32ND SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

Magyar Posta is honouring the largest sports event in the world, the Summer Olympic Games, being held for the 32nd time, with a stamp issue. Fifty thousand copies of the numbered commemorative souvenir sheet designed by the graphic artist Ágnes Berta were produced by ANY Security Printing Company. The new issue will be released on 4 June 2021. It will be on sale at first day post offices and Filaposta in Hungary and may also be ordered from Magyar Posta’s online store from the date of issue.

The first Olympics in ancient times were held in Olympia, Greece, in 776 BC and from then on the games were usually held every four years until AD 393. The revival of the sporting event, which only occurred at the end of the 19th century, is associated with the name of Pierre de Coubertin. The first Olympic Games of the modern era embracing many disciplines were held in Athens, Greece, in 1896. The international event has enjoyed constant success ever since.
On 7 September 2013, the International Olympic Committee, meeting in Buenos Aires, awarded the right to hold the 32nd Summer Olympic Games to Tokyo. The world’s largest sporting event was originally intended to be held in 2020 but, due to the pandemic, will instead take place between 23 July and 8 August 2021. At the games, 11,090 athletes may compete in 339 events in 33 sports. Five new sports have been included at the Olympics.
The graphic artist captured a moment from swimming in the image of the stamp of the souvenir sheet, and another from canoe/kayaking on the first day cover. Apart from these two sports, in which Hungary excels, iconic Japanese buildings are depicted, with the Tokyo skytree and the Nakagin Capsule Tower in the frame of the souvenir sheet and The Iceberg on the first day cover. The special postmark features the new logo of the Hungarian Olympic team, MAGYAROCK, introduced in 2020, the coloured version of which appears on both the souvenir sheet and the first day cover.