BVI Post Launches Beijing 2008 Stamp Issue

~~Adz:Right~~ ROADTOWN, Tortola-The BVI Postal Administration today launched its Beijing 2008 Stamp Issue featuring a 2008 Olympic hopeful and two former Olympians.

Two of the stamps bear the image of 2008 IAAF World Indoor Track and Field Championship bronze medallist Ms. Tahesia Harrigan, who is one of two athletes bearing the Territory’s hope for medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. She will participate in the 100-metre event on August 16th & 17th. 

Ms. Harrigan, ranked among the top 30 100-metre sprinters in the world in 2007, is featured on stamps in the $0.15 and $0.20 denominations. The photographs depicted on the stamps were taken at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2007, where she finished 4th in the 100-metres.

The other athletes featured in the Beijing 2008 Stamp Issue are former Olympians Mr. John Shirley and Mr. Robbie Hirst. Sailing and athletics are the only two sports in which the Territory has been represented at the Olympic Games.

The $0.18 stamp features two-time Olympian, Mr. Hirst sailing with his crew during the IC24 Class in the Nation’s Cup in 2007.
Mr. Hirst, who competed in the laser class in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games, secured the BVI’s first World Championship medal at any level when he won a silver medal in the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Youth Championships.

Mr. John Shirley is featured on the $1.00 stamp. The image depicts Mr. Shirley during the Queen’s Baton Relay in a tour of Road Harbour in 2005. He was part of the BVI’s 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games sailing team.
Both Mr. Hirst and Mr. Shirley are still actively involved in sailing and have sailed together in the BVI Spring Regatta, winning their division on several occasions.

It is the first time that living people have been featured on the Territory stamps. Deputy Postmaster Mrs. Goldie Gumbs told the Department of Information and Public Relations “traditionally, living people have not been featured but based on significance of the topic, the BVI Post decided to seek permission through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.”

Mrs. Gumbs added “this is something historic for us; these are stamps which you can purchase and have for years to come, so your children and grand-children can see the persons who have participated in the Olympics.”

Released in commemoration of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the stamps will be on sale during the upcoming games. The Deputy Postmaster said “it’s promotion for the Territory; people will get to know about the BVI through the athletes featured in this stamp issue.”

The Beijing 2008 Olympic Logo and the Royal Cypher appear on each of the four stamps. Stamp collectors can purchase sets and first day covers at the Philatelic Bureau, located within the General Post Office at #84 Main Street, Road Town, the Post Shop at the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport and Valley, Virgin Gorda.

The Philatelic Bureau services the needs of local and foreign collectors providing them with sets of stamps and first day covers. It is part of the BVI Postal Administration which functions under the Ministry of Finance, providing mail service to more than 189 countries around the world. 

The set of four stamps included in the Beijing 2008 Stamp Issue released on Friday 1st August by the BVI Postal Administration. The stamps which range from $0.15 to $1.00 denominations depict 2008 Olympic hopeful, Ms. Tahesia Harrigan and former Olympians, Mr. John Shirley and Mr. Robbie Hirst. Courtesy of the BVI Postal Administration