XXII Olympic Winter Games 2014, Sochi

 

Russia

Russian Post issued a souvenir sheet to commemorate XXII Winter Olympic Games featuring Olympic medals.The opening ceremony of the XXII Winter Olympic Games took place on February 7, 2014 at the Fisht stadium, located in the Olympic Park, Sochi. More than 5,500 athletes and team members from over 80 countries attended the event, which is to be held on February 7 to 23, 2014.

15 winter sports disciplines combined into seven Olympic sports are included in the programme of the Olympic Winter Games of 2014: three skating sports, six ski sports, two types of bobsleigh, as well as four separate sports: biathlon, curling, ice hockey and luge. In total, 98 sets of medals are to be given away.

The margins of the new souvenir sheet issued by Russian post to celebrate the Winter Olympics carry a QR code with an encrypted link to the www.sochi2014.com website, against the background of Krasnaya Polyana mountain peaks; there are gold, silver and bronze Olympic medals depicted on the postage stamps.

Poland

Polish Post issued  a set of 4 stamps with a beautiful FDC  to commemorate this big event.

Club News

SILIPEX-2014

Stamp - Booklet on Sachin Tendulkar

"SILIPEX-2014", Philatelic Exhibition was organised by North Bengal & Sikkim Postal Region at Ramkinkar Hall, Dinabandhu Mancha (Tathya Kendra), Siliguri on 10th and 11th February 2014 with the help of Siliguri Philatelists' Society. A Booklet on Sachin Tendulkar was released on the occasion. 52 frames were exhibited in the Exhibition. During the exhibition drawing competition and philatelic workshop were also organised.

Courtesy : Indian Philately Digest

New Special Cover

India Post, Kerala Postal Circle has issued a Special cover (KL-5/2014) on  10-02-214 on the occasion of 50 Years of Excellence of St. John's College, Anchal.St. John's College, Anchal, Kollam District, Kerala is one of the Malankara Syrian Catholic Colleges managed by the Major Archdiocese of Thiruvanthapuram, affiliated to the University of Kerala was established in 1964   The college is celebrating its Golden Jubilee during 2013-2014.

: Sreejesh Krishnan – Trivandrum

email : sreejesh.nt@gmail.com

 

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New stamp on XXII Winter Olympic Games in Sochi

 

 

Latvijas Pasts issued a stamp celebrating the Winter Olympic Games 2014 in Sochi and featuring skeleton.

Skeleton is a fast winter sliding sport in which an individual person rides a small sled down a frozen track while lying face down, during which athletes experience forces up to 5 g. It was added to the Olympic program for the 2002 Winter Olympics; previously, it had been in the Olympic program only in St. Moritz, Switzerland, in 1928 and 1948.

Club News

EIPEX 2014 - Bhubaneshwar

  

The 2^nd Eastern India Philatelic Exhibition, EIPEX-2014 was organised by the Eastern India Philatelists’ Association with the active support of the Department of Posts, Govt. of India at Kalinga Buddha Vihara, Unit-IX, Bhubaneswar-751009. The theme of the exhibition was “Save our Environment”. The Exhibition was inaugurated by Shri Bijoyshree Routray, Honorable Cabinet Minister for Forest and Environment, Govt. of Odisha on 8-2-2014. The exhibition continued for two days on 8^th & 9^th, February, 2014. 44 exhibitors have displayed their exhibits in 100 frames. The exhibition was held in a very nice Hall of Buddha Vihara.

A special cover on the endangered Birds of Mangalajodi, the bird sanctuary of Chilika Lake was made to public on 09.02.2014 at Mangalajodi. A set of 8 picture Post Cards on the endangered birds were also released by the Minister at Mangalajodi on the same day. Local MLA Shri Rajendra Sahu, Local DFO and members of the Mangalajodi Eco tourism were also present on the occasion. 50 philatelists from all over our State were also mobilised to witness the function at Mangalajodi. Mangalajodi is about 70 Km from Bhubaneswar under the Tangi Block of Khorda District which is famous for its wet land and Birds Paradise. lakhs of Birds migrated from different countries visit this place wuring the winter season every Year.

14 Philatelic Dealer’s counters were also opened for the two days at the Exhibition venue who have come from different parts of our country. Besides one Philatelic Counter of the Department of Posts and one counter for “Make my Stamps” was also opened by the Postal Department at the exhibition Venue. A philatelic auction was  held on the concluding day.

