Royal Mail stamps will mark Team GB gold medal triumphs at London 2012

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Gold medal stamps will be released by Royal Mail to celebrate Team GB's victories at the London 2012 Olympic Games, only the third time a host nation will have done this.

It is the first time that Royal Mail have announced they will issue stamps which will mark Olympic victories, and they will feature both individual and team victories.

Royal Mail's Stephen Agar said: "We're delighted to announce we will be issuing these very special gold medal stamps.

"We hope that we will be printing many sets, just as the nation hopes that it will be celebrating many victories next summer."

There are also plans to commemorate the Paralympic Games, while the specific design of the stamps will be announced at a later date.

Having won 19 gold medals in Beijing at the 2008 Olympic Games, Britain will hope to win even more events in 2012 and keep Royal Mail busy.

The likes of the distance runner Mo Farah, the heptathlete Jessica Ennis and the swimmers Keri-Anne Payne and Rebecca Adlington are among the favourites to have their faces on stamps after next summer's Games.

Though the Royal Mail issued Olympic Games stamps in 1948 it is just the third time, after Australia in 2000 and Greece in 2004, that the host nation will issue stamps to commemorate individual gold medals.

Royal Mail has previously marked the World Cup victory in 1966 by England with a set of special stamps as well as the 2005 Ashes victory and the 2003 Rugby World Cup triumph.


Source
By David Gold
insidethegames.biz | Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games News

[IOMPOSTOFFICE]

Sir Paul Smith has designed London 2012 stamps and postcards - Welcome to the Isle of Man Post Office Website - Isle of Man Post Office Website.

Approved by her majesty and the London Olympic Games Committee.

The Isle of Man Post Office is pleased to present a most prestigious stamp issue, inspired by the London 2012 Games.

Designed by respected iconic British designer Sir Paul Smith this very special set of London 2012 stamps will go on sale just after midnight at 00.01 a.m. on January 1st 2012 - a ‘world first’ .

Isle of Man Stamps and Coins was hugely honoured and thrilled that Sir Paul Smith agreed to design their London 2012 collection of stamps and is certain they will help to ensure the memory of the Games remains in the mind long after the last medal has been awarded. According to Sir Paul, he wanted to make the collection positive and colourful and with a strong graphic style of design - something he has certainly achieved with this iconic collection.

A lifelong follower of the World Cycling, Sir Paul Smith was honoured to be asked to design the London 2012 stamp issue by the Isle of Man Post Office. He was also inspired in one of his designs by good friend, Olympic Cyclist and hometown hero to the Isle of Man, Mark Cavendish, MBE.