The Department of Posts is issuing a set of two stamps on the teme of "Sports-1988" this year, it is appropriate that this set issues on the occasion of the Seoul Olympics. The two stamps depict the Glory of Sport and the lago of the Indian Olympic Association. The first stamp embraces twelve dosciplines in which India has attained commendable success during the last forty years of free India. India has a glorious record i hockey.

Wilson Jones, Mechal Farriera and Geet Sethi have won world championships in billiards. We have been world champions in cricket too. Indian Tennis has been graced by such stalwarts as Ramanathan Krishnan and Vijay Amritraj. In athletics, Milkha Singh and P.T. Usha have bee very near success in the Olympics. Shooting is synonymous with the name of Dr. Karni Singh who broke the skeet record in 1967 (196/200). His was the first name among the Asian competition for shooting. R.R. randhir Singh also baged four gold medals in the Pesla-Sakan Tournament id Singapore. We have a good account of ourselves in football in 1948 and again in Heilsinki and Melbourne.

A uoung Indian's success in Chess has placed us in a Master's class of the game. In badminton Prakash Padukone hasmade his mark and we have also had players like Nandu Natekar and Dinesh Khanna. India has also excelled inBoxing, wrestling and long distance swimming. India pursues her tradition in sport in the true Olympic spirit, nor for winning alone, but for participating and fighting well. Her spors teams put in a lifetime of training for thos few moments of effort and excellence. The postage stamp emphasizes the fact that sports are an integral part of human development.

The second stamp carries the logo of the Indian Olympic Association which is the apex soprts body, affiliated to the International Olympic Committee, dealing with amateur sports in the country. It is responsible for the participation of Indian contingents in the Olympics, Commonwealth, Asian & South Asian Games. In India the IOA is a composite body of the National Sports Federation and the State Olympic Association. In 1900 Norman D. Oritchard, an Anglo Indian living in England, participated in the Olympics for the first time on behalf of India. Sir Dorabji Tata sent a token team of four athletes to the 1920 Olympic games.

It was only in 1927 however that the IOA was formed with Sir Tata as President and Dr. A.J. Noehrem as General Secretary. The patiala family was at the helm of IOA from 1928 to 1976. The IOA continues its efforts to being to the fore many outstanding sports persons.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India