- SECRETARY, EIPA

email : eipaorissa@yahoo.co.in

 

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New stamps on Winter Olympics - Sochi 2014

 

The Norwegian Posten issued a set of four stamps commemorating the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games.

The Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics started on February 8. Sochi, the popular resort city on the Black Sea, is located at the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains, which are a main reason why the city is now hosting the Winter Olympics. Sochi has a population of 328,000, and the Olympic facilities are planned to strengthen winter tourism in the mountainous region surrounding the city. In this way, the Krasnodar Krai region and Sochi will stand out as one of the biggest combined summer and winter destinations in Europe.

When the International Olympic Committee (IOC) awarded the Winter Games to Sochi, it represented the first time Russia or the former Soviet Union was named host of the prestigious sporting event.The stamps feature famous Norwegian athletes: Marit Bjorgen, Tora Berger, Petter Northug and Aksel Lund Svindal.

XXII Olympic Winter Games  souvenir sheet from Belarus

The post of the Republic of Belarus issued a souvenir sheet commemorating the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. The 2014 Winter Paralympics will be held after the XXII Olympic Winter Games at the same venues in Sochi.

The souvenir sheet was printed with the logo of the XXII Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.

 

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Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games 2014, Sochi

 

Czech Republic issued a stamp to celebrate the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi 2014. The stamp features a snowboarder. The XXII Olympic Winter Games are being held from the 7th to the 23rd of February 2014 in Sochi, Russia.

Ceska Posta issued a stamp dedicated to the Winter Paralympic Games in Sochi 2014. The stamp illustrates a sledge-hockey player.

The origins of the Paralympic Games are credited to Professor Ludwig Guttmann, a neurologist and neurosurgeon. A new perspective on the issue of rehabilitation for persons with disabilities was influenced by World War II. In 1944, Professor Guttmann founded a medical center in Stoke-Mandeville Hospital (UK) for the treatment of people with spinal cord disabilities. He later became the founder of the International Stoke Mandeville games for people with disabilities of the musculoskeletal system. These games were the model for the Paralympic Games. The first Paralympic Winter Games took place in 1976 in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden.

In the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games, competitors will compete in five different sports: alpine skiing, biathlon, cross country skiing, ice sledge hockey and curling.

 

Club News

News from Rajkot Philatelic Society

14^th Annual General Meeting of Rajkot Philatelic Society was held on 26^th January 2014 at Organic mall, Panchvati main road, Rajkot.

Following office bearers were nominated for the year 2014-2015

PRESIDENT	Shri. Madhav Jasapara
VICE-PRESEDENT	Dr.Paresh Upadhyay & Mr.Haresh Raval
Hon. SECRETARY	Advocate Shri. Jignesh Shah & Shri.Ketan Udani
Hon. Jt.SECRETARY	Dr. H.D.Joshi , & Mr. Sanjay Rathod
Hon.TREASURER	Mr. Tushar Metha & Mr. Khushal Patel
INTERNAL AUDITOR	Shri.Y.C.Anadkat

 

‘ GANDHI MY HERO ’ PHILATELIC EXHIBITION at Rajkot

A Philatelic Exhibition on Mahatma Gandhi was organized by Gandhian Study Center , MNVSC , Gujarati Tv & Rajkot Philatelic Society from 28-30 January 2014 at Shri.M & N Virani Science college Central hall , Rajkot.  The Exhibition was inaugurated 0n 28^th January 2014 by Shri. Hon’ble Chaiman of Yogidham & Hon’ble SSP – Shri. M.R.Trevadi was the chief guest   .

There were about  50 frames of exhibits on display , mostly on Gandhi theme along with the display of 42 original magazines.

On 30th  January,  a Special Cover & special cancellation was released The Sp.Cover is unique as it is printed on "Khadi", the special processed Handspun cotton material .

- Khushal Patel, Rajkot Philatelic Society, Rajkot

email : rajphilso26@gmail.com

My recent cover

Cover from Dandi

Thanks to Mr Gulrez

Dandi is a village in the Jalalpore district (now Navsari District), Gujarat. It is located on the coast of the Arabian Sea near the city of Navsari.It shot into worldwide prominence in 1930 when Mahatma Gandhi selected it to be the place for the Salt Satyagraha. He marched from Ahmedabad to Dandi with some of his followers to protest against the imposition of a tax on salt.Thousands of people participated.They travelled continuously on foot for 24 days.

