OLYMPIC PHILATELY: FROM MELBOURNE TO SYDNEY

Transcription

1 OLYMPIC PHILATELY: FROM MELBOURNE TO SYDNEY MELBOURNE 1956 For the first time since the renovation of the Olympic Games, the Games of the XVI Olympiad took place in Oceania, in Melbourne - Australia. It was the last calm games, from the philatelic point of view. Postal administrations from all over the world began capitalizing on the attraction of the Olympic rings on stamps. Countries that did not participate and which even did not have a NOC, issued Olympic stamps. Winners stamps were issued after the Games, starting the philatelic inflation, which still persists today. The geographical, social and political mirror 1956 was a year of political upheavals, all reflected in philately. - The Hungarian rebellion and the subsequent events resulted in the non-participation of several countries, some of which already prepared its Olympic stamps. (The by Manfred Bergman* event resulted in other, non- Olympic philatelic issues) - The Suez war resulted in the nonparticipation of some Arab nations. (This event also resulted in other, non-olympic philatelic documents - Ship post from the blocked ships in the Suez canal) The still prevailing political situation in Germany also was reflected in philately: - The Saar was still considered (from a postal point of view) an independent nation (it competed indepen- dently in 1952) and issued its own stamps though its qualified athletes were part of the German team. - The athletes of the German Democratic Republic competed in the combined German team, but issued its own Olympic stamps. The quarantine rules prevailing in Australia caused the equestrian events to take place in Stockholm, with corresponding Swedish stamps. One of the participating countries was Switzerland, which missed the Melbourne Games afterwards. Australia Australia Post started its philatelic programme in 1954, continued in 1955, with stamps depicting the official poster (for the first time in Olympic philately). In 1956, a further four stamps and an aerogramme were issued. Also for the first time, Post Offices were operating at all venues and special cancellations The Olympic torch on the 1956 stamps. Stamps showing the Melbourne poster. 36

2 were used in these offices. Propaganda machine cancellations were used in the main cities. Already stamp dealers started with the manufacturing of non-official covers, maxi card and sheets: The Australian information office in New York used an American machine cancellation on its mail. A small philatelic show was organized, which was general and not Olympic in nature. This year, the philatelic space of the Olympic Museum is proud to show from 23 June until the 27 August all the stamp material - original drawings, proofs, and essays and not issued stamps which were dormant in the Post archives in Melbourne since 1956, and which were never shown before. Participating nations Out of 80 nations, which announced their participation, only 68 participated because of the political situation prevailing in the world. Seventeen nations (what a difference with the year 2000) issued stamps or other philatelic material before the Games (qualifying competitions), the flights of their teams to the Games, for the Games or after the Games - for their winners. Philatelic fantasy was the rule with many countries issuing both perforate and imperforate stamps. Non-Olympic sports figured on some stamps. Germany (West, East and the Saar) shone with three issues. Non-participating nations with a NOC Two nations issued stamps: Monaco, which did not have the means to participate and Holland that withdrew in protest of the Hungarian events. Its stamps were issued with a surcharge, and Florins generated by this surcharge went for aid to Hungarian refugees. Non-participating nations with no NOC The Dominican Republic was the first country to ever issue Olympic stamps without having participated in the Games the first but, alas, not the last. It issued three sets, one for Olympic winners in general and two sets for Melbourne Olympic winners. The stamps were also overprinted for other purposes Scats, Red Cross, Palestinian refugees and UNRWA. These were highly speculative issues and should not figure in an Olympic collection. The torch relay Qantas, the official Olympic airline, flew the Olympic torch from Greece to Australia. A Greek special cancellation was used at Olympia and an Australian one in Melbourne. The 1956 Olympic stamp collection was and still is accessible to all collectors, even with the so-called fantasy issues imperforate stamps, blocks and the like. Rules for the use of the Olympic markings or the logo of the organizing committee did not exist, which resulted in some ambush issues, on a reasonable scale. The Olympic stamp fire started, however, because of the lack of such rules and unfortunately grew to almost uncontrollable dimensions. SYDNEY 2000 The Games of the XXVII Olympiad will take place for the second time in Australia, this time in Sydney. Since 1956, the Games have become Mega-Games with 199 NOCs (out of 200) expected to attend. Olympic philately has grown in a parallel way: First day cover in Melbourne in Original design of the Melbourne 1956 stamp (Prestige Collection of the Olympic Museum). 37

3 more than 150 countries are expected to issue commemorative stamps for the Games, headed by Australia Post. Thousands of Olympic collectors are now organized in FIPO, the International Olympic Collectors Federation, part of the IOC Collectors Commission. The 7 th OLYMPHILEX show will take place, in Sydney and in Canberra, where the best Olympic/ Sport exhibits will participate. The 6 th Prix Olympia will reward the three best Olympic stamp issues. A serious stamp issuing policy has been implemented, in collaboration with the UPU, to protect the Olympic philatelist from abusive (and illegal) issues and the abusive use of Olympic markings and logos. And the most important of all: the IOC is proud to announce that it will now use its own Service stamps, in collaboration and with the authorization of the Swiss postal administration. The geographical, social and political mirror The Olympic Movement now encompasses 200 NOCs (201 if Timor is recognized), more than the United Nations. The participation of the quasi totality proves that the Olympic Truce has become a reality, smoothing all political, religious and social issues. The stamps issued by participating nations will reflect this truce, since they will feature sports, the Olympic rings and/or the Sydney Games logo. The United Nations will issue a stamp to honour the Olympic Movement and its universal image, with the motto The Peace Flag. The Vatican, for the first time, will commemorate the Olympic Games with a philatelic document. The athletes and visitors will use a common means to send home their impressions and their greetings: letters and postcards with Olympic stamps. Sydney 2000 stamp issued on 14 September Australia Australia Post has developed an ambitious, but appropriate philatelic programme. It started with a stamp issues in 1996 to mark the passage of the flag from Atlanta to Sydney and will culminate, on the opening day of the Games with a common stamp issue (same stamps) with Greece. In 1998, the Post honoured six of the most famous Australian Olympic champions the Legends series. In 1999, Australia Post honoured the Olympic torch run of 1956, to be run 38

