Oly: Aussie gold medallists to become "instant" stamps

AAP General News (Australia)
08-10-2000
Oly: Aussie gold medallists to become "instant" stamps

Australian gold medal winners at the Sydney Olympics will have their winning performances
made into postage stamps on sale to the public in less than 24 hours.

The instant stamps, announced by Australia Post today, will use digital technology
to create 200,000 stamps of every gold medallist on the night of their victory.

DAVID MAIDEN, Philatelic Group Manager at Australia Post, says the digital technology
is a world first.

He says it normally takes 12 to 18 months to produce a stamp.

He says photographers will be at every final to capture the image, which will be e-mailed
to Australia Post within an hour and dropped into a stamp template.

The new 45 cent stamp will be printed that night and distributed around the country.

A further two million stamps using normal offset printing methods will be produced
within three days.

Former 1500m gold medallist HERB ELLIOT says the stamps will be a fitting tribute to
Australian Olympic champions.

AAP RTV jc/jx/jn r

KEYWORD: OLY STAMPS (SYDNEY)

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.