History History

to more than 15 linguistic groups; a the Prince's Skating Club Rink on the programme of the Games of the PHILATELY AND OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES catalogue on many Olympic medal­ 28 and 29 October. The special VII Olympiad in 1920. Ice hockey lists will also be published in 2002; postmark for the exhibition is also was invented by the Iroquois and an other one on all postmarks the one for the winter sports. Indians some centuries ago and will be published in time for the introduced to "civilisation" by Canada. The Belgian stamps and «Even horses, that I loved so much, The postmarks pinpoint the dates 2006 Winter Games. Stockholm 1912. Count Brunetta by Manfred Bergman* the special postmarks, issued on do not give riders that melanchoiy and even the hours of Olympic Past and IOC Honorary President d'Usseaux, IOC member in Italy, this occasion, are the philatelic- rapture which large frozen lakes events and until videos came into for Life, Juan Antonio Samaranch, proposed to include winter sport postal link to the competitions. One give skaters.» (Alphonse de use (pictures are not precise himself an Olympic philatelist, events at the 1911 IOC Session In step forward towards recognition. Lamartine in «Les confidences») enough), were the only proof to realised the cultural and historical Budapest. To make it part of the what happened. value of philately which spurred him Games he even proposed to end the Olympic year on 31 May 1913. Chamonix 1924. Finally, an kating was the first sport on Olympic philately is Olympic history. on to create the International "International Winter Sports Week" Coubertin's programme of Olympic philatelists are Olympic Federation of Olympic Philately The Nordic countries wanting to took place in Chamonix. This was Olympic sports, but only in historians. Their tools are postal (FlPO). Olympic philatelists are protect their 'Games', the IOC did S partial recognition and indepen­ 1908 was it an Olympic event; documents; their duties, amongst sport and culture minded, realising dence. The Canadian Ice hockey world championships of speed others, include the obligation to the importance of philatelic docu­ team scored a goal ratio of 110-3, a skating were held in 1889 (the first check and control the official ments to Olympic history and also superiority which is unique in world championships of all sports), records; it is far from rare that the fun that collecting can bring to Olympic sports. but made its Olympic debut only in tributed financially to the Games Olympic philatelists succeed to cor­ them. For the first time a special, publicity, 1924. Olympic winter sports strove and to the preparation of the rect errors - which are human. We mechanical cancellation was used. for a long time to be accepted, teams, as part of their revenue take pride in having succeeded to The Olympic Winter Games: Though used from December 1923 mostly against Nordic resistance. was ceded to the Organising obtain consensus on Olympic Facts and Stamps to February 1924, only one hundred The Nordic countries, led by IOC Committees. results (1896-1920) amongst lead­ Striving for recognition and Inde­ of items bearing the cancellation member in Sweden Viktor Baick While philately is the second largest ing Olympic historians - for the first pendence survived. wished to protect the Nordic hobby in the world, Olympic time since 1928. Several hundred Skating was one of the sports Games he created as a of Olympic Winter Games inscribed in the sports programme Prague 1925. Winter sports were winter counterpart to the medallists have been of the 1894 Olympic Congress in at last recognised as a full Olympic Olympic Games (1901, immortalised on stamps, Paris. It was not part of the 1896 partner. The 1924 Chamonix 1905, 1909, 1913, 1917, on postmarks and on and the 1904 Games for climatic reasons and in 1900 as the skating Olympic Week was declared as the 1922 and 1926). /H'il 'yjïJ' ,i( 31" I ]e postal stationery, and they i^\1996/CrJ 1st Olympic Winter Games. The Curiously, when winter 3CI-. SLRLOM MflSCHILE take less space than rink was not finished. Prague Congress gave winter games were accepted, it books!! And above all, let I ^ ^ •' • • • • ffy* « « sports its full independence. The was upon a proposal of us not forget the fun of London 1908. The gold medal won stamps, the postal stationery and the Norwegians! collecting stamps (but also by the skater Nikolai Panin- the