The Olympic Philately, Numismatic and memorabilia Commission is responsible for advising the IOC on the dissemination of the Olympic ideal through the worldwide promotion of stamps, coins and items commemorating the Olympic Games.
Stamps at the origin
Collecting items commemorating the Olympic Games started with the first Games of the modern era in 1896.
Olympic stamps, issued to balance the budget of the Organising Committee, were the first objects of Olympic collecting, and have been the passion of several generations of philatelists. Collectors of Olympic memorabilia soon joined stamp collectors and, in 1951, when Olympic coins were struck for the first time, coin enthusiasts also entered the world of Olympic collectors.
Olympic culture
Olympic collectibles have always fascinated Olympic fans, parallel to the social-sport explosion of the Olympic Games. In the early days, Olympic collectibles were not really linked to the Movement itself. This changed rapidly and they became part of an Olympic culture, part of its history and its art. Olympic collectibles also contributed to promoting the Olympic ideal - both locally and internationally.
18th World Olympic Collectors Fair
The 18th World Olympic Collectors Fair takes place on 17-20 May 2012 in Zappeion Megaron, Athens, Greece. Hosted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC), the Fair will coincide with the Handing over Ceremony of the Olympic Flame by the Hellenic Olympic Committee to the London Organizing Committee of Olympic Games in the Panathenaic Stadium.
The 18th World Olympic Collectors Fair will be hosted at the historic Zappeion Megaron (
www.zappeion.gr) monument. All participants will receive free accreditation to attend the Handing Over of the Olympic Flame Ceremony on 17 May at the Panathenaic Stadium. They may also visit Athens Olympic venues and historical sites.
A limited number of free accreditation passes for VIP seating at the Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame on 10th May in Olympia will also be available for a few participants who book early.
As part of the Fair, an Olympic Memorabilia Exhibition will take place on 15-20 May. More details of both events can be found at the Hellenic Olympic Committee web site,
www.hoc.gr