Olympex 2012: Collecting the Olympic Games

Olympic Philatelic Collecting Brought to Life at the British Library

Olympex 2012: Collecting the Olympic Games, 25 July to 9 September, the British Library, St Pancras – admission FREE.

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The IOC is delighted to have the British Library as its partner in this exhibition. The Library’s international reputation for bringing stories to life makes it the natural home for this fascinating and unique view of Olympic history

 

(PRWEB) May 09, 2012

Olympex 2012: Collecting the Olympic Games, 25 July to 9 September, the British Library, St Pancras – admission FREE.
The history, symbolism and personal stories of the Olympic Games will come to life through philately this summer at a special exhibition presented by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the British Library.
Olympex 2012: Collecting the Olympic Games is a visually striking exhibition that will use postage stamps, postcards, letters, programmes and maps to provide unique insights into the Olympic Games, past and present. Beginning with the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, Olympex 2012 will also focus on the London Games in 1908 and 1948, bringing the story into the present day with the London 2012 Games.
Reflecting the manner in which the Olympic spirit touches the individual spirit, the exhibition is drawn largely from the philatelic collections of private individuals. The interests of these individual collectors give this exhibition a unique character and demonstrate how each of us can become involved in curating the Olympic story.
More than 2,500 stamps will feature, tracing the way that Olympic iconography has evolved across more than a century. Also included are handwritten postcards and letters from athletes, spectators and public figures – recording with vivid immediacy the ways in which the Games touched their lives.
IOC President Jacques Rogge said: “The IOC is delighted to have the British Library as its partner in this exhibition. The Library’s international reputation for bringing stories to life makes it the natural home for this fascinating and unique view of Olympic history.”
Frances Brindle, the British Library’s Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications, said: “The British Library is thrilled to be working with the IOC on Olympex 2012. Each stamp, postcard and letter to be featured tells a story – understanding who sent them, and to whom, gives very personal insights into historical events.”
Olympex 2012: Collecting the Olympic Games is part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. The exhibition will be held in the Front Hall of the British Library, St Pancras, from 25 July to 9 September. Admission is free.
Further information is available from the British Library website.
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom and one of the world's greatest research libraries. It provides world class information services to the academic, business, research and scientific communities and offers unparalleled access to the world's largest and most comprehensive research collection. The Library's collection has developed over 250 years and exceeds 150 million separate items representing every age of written civilisation, and includes books, journals, manuscripts, maps, stamps, music, patents, photographs, newspapers and sound recordings in all written and spoken languages. Up to 10 million people visit the British Library website - http://www.bl.uk - every year where they can view up to four million digitised collection items and over 40 million pages.
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British Library:
For more detailed information and images requests, please contact Ben Sanderson:
Tel: +44 1937 546 126 - E ben(dot)sanderson(at)bl(dot)uk - Tw@BLPressoffice
International Olympic Committee:
For more information, please contact the IOC Media Relations Team.

100 Years of the Titanic Sinking

A century has sailed by since the luxury steamship RMS Titanic met its catastrophic end in the North Atlantic, plunging two miles to the ocean floor after sideswiping an iceberg during its maiden voyage. Rather than the intended Port of New York, a deep-sea grave became the pride of the White Star Line’s final destination in the early hours of April 15, 1912. More than 1,500 people lost their lives in the disaster. In the decades since her demise, Titanic has inspired countless books and several notable films while continuing to make headlines, particularly since the 1985 discovery of her resting place off the coast of Newfoundland. Meanwhile, her story has entered the public consciousness as a powerful cautionary tale about the perils of human hubris.

London Olympic Philatelic Mega Swap

Dear All Philatelist,

Greetings :)
Yet another Historic Olympic Games will be held in this summer again in London. This is third time in London. To keep this historic moment in our collection, I am going to organize “London Olympic Philately Mega Swap” which will help all philatelist around the world to get at least some stamps from worldwide. I request my all blog reader who wants to have London Olympic Stamps from different countries please send your request to my email ID. Please keep in mind that we have to swap London Olympic Commemorative stamps to each of our swap friends worldwide.

While sending email request please mention in Subject line : “London Olympic Philately Mega Swap – (your Country Name)”

So hurry up and register yourself in this email ID : olympic125@gmail.com

Looking forward your emails.

Regards

Ganesh Potphode

Congratulations Sachin Tendulkar for 100th TON

Indian batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar on Friday became the first cricketer in history to score 100 international centuries, reaching a new record in his glittering two-decade career.
Tendulkar, who turns 39 next month, achieved the feat with a century in an Asia Cup match against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in Dhaka, ending a nervous wait of more than a year for millions of fans.
The Mumbai batsman, who has compiled more Test and one-day runs than anyone in history, reached the milestone with a single, marking the moment with a modest glance to the sky while pointing to the Indian flag on his helmet.
Tendulkar, already a legend of the modern era and one of the greats of all time, made 114 off 147 balls with 12 fours and a six, before he was caught behind off seamer Mashrafe Mortaza in the 47th over.
"It has not sunk in yet," he told the Neo Cricket channel, who are broadcasting the Asia Cup matches.
"I was not thinking about the milestone. The media started all this. In the restaurant, room service, everyone was talking about the 100th hundred," he added.
Tendulkar is the most capped player in the history of the game with 188 Test and 462 one-day appearances since making his debut against Pakistan in Karachi in November, 1989.
He has scored 49 one-day hundreds and 51 centuries in Test matches.
The father-of two, known variously as the "Little Master" or "Bombay Blaster", is worshipped as a demi-god in his cricket-crazy country and has barely put a foot wrong since he burst on the world stage in 1989, aged 16.
"I join the nation in congratulating Sachin Tendulkar on his making history -- a hundred centuries. He has made India proud," Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said as the country celebrated.
He scored his 99th ton during a World Cup match against South Africa in Nagpur on March 12 last year, but failed to add to the tally on subsequent tours of England and Australia and a home series against the West Indies.
International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat also lauded Tendulkar's achievement.
"On behalf of every cricket fan around the globe, I congratulate Sachin on becoming the first person to score 100 centuries for his country," Lorgat said in a statement.
"This is indeed a magnificent feat and not likely to be easily emulated. The number 100 is special for a batsman and to record 100 centuries for your country is a massive statement.
"He is a marvel to cricket lovers around the world and with an array of batting records, Sachin is a true role model who will undoubtedly hold a special place in cricket's history," Lorgat said.
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting is the second batsman on the all-time list with 71 international centuries.

Lithuania : 2004 Olympic Stamps and FDC