special postmarks of the Postal services, and their collectible stamps play a more pertinent role; their venal value). Koromenkln (Russia) was found not insist. A step backwards for winter sports. Still, the gold medal Congress are considered as the effects - philately - were natural they are historical documents, This article is an introduction to the by a member of the Olympic of the art contest, for painting was philatelic counterpart of the and necessary companions to the since they tell us all about the Olympic Winter Games philately. It Collectors Commission, in the awarded to paintings depicting win­ "Declaration of Independence". Olympic Games in general and sports, how they developed, the attempts to briefly describe the his­ vaults of the St. Petersburg Olympic Winter Games in particular. Olympic programme, the hopefuls torical links between philately and Hermitage Museum in 1995. ter sports!! Consecration, consolidation and Postal services were a sine qua non of each participating nation, the these Games. The statistics shown Florence Madeline Cave 'Madge' maturity to the Games: to correspond, to venues, the winners, the cere­ prove what can be done, to write Syers (Great Britain) who won the Antwerp 1920. The IOC Congress St Moritz 1928. The first inde­ invite, to enable participants - ath­ monies and more. The texts on the history with stamps and postmarks. Ladies event, finished second in the in Paris in 1914, drawing up the dif­ pendent Olympic Winter Games. letes, officials or spectators - to postcards sent tell us about what The data are not exhaustive. A cat­ 1902 World Championship open for ferent categories of the Olympic Six sports were inscribed in the write and tell about the Games. really happened, the atmosphere, alogue of all Olympic Winter Games ladles and gentlemen. Part of the programme, classified among optional sports, ice hockey, figure programme, including a five-man Postage stamps and postcards the life of the athletes and more. stamps, blocs and stationery will be Games of the Olympiad, in turn part skating and skiing. That's how fig­ bob race. Sonja Henie, who were the support normally used for The texts confirm and In many ready in 2002; it will be the first uni­ of the Franco-British Exhibition, the placed last four years earlier, won these services. Stamps also con- cases correct the official records. versal stamp catalogue "readable" Figure Skating event was held at ure skating and ice hockey were in

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Source : Bibliothèque du CIO / IOC Library History History

Final evolution Squaw Valley 1960. This town did Sponsors used Olympic franking and great popularity lOTGAN OMPIG COMMfTTEE 999 }0±& ^ MORITZ- not exist when the Games were postmarks. t». eL»iOslo 1952. The torch was lit in lations were used in the USA, two in used in biathlon. Thirty-nine coun­ woman). Demonstration sports the figure skating competition. had "sticks". We know from the Morgedal, the hometown of the Canada, four in Austria, one in tries issued 327 stamps. included three freestyle, nine short Tlie Swiss ice liockey team non accepted designs that it was famous first skier Nordheim Germany, two in Soviet Russia and track and two curling events. inciuded "Bibi" Torriani, won a supposed to be a "jumper". It (Teiemark). A ladies' 10 km cross­ one in Togo! Lake Placid 1980. Eric Heiden Exhibition programme included five bronze medal (he wili get the could not be downhill or slalom as country race and giant slalom were (United States) won five gold events for handicapped skiers. same result 20 years later). Both Alpine events were only intro­ added. Bandy was the demonstra­ Innsbruck 1964. Canada for the medals (unique). There is the histor­ Thirty-five countries issued 276 feats are unique in Olympic his­ duced in 1936! tion contest chosen by Norway. first time without a medal in ice ical victory of the US ice hockey stamps. The first lOC/FlPO patron­ tory. Only labels and special post­ Norway issued three stamps and hockey. J. Ueno, 22nd in ladies' fig­ team. Forty countries issued a ised stamp show. cards were issued. Garmisch-Partenkirchen 1936. used many publicity cancellations. ure skating took the referees record 580 stamps. The United Alpine contests were held for the Austria was the only other country Olympic oath in Nagano in 1998. States Postal Service arranged for Albertville 1992. Torch relay by Lake Placid 1932. Lake Placid, first time. For the first time Canada which honoured these Games with Nineteen countries issued Olympic special "Olympic Postal Service". 