About this stamp
Athletics is one of the most fundamental and celebrated disciplines in the Olympic Games. It represents the purest form of sporting competition, testing human speed, strength, endurance, and determination. The Olympic spirit, expressed through the motto “Citius, Altius, Fortius”—meaning faster, higher, stronger—is perfectly reflected in athletics events.
The roots of athletics in the Olympics go back to 776 BC, when the first recorded ancient Olympic Games were held at Olympia in Greece. The earliest event was a 170-metre foot race, won by an athlete named Coroibos. Over time, additional events such as longer races and the pentathlon were introduced, which included running, discus throwing, long jump, javelin throw, and wrestling.
After the ancient Games were banned in the 4th century AD by the Roman Emperor Theodosius I, the Olympic movement was revived in the modern era through the efforts of Pierre de Coubertin. This led to the establishment of the International Olympic Committee in 1894 and the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896.
India has been part of the Olympic movement for over a century. India’s first Olympic appearance was in 1900, when a single athlete representing the country won one silver and one bronze medal in athletics. Since 1920, India has regularly participated in the Olympic Games and continues to compete in athletics along with many other sporting disciplines.
The 2004 Summer Olympics, held in Athens from 13 to 29 August 2004, brought together athletes from across the globe to compete in various sports, including athletics. India participated in several events, reflecting its ongoing efforts to excel in international sports.
Philatelic Tribute
To commemorate the Olympic spirit and encourage sporting excellence, India Post issued a set of four commemorative postage stamps marking the 28th Olympic Games. One of these stamps features athletics, highlighting the importance of this classic Olympic discipline and celebrating the timeless ideals of strength, endurance, and sporting excellence.
