1992 Olympics

A single Olympic stamp was issued in April 1992 as a result of a 'Design a Stamp Competition'. This winning design was selected from ten competition finalists after a vote by more than 6,000 magazine readers. More than 500 stamp designs were entered. Sheryl McCammon's simple and vibrant depiction of athletes running captured the movement and speed of a sprint race.

In May 1992 a four stamp Olympic issue, designed by Martin Bailey, was issued featuring two events New Zealand had previously won gold medals in - sailboarding and equestrian three day eventing - together with and cycling and archery. This stamp issue was voted the world's best Olympic stamps in 1992.

The Olympic Games have a history stretching back to around 776 BC. The name is taken from Olympia, the site where the ancient Greek Games were staged. In the early tournaments, the sole event was a foot race around a 812 metre track. By 520 BC there were 13 events, including chariot and horse racing, and a race in armour. The Olympics were revived at Athens in 1896 by Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin, whose dream was to bring the world together through sport. His promotion of the Olympics led to sport becoming popular among ordinary people, and accepted in the education system.

New Zealanders competed in the Olympic Games for the first time in London in 1908 as part of the Australasian team, and New Zealand participated for the first time as a separate nation at the Antwerp Games in 1920. It was there that rower Darcy Hadfield won this country's first medal - a bronze in the single sculls. New Zealand's first gold was for boxing at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics.

Image	Title	Description	Price
	Single Stamp	Single 45c 'Sprinters' gummed stamp. This stamp was the result of a 'Design a Stamp Competition'. This winning design was selected from 10 competition finalists after a vote by more than 6,000 magazine readers. More than 500 stamp designs were entered and this stamp was issued 3 April 1992.	$0.45
	Single Stamp	Single 45c 'Cycling' gummed stamp.	$0.45
	Single Stamp	Single 80c 'Archery' gummed stamp.	$0.80
	Single Stamp	Single $1.00 'Equestrian' gummed stamp.	$1.00
	Single Stamp	Single $1.50 'Sailboarding' gummed stamp.	$1.50
	Miniature Sheet	Mint, used or cancelled miniature sheet.	$3.75
	First Day Cover	First day cover with stamps affixed. Cancelled on the first day of issue.	$4.00
	Miniature Sheet First Day Cover	First day cover with miniature sheet affixed. Cancelled on the first day of issue.	$4.00