5,597 runners through France. the first Olympic Winter Games did not win the ice hockey tourna­ a stamp. Norway will honour the stamps, with a record of 57 postal outside Europe. The speed skat­ ment, losing to an "Anglo- 50th anniversary with stamps in stationery by Austria. ing contests were held with group Canadian" team. Demonstration 2002. starts and with heats and finals. events included German curling Grenoble 1968. Jean-Claude Killy Two-man bobs competitions were and International target and dis­ Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956. Soviet (France), now an IOC member, won introduced, and also demonstra­ tance competitions (part of curling). Russia for the first time at Olympic all the Alpine events. The first gold tion competitions included ladies' Germany spared no efforts to pro­ Winter Games. Tony Sailer (Austria) medal in cross-country skiing speed skating and dog-sleigh mote the iV Olympic Winter won all three Alpine events. No gold (30km event) is won by a non- races. The American Edward Games. No less than 111 Post medal for Norwegian speed Scandinavian, Franco Nones (Italy). Egan, who won the Olympic title Offices used a publicity mechanical skaters. The biggest surprise was The first mascot appears. 48 coun­ in the four-man bobsleigh event, cancellation and beside stamps the Russia's victory in the ice hockey tries, more than double than in is still today the only athlete who first (2) Olympic Winter Games tournament. Six special Post offices 1964, issued 537 Olympic stamps. won a gold medal at the Games postal stationery were issued. An in Cortina and around dispensed Unfortunately, many did not partici­ of the Olympiad (in boxing, light Olympic telegramme was also a 51(!) manual and machine post­ pate or had no NOC. heavyweight category in Antwerp first. marks during the games, for each in 1920) and at the Winter event. Canada used two propa­ Sapporo 1972. Karl Schranz Games. The first Olympic Winter 1940: Sapporo, St-Moritz, ganda cancellations. Three other (Austria) was disqualified (because PARTENKIRCHEN HELSINKI Games stamp was issued...with a Garmisch-Partenkirchen: see the countries, all non participating of professionalism). Canada absent DEUTSCHLAND-FINNLAND tremendous error: the ski-jumper special insert. issued stamps. in ice hockey. Forty-two countries, FAKD DURCH DEN m AUF6EZWUN6ENEK KRIEG HiCKT STAH

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Source : Bibliothèque du CIO / IOC Library History Free opinion

Germany is represented again by a hockey tournament for the first Fifty-six countries issued stamps. united team. One freestyle event time. The Norway Post sponsored The Japanese stamps contributed OPEN LETTER TO A FRIEND (moguls) and two short track speed with its stamp issues the 75-day financially. FIPO/IOC organised for skating events become Olympic. national torch relay. PROLYMPIA the first time 'Naganophilex 98' in Speed skiing is a demonstration was the large stamp show organ­ collaboration with the Japanese sport. Fifty countries issued 276 ised by the Post in collaboration post. stamps. A large Olympic stamp with FIPO/IOC (also patron of the his is my last open letter in Amateur sport certainly exists, even by Fékrou Kidané sinow is organised with the show). *IOC Philatelic advisor. the Olympic Review, before though the word "amateur" has been FIPO/IOC patronage. Tthe end of my term of office bannished from the Oiympic Nagano 1998. A record 72 nations next March at the IOC and as Editor- Charter. Professional sport is only Lillehammer 1994. The Olympic participation. Snowboard and curl­ I in-Chief of this magazine, created by the tree which hides the forest. The Winter Games in a new cycle. The ing became Olympic sports. The » XD.OLYMPISCHC W IN TF R PI F IP Pierre de Coubertin and of which he professionals come to the Games "best, fairest" Games ever. Two Czech Republic won the ice hockey was Editor-in-Chief for a long time. I once every four years to pit them­ torch relays were organised. All tournament for the first time. will return to the grassroots as an selves against the amateurs. Most of short track events and the aerials in Ladies' ice hockey for the first time, Olympic militant, to work with the freestyle skiing are Olympic. though played by women since the 28 sports on the programme of Johann