tournament.

Designer : Adil Salahuddin

Type : Stamps, Postal Used

Denomination : Re. 1 (for both the designs)

Colours : Yellow, blue, red & black

Size of stamps : 35.20 x 50.80 mm

Size of print : 31.20 x 46.80 mm

Perforation : 13 C

Quantity : 2,50,000 (each design) total : 5 lac

No. of Stamps in a sheet : 50 (25 stamps of each design)

Process of printing : Litho Offset

Printers : Pakistan Security Printing Corporation, Karachi

About : 

• The First World Cup Hockey Tournament was held in Barcelona in 1971 on the initiative of Pakistan Hockey Federation. Pakistan Team by virtue of their magnificent performance won the prestigious Cup.
• Pakistan Hockey Team repeated their performance in the 4^th World Cup Hockey Tournament held in Argentina in 1978 when they defeated Holland by 3 goals to 2 in the Final.
• Again in 1981 Pakistan Hockey team participated in the 5^th World Cup Hockey Tournament held in Bombay from 29^th December, 1981 to 12^th January, 1982. Pakistan, West Germany, New Zealand, Spain, Poland, Argentina, Holland, India, Russia, Australia, England and Malaysia took part in this tournament.
• In the opening match against Spain Pakistan won comfortably by 4-1. In their second pool match against New Zealand Pakistan team set a new record for the highest number of goals scored by a team in the World Cup, improving their own record of nine goals against Argentina at Buenos Aires in 1978. Pakistan team won all their pool matches and scored maximum points. The results of the pool matches are as under :– 
  

  	Pakistan	W. Germany	N. Zealand	Spain	Poland	Argentina
  Pakistan	—	5-3	12-3	4-1	4-1	6-1
  W. Germany	3-5	—	2-1	1-1	5-3	2-0
  N. Zealand	3-12	1-2	—	2-0	1-0	3-5
  Spain	1-4	1-1	0-2	—	0-1	4-2
  Poland	1-4	3-5	0-1	1-0	—	2-1
  Argentina	1-6	0-2	5-3	2-4	1-2	—

• In the Finals against West Germany Pakistan won convincingly by 3-1 thus extending their uninterrupted reign to eight years. The margin does not reflect the true character of the victory. Pakistan‘s domination was total and complete barring the first five minutes when the Germans scored the only goal of the match against Pakistan.
• Issued by The Director-General, Pakistan Post Office, Islamabad.

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