4 again in A stamp honouring Sydney and SOCOG followed in the same year. The main programme, understandably so, will be issued in It will show views of Sydney, a set with the main sports, a sheet to honour the Olymphilex show and two firsts the personalized stamps and the Australian Gold medallists stamps. In March 1999, Australia Post presented to the visitors of Melbourne 99 (a world philatelic exhibition) its personalized stamps. In fact, every visitor could have his photo taken and be printed next to a real and valid stamp. In Sydney, for the first time Olympic personalized stamps will be realized at OLYMPHILEX, the Olympic village and some other selected sites. Another philatelic first, in collaboration with the IOC, the AOC and SOCOG, will be the Gold medallists stamps. This programme has been facilitated by modern technology: Each and every each Australian gold medallist (individual or team) will be photographed on the winners podium and the stamps featuring this photo will be issued on the next day. An appropriate and deserved postal recognition of the Australian champions Special propaganda cancellations have and will be used to advertise and promote the games. Every administration and NOC has signed an agreement with the IOC/SOCOG to implement a serious issuing policy. The policy has been determined by the Executive Commission of the IOC, in line with the Olympic Charter and the code of ethics of the UPU. The policy calls for a maximum of four stamps, a maximum of a US$1 face value, no multiple configurations (blocks etc) and a correct usage of the Olympic marks. The policy aims, as already mentioned, to protect the collector and not to discourage him from continuing his hobby of Olympic stamps collector. All stamps of the participating nations will be automatic participants in the next Prix Olympia contest. Special mention should be made for 13 countries that have combined their efforts to issue different stamps but with common themes: Olympic stadiums from different games Various Olympic sports Famous Olympic champions Olympic history of the ancient games in Greece. Non-participating nations Non-participating nations cannot obtain the use of Olympic markings and it is hoped that none of these countries will issue Olympic stamps. Two just exceptions are notable: The UN stamp. The United Nations, in collaboration with the IOC, has underwritten a stamp drawing contest for youngsters, on a worldwide scale. The motto was Flag Of Peace. The 12-year old Mateja Prunk of Slovenia won the first price and will be the IOC s guest at Olymphilex. The Vatican postal stationery: For the first time in Olympic history (general and philatelic) will the Vatican postal administration issue a philatelic document in honour of the Olympic Games. Olymphilex The 7 th edition of Olymphilex will take place at Centrepoint in Sydney and at the Royal Mint in Canberra. X entries from Y countries will present the best Olympic/Sport stamp collections. Australia Post will organize the personalized stamps installation Participating nations Until now 93 postal administrations have issued or announced their intention to issue commemorating stamps for the Sydney Games. Many administrations will also honour Olymphilex with a souvenir sheet. It is expected that more than 150 nations will issue Olympic stamps and First Day Covers (FDC). Olympic sports on the Sydney 2000 stamps. 39

5 and also wiii have 28 mailboxes for cancelling the 28 sports of the Games (unfortunately, no post offices will be operating at the venues and the Olymphilex boxes are the only possibility to have postal cancellations from all sports competitions). Over 80 postal administrations will be represented, directly or indirectly, at Olymphilex and will offer their stamps to the visitors. Abusive and illegal stamp issues The IOC, in collaboration with the UPU, is implementing, as mentioned above, a serious issuing policy. Contrary to 1996, when 86 countries violated the code of ethics of the UPU and the use of Olympic markings, only two countries have done so up to now. One non-existing country has issued Olympic stamps and will be blacklisted by all catalogues and the UPU. Other philatelic documents Several combined philatelic documents will be realized for the Sydney Games, either by Australia Post or by the IOC. These will consist of combined covers: - Covers with pins (Pin letters) - Covers with coins (PNC) The Swiss and the IOC Service stamps Finally, a special mention is given to the Swiss and the IOC Service Stamps. Switzerland will issue three stamps, the first to commemorate the new Triathlon competition. The round stamps are in three Olympic rings. Switzerland is one of the five nations having participated in all Olympic Games. The Swiss Postal authorities have also authorized an IOC Service stamp (in two denominations). The IOC, in Switzerland since 1915, will now be able to use its own stamps for its mail. The two round stamps are in the two remaining Olympic rings. The Swiss and the IOC Service stamps form thus a complete mirror of the Olympic rings and reflect the collaboration of the Swiss Post and the Olympic Movement since The stamps will be launched at the OLYMPHILEX opening ceremony on 15 September. The IOC stamp albums The IOC has and will edit between 3 to 5 albums containing all stamp issues. The first album, dedicated to the Australian stamps ( ) has already been published. The Harbour Bridge. The torch relay As in earlier editions, the torch relay will also be documented philatelic ally: - In Greece by different cancellations at every stage of the relay - In Guam by a cancellation - In Nauru by a stamp and cancellations - Finally, in Australia by special covers. The 2000 Sydney Games philatelic collection will be complete, varied and available to all collectors. It is hoped that the IOC/UPU policy will encourage again the proliferation of Olympic philately, which suffered tremendously from philatelic inflation in the last two Games. The Sydney Opera House. * IOC philately adviser 40