Olav Koss (Norway), now 1892 in Canada. Only 16 partici­ people for the people. Making my the Games of the Olympiad are an IOC member, is elected the best pants for the 10,000 m speed skat­ modest contribution to the promo­ placed in the "amateur" category. speed skater. Sweden won the ice ing event are allowed (since 1994). tion of sport and Olympism in devel­ Olympic champions in these sports oping countries, helping the leaders without Olympism would quite sim­ are just as talented as the others, and sport of my continent, Africa, ply be a series of different sports even though they do not attract the playing a role as motivator, continu­ competitions. Pierre de Coubertin is media attention. Unless I am mis­ 1940. The V Olympic Winter Games: Sapporo, St Moritz, Garmisch-Partenkirchen (for the 1940 Games); Cortina d'Ampezzo ing the fight against racism, injustice sometimes confused with Pierre taken, the vocation of the Olympic (for the 1944 Games) and St Moritz (for the 1948 Games). and inequality, and be involved in Cardin. Participating is no longer as Movement is to develop amateur Contrary to the Games of the Olympiad, the number of the Olympic Winter Games does not change if the Games are not cel­ humanitarian affairs and the eradica­ important as winning medals, for sport. ebrated. The saga of the V Olympic Winter Games started in 1937 when the Winter Games were awarded to Sapporo in Warsaw during the 37th IOC Session. It finished when the V Olympic Winter Games finally took place in St. Moritz in 1948. tion of poverty, seeing a bit more of which Governments commit them­ However, in order that sports devel­ The story is summarised in the following insert. my grandchildren, Gil and Laura, selves to paying out bonuses. opment is no longer focused just on and certainly the doctors, will be my Physical education is losing ground producing champions or top-level Where and where Host city Number of countries sJumber of countries main activities, God willing. everywhere, including in industri­ competitors, a debate is needed at awarded Issuing stamps ssuing other philatelic items There is also a 'duty' of writing alised countries where children are every level, with several paths of 1937 Warsaw Sapporo (for 1940) 0 Postcards, labels which should be undertaken for the increasingly attracted by sedentary reflection. Greater dialogue and con­ (37th IOC Session) (Renounced in 1938) sake of memories. Don't we say in activities such as the Internet and sultation with the grassroots, familiar 1938 Brussels St Moritz (for 1940) 0 Labels Africa, that when an old man dies, it video games. The sporting land­ with the situation on the ground, (IOC Executive Board, Withdrawn during the IOC Session is like a library burning! I do not want scape is changing more and more in through democratic rather than September) in London in June 1939 that to be my fate. The fact is that concept and the media increasingly superficial means, is absolutely 1939 London Garmisch-Partenkirchen (for 1940) 2 (not issued) Franking machine cancellation I will remain in the Olympic imposes it's own rules. essential. Without generalising, (39th IOC Session, Cortina d'Ampezzo (for 1944 0 Garmisch-Partenkirchen) Movement, with which I have been Sport has become a show, with its sports leaders must show the same June) - not celebrated) Only a pin exists associated since 1956, to strive stars and millionaires, and the hun­ type of courage that drives athletes Cortina d'Ampezzo) with you all for the well-being of our dreds of millions of sportsmen and - to success. The blossoming of the 1940 "War Games" organised by Postcards society. women at the bottom of the pyramid Olympic Movement has been ham­ Germany in Garmisch-Partenkirchen Our first concern must be that of are neglected. The majority of sports pered most by people who are brave 1946 London St Moritz (for 1948, these Games 3 Olympic education. Olympic culture, do not enjoy television coverage, but in the corridors of power, but silent (IOC Executive Board, were held from 30 January in the proper sense of the term, is Spring) to 8 February) their practice continues and devel­ in the debating chambers. It is true deteriorating through a distinct lack ops for the joy of their participants that courageous critics are cate­ of passion. The Olympic Games and supporters. gorised in one way or another

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Source : Bibliothèque du CIO / IOC Library