First-class effort as stamps showcase London Olympics

FIRST-CLASS stamps which champion the different Olympic and Paralympic sports at the London 2012 Games have been unveiled. Events ranging from track athletics to the Paralympic sport of boccia are among the first ten sports being showcased in the stamps.

They go on sale on 22 October. Royal Mail is launching 30 stamps to mark the 30th Olympiad in the run-up to the London 2012 Games. Artists are designing images of another 20 sports for stamps that will go on sale in 2010 and 2012. A spokeswoman said: "We hope these stamps play their part in the countdown to the Games."