Please download your very own copy of the Isle of Man Post Office's Team GB Rio 2016 support poster here
The opening ceremony for the Games of the XXXI Olympiad takes place today (5th August) in the Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro starting at 20.00 local time. From this point the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will commence. In recognition of the number of Island based Team GB participants, Isle of Man Post Office has taken the lead as the only GB postal administration to issue a set of Team GB stamps in celebration of this global event.
These stunning stamps are available as a set – there is also a sheetlet, presentation pack and special covers with date postmarks including first day of issue. The accompanying stamp literature includes high definition images and beautifully incorporates the colours of the Union Flag and likewise Team GB - red, white and blue. Each stamp is to the value of £1.27, and depicts the Team GB logo and a different sporting event of the Olympic Games using a range of vibrant colours - cycling, athletics, gymnastics and swimming.
A record number of countries will be participating in many sporting events at this year's Games. More than 100,000 people will be directly involved in the organisation of the Games, including 70,000 volunteers, and 10,500 athletes from approximately 206 countries from around the world are expected to come to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games to compete in front of a global audience. The inspiring performance of Team GB during London 2012 captured everyone's imagination and saw a genuine outpouring of support and pride which lifted the mood of the nation. Team GB will be looking to retain that support and feel good factor during Rio 2016 and will look for part of that support to come from the Isle of Man with Manx athletes again representing Team GB in Rio.
The Team GB Manx athletes are record breaking shooter and double Commonwealth Games medallist, Tim Kneale, who will be making his Olympic debut at Rio 2016 in the Men's Double Trap, and sprinter Mark Cavendish, who competed on the track at Beijing 2008 and then on the road at London 2012 and will be competing in the Men's Team Pursuit and Men's Omnium. Also taking part in the Men's Road Race will be Isle of Man resident, Ian Stannard who rides for Team Sky and competed in the Road Race at the London 2012.
Samuel Day, Licensing & Retail Manager of British Olympic Association said: "Postage stamps offer an iconic and unique opportunity to mark memorable moments in time and there's no better sporting stage to do so than Team GB's participation at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. We are hugely proud to do just that with this officially licensed stamp offering from the Isle of Man Post Office."
Maxine Cannon, Isle of Man Post Office General Manager said: "With the Island's strong connections to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games the post office saw it only fitting that we produce a set of stamps in recognition of our participation in this wonderful sporting event. On behalf of the Isle of Man Post Office I would like to send our very best wishes to the Team GB athletes who will be competing in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games."
She continues: "Isle of Man Post Office has a strong affiliation with the Olympic Games, and in 2012 British Fashion designer Sir Paul Smith designed a set of commemorative stamps for the Isle of Man Post Office to coincide with London 2012."
Please download your very own copy of the Isle of Man Post Office's Team GB Rio 2016 support poster here