Rio 2016 Olympics inspire July cartoon caption contest

By John M. Hotchner

With the Summer Olympics in Brazil just around the corner, I have picked a stamp honoring the 1992 Summer Games as the cartoon caption contest stamp for July.

The U.S. Postal Service issued this 29¢ Discus stamp July 12, 1991, part of a set of five. 

Although this particular stamp depicts a discus thrower, keep in mind that there will be more than 10,000 athletes from 206 national Olympic committees participating in the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, the first South American city to host the Olympics.

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From the opening ceremonies on Aug. 5 through the closing on Aug. 21, these athletes will participate in 28 Olympic sports, with 306 events. Thirty-three of the venues will be in Rio, and an additional five will be in other Brazilian cities. 

Madrid was the runner-up for these games, with Chicago and Tokyo also placing bids to be the host city.

The thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat will be featured on hours and hours of television during the Games, and the festivities might even put presidential politics into second place for much of August. 

That doesn’t mean that you can’t use political lines to enter this month’s contest. You can use sports themes, philatelic themes, political themes, or whatever else gets your creative juices flowing. There will be two prizes given: one for the best philatelic line, and one for the best nonphilatelic line. 

The important thing is to use your sense of humor, because entries with a humorous twist have the best chance of winning a prize. 

Put your entry (or entries) on a postcard if possible and send it to me, John Hotchner, Cartoon Contest, Box 1125, Falls Church, VA 22041-0125, or email it to jmhstamp@verizon.net. Be sure to include your mailing address.

For each winner, the prize will be the book Linn’s Stamp Identifier, published by Linn’s (a retail value of $12.99), or a 13-week subscription to Linn’s (a new subscription or an extension).

To be considered for the prizes, entries must reach me no later than July 22.

Why not enter now, while you’re thinking about it?

Keep reading about Olympic-themed stamps:

Latest batch of commemorative stamps for the Rio 2016 Olympics released

Olympian to speak on stamps and sports at World Stamp Show-NY 2016

1991 $1 stamp touts U.S. Postal Service as Olympics sponsor