According to historical records, the first ancient Olympic Games can be traced back to 776 BC, and the first modern Olympics Games was held in Athens in 1896. From the 241 participants from 14 nations in 1896, the Games grew, to nearly 11,000 competitors from 202 countries at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

Once every 4 years, the flame of the Olympic torch will light up, beckoning the world's finest athletes to compete against one another in one place. The never-say-die spirit in trying to achieve their dream and a place on the rostrum provides the sportsmanship that all around the world is watching enthusiastically.

In 2008, the Games of the XXIX Olympiad will be celebrated in Beijing, China, on the 08 Aug 2008. In tune with the oriental setting, this set of four stamps featured dark silhouettes of the athletes in action artfully illustrated against a white background like brush strokes on a Chinese painting. The Games of XXIX Olympiad being set in Beijing, the Chinese words of the popular Singapore Olympic sports [Table Tennis - S$0.26, Sailing - S$0.32, Shooting - $1.10 and Badminton - $1.10] were also featured respectively in the stamps, giving it an added oriental touch.

Singapore Post is participating in Olympex - the Olympic Expo Beijing 2008. An Exhibition Miniature Sheet and special theme day cancellations will be issued to commemorate this event. Please see enclosed order form.

Olympex - the Olympic Expo Beijing 2008 - is the first Olympic Cultural Event Exhibition that will take place from 08 - 18 August 2008 at Beijing Exhibition Centre, with exhibition area of 22,000 sqm. The theme for this exhibition is "Inheriting Olympic Spirit, Inspiring Beijing".