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2014 Winter Olympics starts in Sochi ..

 

The 2014 Winter Olympics, officially the XXII Olympic Winter Games, is a major international multi-sport event being held in Sochi, Russia. Officially scheduled for 7 February through 23 February 2014, opening rounds in figure skating, skiing, and snowboard competitions were held on the eve of the Opening Ceremony, 6 February 2014. Both the Olympics and 2014 Winter Paralympics are being organized by the Sochi Organizing Committee (SOC). Sochi was selected as the host city in July 2007, during the 119th IOC Session held in Guatemala City. The Sochi Olympics will be the first Olympics in the Russian Federation since the breakup of the USSR in 1991. The USSR was the host nation for the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.

Various postal administrations have issued stamps to commemorate this event. Here are some beautiful stamps issued   for this great sports event !!

98 events in 15 winter sport disciplines will be held throughout the Games. A number of new competitions—a total of twelve accounting for gender—will be held during the Games, including biathlon mixed relay, women's ski jumping, mixed-team figure skating, mixed-team luge, half-pipe skiing, ski and snowboard slopestyle, and snowboard parallel slalom. The events will be held around two clusters of new venues; an Olympic Park was constructed in Sochi's Imeretinsky Valley on the coast of the Black Sea, with Fisht Olympic Stadium and the Games' indoor venues located within walking distance, and snow events will be held in the resort settlement of Krasnaya Polyana.

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Pioneers of Winter Sports

 

Date of Issue  : 3 February 2014

Canada Post issued a set of 3 stamps featuring Pioneers of Winter sports .

In a year when Canadians will be focused on winter sports excellence, Canada Post is shining the light on three history-makers and record-breakers. Each woman honoured in this set of stamps has changed the face of her sport and left an indelible mark on the memories of her fans.

Louis Gagnon, Creative Director and Partner with Montreal’s Paprika, explains that the three stamps were designed to have a classic memorial look. “The illustrations represent the athletes in full action, which contrasts with the simplicity of the design,” he says.

“The vibrant, powerful style reflects the prowess of the three champions. The setting features an element that reminds us of the athlete’s sport – and the colour scheme is influenced by the colours of the Olympic logo.”

 

Barbara Ann Scott

Known as “Canada’s Sweetheart,” Barbara Ann Scott has inspired generations of Canadians to lace up and brave cold outdoor rinks to perfect their spins, jumps and figures. Early in her career, Scott won countless national and international prizes, then captured the gold medal in the women’s singles figure skating event at the St. Moritz 1948 Olympic Winter Games, in Switzerland – a feat no other Canadian woman has achieved since. The Official First Day Cover (OFDC) depicting her graceful style is cancelled in her hometown of Ottawa, Ontario.

Sandra Schmirler

The skip of one of the most successful teams in Canadian curling history, Sandra Schmirler, along with Jan Betker, Marcia Gudereit, Joan McCusker and spare Atina Ford, topped multiple national and international wins with the first-ever Olympic gold medal in women’s curling on February 15, 1998, against Denmark at the Nagano 1998 Olympic Winter Games. The OFDC is cancelled in Biggar, Saskatchewan, Schmirler’s birthplace.

Sarah Burke

Born in Barrie, Ontario, in 1982, freestyle half-pipe world champion Sarah Burke was the first woman to land a 1080-degree spin in competition. She took the 2007 ESPY Award for Best Female Action Sports Athlete, and won four gold medals at the 2011 Winter X Games, plus one more at Europe’s Winter X Games. She also successfully lobbied for the inclusion of her sport in the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. The OFDC is cancelled at Whistler, British Columbia, where Burke spent much of her time training and coaching.

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Winter Olympic Games SOCHI -2014

 

 

Polish Post issued a souvenir sheet  and Monaco Post issued a stamp to commemorate the Winter Olympic Games Sochi 2014.

A town on the North Seacoast, Sochi will host the 22nd Winter Olympic Games from 7th to 23rd February 2014. The challenges will be held at two sites: The Olympic park situated on the coastal zone and the Krasnaia Poliana resort in the Caucasus.The Monaco delegation will comprise sports people representing bobsleigh and alpine skiing.

