XXXII Olympic Games

The postage stamp depicts the modern pentathlon sport by chance. It is the only sport created specifically for the Olympics. This sport was created by Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games. The Ancient Olympics featured a pentathlon consisting of running races, wrestling, long jump, javelin throw and discus throw. In the modern pentathlon, athletes compete in the following five competitions: gun shooting, fencing with a spike, 200-meter freestyle, show jumping and cross-country running. Due to modifications in the pentathlon, the word modern pentathlon was added at the modern Olympics. In 1912, the first modern pentathlon was held at the Summer Olympics. Since 1996, the modern pentathlon lasts one day.