Sports and landmarks on April 6 issue from the United Nations Postal Administration

By David Hartwig

A set of six stamps and three souvenir sheets in an April 6 issue from the United Nations Postal Administration celebrates the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.

The United Nations established April 6 as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace in 2013.

“Owing to its vast reach, unparalleled popularity and foundation of positive values, sport continues to contribute towards the United Nations’ objectives for the advancement of human rights, social and economic development and peace,” the UNPA says.

Each stamp in the set of six is denominated at a different rate: 73¢ and $1.65 for the post office at U.N. headquarters in New York City, 1.20-franc and 1.90fr for the U.N. post office at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, and €0.95 and €1.20 for the post office at the Vienna International Center in Vienna, Austria.

The stamps show athletes performing sports against the backdrop of well-known locations.

The 73¢ stamp depicts someone playing badminton with a section of the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, Calif. The $1.65 stamp shows a surfer on the waters of Port Jackson in Sydney, Australia.

On the 1.20fr stamp a soccer player kicks a ball above the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada, which was built for the 1976 Summer Olympics. The 1.90fr stamp features an athlete who appears to be skateboarding along the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.

The €0.95 stamp depicts another athlete using a landmark for sport, in this case it’s a rock climber who has ascended Nelson’s Column in London, England, nearly reaching the 18-foot statue of Vice Adm. Horatio Nelson at the top of the column; an impressive feat given that the monument rises almost 170 feet above the ground.

A €1.20 stamp rounds out the set of six with a volleyball player set to launch a volleyball over the Colosseum in Rome, Italy.

A souvenir sheet is offered for each of the three post offices, with each sheet featuring an additional stamp denominated either $1.65, 2.50fr or €2.50.

On each souvenir sheet a statement by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appears in either English, French or German.

With the perspective of the design on the $1.65 stamp, the Great Wall of China appears to be the net for a table tennis player.

The 2.50fr stamp shows a basketball player at Senso-ji, the oldest-established temple in Tokyo, Japan.

On the €2.50 stamp, a gymnast appears to use the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, as a pommel horse.

Sergio Baradat of the United Nations designed the stamps and souvenir sheets using illustrations from Bill Butcher, who displays more of his sports-related illustrations on his website.

The stamps and souvenir sheets were printed by Joh Enschede Stamps Security Printers of the Netherlands by hexachrome. Each stamp measures 44 millimeters on each side.

The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace stamps are available in panes of six stamps for each of the six denominations.

There were 9,000 panes printed for the 73¢, $1.65, 1.20fr and 1.90fr stamps, and 10,000 panes printed for the €0.95 and €1.20 stamps.

The souvenir sheets were printed in quantities of 10,000 for the $1.65 and 2.50fr sheets and 11,000 for the €2.50 sheet.

The souvenir sheets are 110mm by 56mm each with stamps that are 44mm on each side.

An event for the 2025 International Day of Sport for Development and Peace will be hosted at the U.N. headquarters in New York City as an opportunity to discuss the issues of sport, gender equality, healthy aging and racial equality.

The day’s theme for 2025 is “Leveling the Playing Field: Sport for Social Inclusion,” and this year’s focus will work to challenge stereotypes and promote equal opportunities.

For ordering information for these new International Day of Sport for Development and Peace stamps and related products from the United Nations Postal Administration, visit the UNPA website; email unpanyinquiries@un.org; telephone 212-963-7684 or 800-234-8672; or write to UNPA, Box 5900, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163-5900.

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