A three-stamp set commemorating the Beijing Olympics is being issued by the Philatelic Bureau of MaltaPost plc today. The stamps, which have been designed by Darren Duncan, have face values respectively of Euro0.05/Lm0.02, Euro0.12/Lm0.05 and Euro1.57/Lm0.67.

The stamps are 44mm x 31mm in size, with a perforation of 13.9 x 14 (comb). The stamps have been offset printed by Messrs Printex Limited on Maltese Crosses watermarked paper, and will be available in sheets of 10 stamps.

Sixteen days of intense competition will follow the grand opening of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on 8 August, as 10,700 elite athletes from around the world compete for the 302 gold medals on offer in 28 different sports. The events will be held in a total of 37 venues, of which 31 are competition venues in Beijing. One World One Dream has been selected as the slogan for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, reflecting the essence and the universal values of the Olympic spirit: Unity, Friendship, Progress, Harmony, Participation and Dream. It expresses the common wishes of people everywhere, inspired by the Olympic ideals, to strive for a bright future for mankind. TEAM Malta members at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games are expected to participate in athletics, judo, shooting and swimming. The games, ending on 24 August, will be followed by the XIII Paralympic Games to be held at the same Olympic venues, between 6 and 17 September.

This Olympics set will be available in first day cover format, mint or cancelled, and as a souvenir folder and presentation pack.

The stamps are obtainable from all MaltaPost branches in Malta and Gozo, from the MaltaPost Mobile Unit, and from the Philatelic Bureau at 305 Triq Hal Qormi, Marsa (tel. 2596-1720, email [email protected]). Additional information on this and past and forthcoming issues is available on the MaltaPost website www. maltapost.com.