Portugal stamp set of four celebrates skating

By Linn’s Staff

A set of four stamps issued by Portugal’s CTT (Correios, Telegrafos e Telefones) April 8 marks 100 years of the Roller Sports Federation of Portugal.

The four designs in the set celebrate roller hockey, roller speed skating, artistic roller skating and skateboarding.

The Roller Sports Federation of Portugal traces its roots to the Portuguese Hockey Federation, founded in 1924. This followed the 1922 creation of the Portuguese Hockey League to regulate roller hockey, roller skating and field hockey.

Roller skates arrived in Portugal during the 1870s thanks to Queen Maria Pia, who is said to have skated down palace halls with her children.

Portugal’s CTT held a first-day ceremony for the stamps April 8 at the Roller Sports Federation of Portugal 100 Years Skating Gala at the Casino Estoril in Estoril, Portugal.

The gala also recognized athletes who won medals in world and European skating in 2023. Portugal won 39 medals, including 24 for figure skating, nine for speed skating and six for roller hockey.

Portugal won its first roller hockey world championship in 1947, a feat repeated four times in the following five years. Portugal has won a total of 16 Roller Hockey World Cup awards, with the last being in 2019.

The Roller Sports Federation of Portugal created skate races for speed skating in 1979, and the sport reached its peak with the appearance of in-line skates instead of quad skates.

The 1970s also saw artistic skating receive more recognition after appearing in Portugal in the 1950s.

Skateboards arrived in Portugal around the early 1980s, with the first skate park in the country built in 1986. The Roller Sports Federation has focused much attention on skateboarding in recent years due to its popularity among younger generations and its increased recognition across various competitions, including the Olympic Games.

The stamps are nondenominated: The Roller Hockey stamp is valued at the regular domestic rate for letters weighing up to 20 grams (currently €0.65), Roller Speed Skating at the priority domestic rate (€0.90), Artistic Roller Skating at the rate for letters sent to Europe (€1.20), and Skateboarding at the rate for letters sent to the rest of the world (€1.30).

The stamps were designed by Colmeia Design and printed offset by Belgium’s bpost.

For ordering information, visit Portugal CTT online, or write to Portugal CTT, Filatelia, Rua Joao Saraiva n. 9, 1700-248 Lisbon, Portugal.

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