 

Club News

Special Cover : RAIPEX 2014 : Laxman Temple Sirpur – 31 January 2014

RAIPEX-2014 CONCLUDES

RAIPEX-2014 , three day exhibition concluded in town hall Raipur in presence of chief guest Sri S K Pandey vice chancellor of Ravishankar University, & Special guest CPMG of Chhatisgarh circle Sri Y P Rai.On last day of this grand event prizes were distributed to award winners of junior & senior category.Mementos were presented to  jury members, Sri H L Daga,Dr Pradeepo jain, Sri Atul Jain and to all senior philatelists for their participation in Invitee class. During this exhibition a special cover and  a booklet on Gandhi was also released.

 

 

- Dr. Pradeep Jain -   Balod (C.G.)

email : jain_pradeep2000@yahoo.com

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New stamps on 22nd Winter Olympics in Sochi

 

 

Posta Slovenije has issued new commemorative stamps for The 22nd Winter Olympics in Sochi . These stamps are always printed in sheetlets of six stamps each (3 × 2). The motifs on the stamps for this year’s Winter Olympic Games are ice hockey and ski jumping.

A special detail on the “icehockey” stamp is number 22 on the shoulder of the player’s jersey, which refers to the 22nd Winter Olympic Games. The other stamp featuring a ski jumper shows number 24 on his body suit referring to the year of the first Winter Olympic Games 90 years ago. The edges of the stamp sheetlets feature the logos of the Olympic Games, the Slovenian Olympic Committee and the Sochi Winter Olympic Games.

Around 3,000 competitors from 51 countries will participate in the 2014 Olympics, including Slovenia, which will be represented by 66 athletes.They will compete in 15 Olympic sports or 98 sport disciplines.

Club News

Release of Stamp on 'International Year of Crystallography 2014'

30 January 2014

Commemorative Stamp on 'International Year of Crystallography 2014' will be issued on 30th January 2014. A release function of stamp will be held at SSCU Auditorium, IISc, Bangalore at 4.00 pm. The stamp will be released by Chief Postmaster General of Karnataka Postal Circle Shri M. S. Ramanujan and the stamp album will be presented to Prof. Gautam R. Desiraju, President IUCr and Prof. R. Gadagkar, President, INSA. There will be a mini exhibition on Crystallography by Dr. RG Sangoram and Shri M. R. Prabakar.

: Jagannath Mani - Bangalore

 

JHARPEX- 2014 - Jharkhand State Level Philatelic Exhibition at Jamshedpur 

11 - 13 March 2014

 

Jharkhand Postal Circle is going to organize a State Level Philatelic Exhibition “JHARPEX 2014” at Tulsi Bhawan, Bistupur, Jamshedpur from 11th to 13th March 2014.

For more information please contact :

Secretariat, JHARPEX-2014, O/o the Chief Postmaster General,

Jharkhand Circle, Ranchi-834 002, Phone No. 0651-2482548/ 2481125

From our Readers….

Mr Sanjeev Jain created special cards on  Golden Jubilee of Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon song 

Golden Jubilee of Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon song written by  Kavi Pradeep

This song was first sung by Lata Mangeshkar on January 27, 1963, in the presence of India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in Delhi. Written by Kavi Pradeep and composed by C Ramachandra, this immortal song pays tribute to all the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country in the war between India and China.

 

 

: Sanjeev Jain - Dehradun

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The XXII Olympic Winter Games 2014, Sochi : Olympic Sports Venues

 

Date of Issue : 30 November 2013

The new stamp issued by Russian Post features the Olympic sports venues of the XXII Olympic Winter Games and XI Paralympic Winter Games 2014 in Sochi.

The Fisht Olympic Stadium is located in the Olympic Park so that the spectators have a magnificent view on both mountain peaks in the north and the sea in the south. The stadium capacity is 40,000 spectators. The opening and closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games will take place at the stadium. After the Olympics, the Fisht Olympic Stadium will be used as a venue for Russian national football team matches and as a training center. It will also be hosting mass entertainment events and shows.

The Bolshoy (“big”) Ice Dome is part of the ice hockey complex of the Olympic Park venues in Sochi. The Palace capacity is 12,000 spectators. In the course of the Games, the Ice Dome will be hosting competitions in ice hockey, and it will be used as a training rink.

The Shayba (“puck”) Arena is part of the ice hockey complex of venues in the Olympic Park in Sochi. The Arena capacity is 7,000 spectators. The venue will be hosting the Olympic ice hockey competitions and Paralympic ice sledge hockey competitions.

The Iceberg Skating Centre capacity is 12,000 spectators. The Palace will be hosting the Olympic competitions in figure skating and short-track skating.

