Graham Knuttel Beijing Olympic Games Stamp
16 July 2008
An Post was keen to feature Dubliner and internationally renowned Irish painter, sculptor and weaver, Graham Knuttel in the stamp design programme. The artist was commissioned to design this unusual stamp series specifically to mark the Olympic Summer Games, which begin in just three weeks time.
Speaking at the launch Minister Martin Cullen TD said: "Ireland has a proud tradition in Olympic and European sport and an equally proud tradition in the arts. It is fitting that we should celebrate the participation of our athletes at this year’s games on our national stamps. Creatively designed by Irish artist Graham Knuttel, these stamps honour the endeavours of our elite sportsmen and women - their skill, dedication, their commitment to representing Ireland abroad and their desire to be the best that they can be."
Welcoming the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games stamps Patrick Hickey, President of the OCI said: “Beijing 2008 is an exciting chance for our finest young athletes to shine on the world stage. Like Graham Knuttel’s success in the arts, we have some extraordinary talent in the team”.
Many other nations worldwide have designed and produced stamps to mark international participation in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, while China has issued a ‘lunar year’ Olympic Stamp series to celebrate hosting the Olympics. The China Stamps Company, has skillfully integrated the 12 letters of "Olympic Games" with the 12 symbolic animals of the shengxiao calendar system.
About the artist
Graham Knuttel was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1954, of German and English parentage. Graham is a prolific worker, spending up to 15 hours a day in his studio and as an internationally renowned artist Graham is represented in many important private and public collections in Europe and the USA as well as many public collections in Ireland.
Ireland and the Olympics
Ireland was formally recognised by the Olympic Movement as an independent nation in 1924, and for a nation of it’s size, the country has a proud and successful history of participation in producing such great champions as Pat O’ Callaghan (1928), Ronnie Delany (1956) and Michael Carruth (1992) as well as a President of the International Olympic Committee itself (Lord Killanin).
The Beijing Olympic Games run from the 8th-24th August with 302 events planned, involving over 10,500 athletes from 204 countries who will compete in 28 sports during the two-week Games.
In the 2008 Beijing Olympics Ireland will be represented by 51 top athletes. The athletes will challenge for medals in 12 sports – athletics, badminton, boxing, canoeing, cycling, equestrian, fencing, rowing, sailing, shooting, swimming, and for the first time, triathlon.
The Beijing Olympic Games stamp is available at the Philatelic Shop, GPO Dublin 1 (01-705 7400) selected post offices nationwide or online at (new window) www.irishstamps.ie
For more information contact An Post Corporate Communications
Tel: 01 - 705 7447 Email: pressoffice@anpost.ie
