Portugal Olympic Games M/S FDC

Portugal Minisheet FDC
Name: Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
Date of Issue: 30 April 2008

Denominations:
€ 0,75: Equestrian
€ 0,75: Rowing
€ 0,75: Shooting
€ 0,75: Rhythmic Gymnastics

The official opening of the 29th Olympic Games will take place on 8th August 2008 in Beijing, People's Republic of China.

Peking - or Beijing - Chinese capital through five dynasties, has a population of around 14 million and boasts the world's most famous palace, The Forbidden City, located on its main thoroughfare.

Selected in 2001 to host this year's games, the city has been the scene of intensive preparations ever since. The venue for the opening and closing ceremonies will be the Beijing Olympic Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest due to its nest-like lattice of iron and steel, which has capacity for 91,000. Other facilities have also been specially built for the event, such as the Water Cube, enveloped in an opaque membrane with over three thousand pneumatic cushions made of recycled plastic, arranged to resemble the organic cells of living beings.

The emblem for this year's games, comprising 302 events in 28 sports and involving around 10,500 athletes, is a dancing figure with outspread arms against a red background, to symbolise the country's joy at hosting these games and the warm welcome it extends to the rest of the world and the athletes from all five continents.

Portugal first took part in the Stockholm Olympics in 1912, parading its recently adopted red and green flag at the opening ceremony; its four athletes competed in the marathon, athletics, wrestling and fencing.

This year, the Portuguese team numbers some 46 athletes, who will compete in Athletics, Cycling, Judo, Sailing, Shooting, Swimming, Taekwondo, Trampolining.

Comment: Portuguese Olympic Games' stamps have 2008 Beijing Olympic Games emblem, but the stamps on the minisheet haven't it. Who knows the reason?

Estonia 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Gold Medalist Autographed FDC
Estonia 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Silver Medalists Autographed Postal Stationery

2008 Beijing Olympic Games FDCs:
Algeria, Belarus, Canada, Czech Republic, Estonia, Estonia Sheetlet, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Hong Kong M/S, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Portugal M/S, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Ukraine.

2008 Beijing Paralympic Games FDCs:
Czech Republic, Slovakia.