The “RusSki Gorki” Jumping Center is located in the Esto-Sadok village on the northern slope of the Aibga Ridge. The facility location at the junction of two ridges has been selected by the international experts in order to make ski-jumping facilities harmonious with the surrounding landscape and to protect the athletes from side winds. The complex capacity is 7,500 spectators. Within the framework of the Games, the Center will be used for competitions in ski jumping and nordic combined. After the Winter Olympic Games, the RusSki Gorki Complex will become a national training center.

The “Laura” Cross-Country Ski & Biathlon Center is located on the crest and slopes of the Psekhako Ridge, within 6.5–10 km north-east of Krasnaya Polyana. The Center includes two separate stadiums, each with their own start and finish zones, two separate track systems for skiing and biathlon, a shooting range and warm-up zones. The Cross-Country Ski and Biathlon stadiums’ capacity is 9,600 spectators each.

Club News

Stamp Exhibitions

Vijayapex 2013 Stamps Exhibition organized by Vijaya High School Bangalore.

From 4 – 6 December 2013

- Jagannth Mani – Bangalore

District Level Philatelic Exhibition at Satna on 11th Dec. 2013

India Post is organizing Second District Level Philatelic Exhibition SATNAPEX - 2013 at Satna (M.P.) on 11th Dec. 2013. It will be held at Govt. Indira Girls College, Station Road, Satna. 50 frames will be exhibited in this exhibition. Central India Philatelic Society is supporting in organizing this exhibition.

: Sudhir Jain - Satna (MP)

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Pictorial Cancellation on Durga Puja

 

Private Special Cover

Mr Alok Ojha,SSP (Post) releasing special cancellation

A special pictorial cancellation was issued today by Gorakhpur Postal Division on Vijay Dashmi – Durga Puja. The beautiful pictorial cancellation also features Swastika and Om !!

: Ashwani Dubey – Gorakhpur email : ashwani.dubey72@yahoo.com

 

Stamp on Olympic torch relay

 

Date of Issue : 7 October 2013

Russian Post issued a souvenir sheet with one stamp dedicated to the Olympic torch relay for the Winter Olympics 2014 in Sochi.

The history of the Olympic torch relay began in 1936, and in 1952 the relay preceded the Olympic Winter Games for the first time.

The stamp of the souvenir sheet  depicts the emblem of the Olympic Torch Relay of the XXII Olympic Winter Games 2014 in Sochi. The fields of the S/S illustrate the map of the Russian Federation; the Torch Relay, the images of the Moscow Kremlin and the Naval Station in the city of Sochi.

Nature Protection : Slovak Minerals

 

The Slovak post Pofis issued a set of two stamps within the series “Nature Protection” depicting Slovak minerals – precious opal from Dubnik and scepter quartz from Sobov.

Opal is an amorphous substance, hydrated silicon dioxide (SiO2.nH2O), with a variable amount of water (3-21%). There are several opal varieties nonetheless the precious opal represents one of the most valuable ones thanks to opalescence, a magic light reflection of sparkling colourful pastel colours. Colour changing is caused by a refraction and dispersion of light on fine layers with different content of water, minute admixtures of other minerals or in micro-fissures. The precious opal is the most famous gemstone of Slovakia. It can be found in fillings of fissures in Late Tertiary volcanic rocks – andesites in areas between Cervenica and Dubnik in Slanskevrchy Hills. It was formed by condensation of hot silicate aqueous solutions which as after-effects of volcanic activity penetrated into fissures of neighbouring rock.

Quartz (SiO2) is one of the most common minerals in nature forming hexagonal columnar crystals finished with planes of trapezohedron or dipyramid. Crystal planes are frequently grooved.  The crystals can be found in a form of crystal twinning and other various deformations. However, this mineral usually has massive, granular or microcrystalline shape, and can be also found as amorphous. It can be of various colours, virtually covers the whole colour spectrum. Its streak is white.  Quartz is a transparent even translucent mineral with vitreous shine on a new surface. Plenty of its forms represent semiprecious stones, for instance: clear crystal quartz, rose quartz, violet amethyst, yellow citrine, smoky quartz, black morion, amorphous chalcedon variable in colour, agate and opal.

A so-called sceptre or dovecote quartz is a mineralogical curiosity from the vicinity of Banska Stiavnica. The crystals are joined together along the longest axis in such a way that their final shape reminds a sceptre or a dovecote (the bigger crystal is usually grown on the smaller one or vice-verse).

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