Complete Set of 2 nos of commemorative postage stamps on the 19^th Olympics, 1968 Summer Olympics, held in Mexico City, Mexico :

Issued by India

Issued on Oct 12, 1968

Issued for : It is, however, not the number of medals won that really matters. The Olympic Games are intended to foster international amity, by bringing together different countries in friendly rivalry. The events at Mexico City are expected to fulfil this objective to an even greater extent than in the past. India is taking part in the Games as a peace-loving member in the comity of nations keenly interested in the growth of international understanding in the field of sports paving the way for similar understanding in other respects as well. The Indian P & T Department celebrated India’s participation in that year’s Olympic Games by issuing two special stamps in the denominations of 20 paise and one rupee. These stamps were released to coincide with the opening of the Games on 12^th October, 1968.

Description of Design : Both stamp denominations depict a running athlete showing silhouette of torso and legs. Five rings, as a symbol of Olympic, are shown at the right top corner of the stamp.

Type : Stamps, Postal Used

Colour : 20 p – Blue Grey & Mineral Red and 1 Re. – Raw Sienna & Dark Brown

Denomination : 20 Paise and 1 Rupee

Overall Size : 4.06 X 2.28 cms.

Printing Size : 3.80 X 2.00 cms.

Perforation : 14 x 14½

Watermark : Printed on unwatermarked paper

Number Printed : 40,00,000 of each denomination

Number per issue Sheet : 50

Printing Process : Photogravure

Designed and Printed at : India Security Press

About : 

• The Olympic Games have a history of about 2800 years, the first recorded Games having been held in Greece in the year 776 B.C. The continuity of the tradition was broken in 394 A.D. when the then Roman emperor stopped the Games by a decree. Towards the close of the 19^th century, sportsmen and others interested in international goodwill decided to revive the Olympic Games. Baron Pierre de Coubertin was mainly responsible for this revival. The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in Greece in 1896. Since then, the Games have been held every four years with only three interruptions caused by the two world wars, and have proved to be the most fabulous sporting event of these times.
• The XIX Games was held in Mexico City are noteworthy in several respects. The number of countries and sportsmen to be represented was expected to be the highest ever. This was the first time that the Games were being held in a developing country. This was also the first time that a venue at a high altitude has been chosen, the elevation of Mexico City, being about 7500 feet above sea level.
• India has been taking part in the Olympic Games since 1920. This country reigned supreme in hockey from 1928 to 1956. Losing it in 1960 at the Rome Olympics, India regained the title in 1964 at Tokyo. Other honours for India were won by K.D. Jadav, the wrestler who got a bronze medal in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, Milkha Singh who got the fourth place in the 400 metres run in 1960 and Gurbachan Singh who secured the fifth position in the 110 metres hurdles in 1964. India had sent a 36-man contingent to Mexico City and hoped to do well in several items.
  

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