The first set of ten 1st Class stamps will be issued on 22 October with illustrations featuring Olympic and Paralympic sports. This will be followed by further issues of sports stamps in 2010 and 2011. Alongside the stamps will be first day covers, presentation packs and other commemorative products.

London 2012 Chairman Sebastian Coe commented, “Stamps have always been part of every Games and it is a huge honour to have London 2012 themed stamps being issued over the next three years. It is a wonderful way to celebrate the London 2012 Games and a way for the whole country to get involved in this fantastic festival of sport between now and 2012.”

Julietta Edgar, Head of Special Stamps, Royal Mail said: “Royal Mail has commissioned some of Britain’s most exciting artists and illustrators to create three sets of stamps which will highlight both the sporting and cultural significance of this incredible event.”

LOCOG’s agreement with Royal Mail begins with immediate effect and will see 30 sports stamps issued between now and 2011.

For selected images of stamps please click here

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For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 100 or visit the website. Find out the latest from London 2012 HQ on our blog or follow us on Twitter

Notes to editors:

Stamps to be issued in October:

Canoe Slalom
Illustration by John Royle

Paralympic Games: Archery
Illustration by George Hardie

Athletics: Track
Collage by Nathalie Guinamard

Aquatics
Illustration by Julian Opie

Paralympic Games: Boccia
Illustration by David Doyle

Judo
Illustration by Paul Slater

Paralympic Games: Equestrian
Illustration by Andrew Davidson

Badminton
Illustration by David Holmes

Weightlifting
Illustration by Guy Billout

Basketball
Illustration by Huntley Muir

As it heads towards its £2bn budget for staging the Olympic and Paralympic Games, LOCOG has six domestic Tier One Partners - adidas, BP, British Airways, BT, EDF and Lloyds TSB. There are four domestic Tier Two Supporters – Adecco, Cadbury, Cisco and Deloitte. There are now eleven domestic Tier Three Suppliers and Providers - Airwave, Atkins, Boston Consulting Group, Crystal CG, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, Holiday Inn, McCann Worldgroup, The Nielsen Company, Populous, Ticketmaster and Trident.

The Worldwide Olympic Partners signed up for London 2012 are Coca-Cola, Acer, Atos Origin, GE, McDonald’s, Omega, Panasonic, Samsung and Visa.