Olympic Games 2009

In the countdown to London 2012 Royal Mail is issuing 30 stamps for the 30th Olympiad and the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Each stamp will champion an Olympic or Paralympic sport and they will be issued in three sets of ten stamps each. Royal Mail is commissioning some of the most exciting artists and illustrators to produce designs for a total of 30 stamps.

The first of these features Olympic and Paralympic Games issued in two se-tenant strips of five 1st Class stamps. Further sets of 10 will be issued in 2010 and 2011. The London 2012 Games commences on 27 July 2012 and concludes on 12 August. The Paralympic Games commences on 29 August and concludes on 9 September 2012.

The Olympic Games comprises 26 different sporting disciplines, such as Cycling. Cycling includes several different events where medals are won – including road racing, various time trials and velodrome races as well as mountain biking events and BMX. Many gold medals can be won in different events, and all will be symbolised by one Cycling stamp symbolising the sport of Cycling.

The Paralympic Games features 21 sports, such as Judo (which is also competed in the Olympic Games), as well as Paralympic specific events such as Goalball. In all, 29 different sports are played at the Olympics and Paralympics. There will be one stamp design for each sport with the exception of athletics which will be presented across two stamps as Athletics: Track and Athletics: Field, hence 30 sport stamps.

Sports from each of the Olympic disciplines were selected to illustrate the subject of each stamp and Royal Mail’s design team with David Hillman, from Studio David Hillman, set to work allocating each sport to one of the quality image makers who agreed to work on this three-year project. Royal Mail also consulted with the sports’ governing bodies and specialist clubs for each stamp. Each stamp will have the London 2012 Olympic or Paralympic logo in the lower corner.

1st Class – Canoe Slalom

An action packed illustration of Canoe Slalom by John Royle represents the Canoe/Kayak discipline.

1st Class – Paralympic Games: Archery

Paralympic Archery is illustrated here in the distinctive style of George Hardie.

1st Class – Athletics: Track

A collage by Nathalie Guinamard represents track events.

1st Class – Aquatics

The Aquatics discipline is represented by this distinctive illustration of a diver by Julian Opie.

1st Class – Paralympic Games: Boccia

The Paralympic discipline of Boccia is illustrated here by David Doyle.

1st Class – Judo

Paul Slater has captured the thrills of a Judo throw in this illustration.

1st Class – Paralympic Games: Equestrian

Paralympic Dressage, illustrated by Andrew Davidson, represents the Equestrian discipline.

1st Class – Badminton

An illustration of a shuttlecock by David Holmes represents the Olympic discipline of Badminton.

1st Class – Weightlifting

Illustration by Guy Billout.

1st Class – Basketball

Huntley Muir bring their distinctive style to the discipline of Basketball.

Presentation Pack M18 – Olympic and Paralympic Games

The fully illustrated Presentation Pack contains the ten Olympic and Paralympic Games stamps. Inside former Daily Mail sports news editor Ian Cole takes a look at each of the sports. The pack was designed by True North and printed by Walsall Security Printers.

Stamp Cards Price

Ten postcards bearing enlarged images of each of the Olympic and Paralympic Games stamps. Printed by Fulmar Colour Printing Company Ltd.

Commemorative Sheet

Featuring all 10 Olympic and Paralympic Games stamps.

Feature	Type/Detail
Number of stamps	Ten
Design	Studio David Hillman
Illustration	Canoe Slalom: John Royle; Archery: George Hardie; Track: Natalie Guinamard; Diving: Julian Opie; Boccia: David Doyle; Judo: Paul Slater; Equestrian: Andrew Davidson; Badminton: David Holmes; Weightlifting: Guy Billout; Basketball: Huntley Muir.
Stamp format	Square
Stamp size	35mm x 35mm
Printer	Cartor Security Printing
Print process	Lithography
Number per sheet	25/50
Perforations	14.5 x 14.5.
Phosphor	All over
Gum	PVA

Text © reproduced with the permission of Royal Mail Group Ltd. All rights reserved.