To support the Latvian Olympians at the XXIII Olympic Winter Games in the South Korean city of PyeongChang, Latvijas Pasts releases the newest stamp in the series Sports – Bobsleigh. The first day cancellation of the stamp is scheduled to take place in Riga post office No. 50 located in the shopping centre Origo, 2 Stacijas laukums, from 8 AM to 7 PM on the 2nd of February 2018. The new philatelic release has been created in collaboration with the Latvian Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation.
The stamp has been designed by the artist Ludis Danilāns, and its print run is 50,000 copies. The new stamp is suitable for sending a regular Class A letter within Latvia: its face value is €0.61. The release of the stamp is accompanied by the issue of the first day cover with a print run of 1,000 copies.
The XXIII Olympic Winter Games will be held in PyeongChang, South Korea from the 9th of February to the 25th of February 2018. Latvia will be represented in bobsleigh by two pilots and seven pushers: Oskars Melbārdis with pushers Daumants Dreiškens, Arvis Vilkaste and Jānis Strenga, as well as Oskars Ķibermanis with Matīss Miknis, Jānis Jansons un Helvijs Lūsis. Intars Dambis will go to the Olympics as the ninth bobsledder. The goal of both bobsleigh teams is to get into the top ten in both disciplines.
Latvia will be represented at the XXIII Olympic Winter Games in eight more sports: biathlon, figure skating, cross-country skiing, luge, alpine skiing, skeleton, skating and short track speed skating.
“We wish the Latvian Olympians successful starts and encourage everyone to promote the success and recognition of bobsleigh through the stamps dedicated to this sport,” Mārcis Vilcāns, Chairman of the Board of Latvijas Pasts, points out.
Zintis Ekmanis, Secretary General of the Latvian Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation, emphasises: “We are pleased with the release of the stamps dedicated to sports – we are enthusiastic about our collaboration with Latvijas Pasts in promoting winter sports!”
In the event that the Latvian Olympians win medals at the XXIII Olympic Winter Games, Latvijas Pasts will also release stamps dedicated to the particular medal winners.
Latvijas Pasts also released stamps related to the previous Olympics: Olympic Games in Sochi (2014), Olympic Games in London (2012), Olympic Games in Vancouver (2010), Olympic Games in Beijing (2008), Olympic Games in Turin (2006), Olympic Games in Sydney (2000) and Olympic Games in Atlanta (1996).
