Summer Olympics, Rio

The theme of the Olympics is traditional for Romanian philately and this year Romfilatelia continues this tradition by introducing into circulation the postage stamps issue Summer Olympics, Rio 2016. It consists of four stamps depicting sporting competitions in which Romania has qualified: shooting, judo, fencing and athletics.

Rio de Janeiro was named the host city of the competition in the 121st Session of the International Olympic Committee, held in Copenhagen, Denmark on October 2nd, 2009. Rio is the first South American city to host the Summer Olympics, the second in Latin America after Mexico City in 1968, and the first in the Southern Hemisphere since 2000. The games will take place from August 5th to the 21st, 2016.

Shooting sports federations appeared in the 19th century in Switzerland (1824), Great Britain (1859), Germany (1861), USA( 1871 ).

Sport shooting was present for the first time in Olympic competition right from the inaugural edition of the Olympic Games, in 1896 in Athens, with five disciplines.

Currently there are 15 Olympic disciplines of shooting, divided into three large categories, pistol, rifle and air rifle.

Romania was represented for the first time in Olympic shooting competitions in 1900 in Paris, then in 1924 at the Olympic Games which were also held in Paris, and in 1936 at the Olympic Games in Berlin. Since 1952, our representatives have not missed an edition of the Olympic Games.

Romania's sport record include 15 Olympic medals: 6 gold, 4 silver and 5 bronze.

Judo is a sport derived from traditional Japanese jujitsu, a combat style dating from antiquity. Modern Judo was developed in 1880 and was first presented at the Olympics in Tokyo, in 1968, as a demonstration sport. Male competitions were officially introduced at the Olympic Games in 1972, in Munich, and the female version at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. Romania participated in judo competitions in eight editions of the Olympic Games, in 1980, 1984, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012.

Modern fencing began as a form of military training and was considered a sport in the 15th century.

Included in the Olympic program from the very first edition of the modern Games, in 1896, in Athens, fencing was present without interruption to all editions of the Olympic Games. In 1924, the Olympics, in Paris, female competitions were accepted.

Since 1928, our first participation, the only years Romania has failed to compete in the fencing Olympic Games are 1932, 1940, 1944, and 1948.

The athletic competitions took place right from the first ancient Olympic Games and the first champions were recorded ever since 776 BC. From 1896, the first edition of the modern Olympic Games, the athletic competitions were never missing from the Olympic program, and due to the popularity of the sport, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) was established in 1912.

Female athletic competitions were introduced for the first time at the Olympic Games in 1928, in Amsterdam, but only in certain sports.

Romania was represented for the first time in Olympic athletic competitions in the same year, missing so far only from editions of the Games in 1932, 1940, 1944 and 1948.