During the association’s back-to-school meeting, mid-September 2024, in Joinville, Christophe Beurton, president of the APNCV club (Philatelic, Numismatic, Cartophile Association of the Valley), led a captivating conference on the theme of the influence of Olympic Games (OG) on the production of postal stamps.
This conference made it possible to retrace the evolution of Olympic philately, showing how these small collectible objects played a major role in the commemoration of the world’s greatest sporting events.
The speaker began by recalling that interest in sport originated in the 19th century, particularly in England, before spreading across Europe. The first modern Olympic Games, held in Athens in 1896, marked a turning point. On this occasion, Greece issued a series of stamps especially for the event, a tradition that has continued with each edition. With only 245 male athletes from fourteen countries, this first edition of the Olympics was still modest, women were simply not invited to compete.
First gold medalist
The 1900 Olympic Games in Paris introduced a first revolution by including women in certain disciplines. Christophe Beurton pointed out that during this edition, although there were not yet separate categories for women, they competed with men in certain events such as tennis and archery. This was notably the year when Great Britain’s Charlotte Cooper became the first female Olympic gold medalist in singles tennis. Female participation has continued to grow over the years, a development that can also be tracked through the stamps issued with each new edition of the Games.
The conference also highlighted the impact of the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, where the production of stamps took on a political dimension. These stamps became instruments of propaganda, reflecting the ideology of the time. With 4,066 athletes, including 328 women, these games marked an important milestone for female participation in the Olympics. Mr. Beurton noted that the stamps issued for these Games are among the most sought after by collectors due to their historical value and rarity.
When discussing the Paris Olympics in 1924, Christophe Beurton took the time to talk about the legendary American swimmer Johnny Weissmuller, who became an icon of these games. Known not only for his five Olympic gold medals in swimming, but also for his later role as Tarzan in Hollywood films, Weissmuller is a prominent example of the lasting influence of Olympic athletes. The stamps issued during this era, depicting athletes in action, captured the essence of this competition and its iconic heroes.
The arrival of judo
The speaker then jumped back in time to discuss the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, where the number of female athletes increased significantly, reaching 683 participants out of a total of 5,140 athletes. It was also during this edition that iconic sports like judo and volleyball were introduced for the first time. The stamps issued on this occasion bear witness to the evolution of the Olympic Games, with modern and dynamic illustrations, capturing the spirit of progress and innovation which characterized this period.
Finally, the speaker concluded by mentioning the Sydney Olympics in 2000, where the numbers reached records with 10,691 athletes, including 4,069 women. It was a historic turning point for gender equality in Olympic competitions. New disciplines such as women’s football, mountain biking and beach volleyball, which are making their appearance in this edition, are also celebrated through series of stamps that have become iconic.
Through this conference, Christophe Beurton showed that Olympic stamps are not simple collector’s items, but that they tell the story of the sporting and social developments of the Olympic Games. They reflect not only the evolution of the number of athletes – from 245 in 1896 to more than 10,000 in 2000 – but also the growing place of women in these competitions, who have gone from simple participation to real recognition, with disciplines specifically open to them.
From our correspondent Virginie Thibault
