Sochi 2014 Olympics Games And Pakistan's Participation In Olympics

I have always been a sports fanatic and Olympics has been the twilight of all sports events held on the planet. In fact, I have a special admiration for Olympics Stamps and have a nice collection ofthem by now.
My primary love is for Summer Olympics because PAKISTAN does send a few teams in these Olympics and even managed to get some medals there - although very few as compared to the huge population and the talented youth available in the country; but there are some obvious reasons and most importantly it's the dirty politics in the country in general and in Pakistan Olympics Federation in particular. A little Google search reveals the following:-

• After it's independence in 1947, Pakistan has participated in all Summer Olympics Games except in 1980 when it joined theUS-led Olympics Boycott as it were held in Moscow, Russia.
• In total, Pakistan has won 10 medals so far, including 3 Gold,3 Silver and 4 Bronze medals.
• Out of the total 10 medals, Pakistan Field Hockey Team has won 8 including 3 Gold, 3 Silver and 2 Bronze medals.
• The remaining 2 Bronze medals were won in Wrestling andBoxing.
• ... and unfortunately, Pakistan has not won a single medal in the last 5 Olympics Games since 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain to 2012 Olympics Games in London, UK.

Pakistan has never sent any team to Winter Olympics, if I am not wrong.

Sorry, Google has again proved me wrong ------ Pakistan's first participation in Winter Olympics Games was in 2010 in Vancouver Winter Olympics, where Mr Muhammad Abbas represented Pakistanin Alpine Skiing category in Men's Giant Slalom event. He was ranked 79 out of 103 qualifiers.

Pakistan's Ski Team has also qualified for 2014 Winter Olympics Games in Sochi, Russia, scheduled to be held from February 7 - 23, 2014.

The above stamp was issued in 2011 by Russian Postal Service to commemorate Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Games. It is one of thestamp of a series of 3 stamps.

The magnificent cover is definitely a nice addition in my Olympics Covers Collection.

Belarus: Water Skiing Souvenir Sheet FDC

Here's a lovely Belarus First Day Cover (FDC) from my collection. This beautiful Belarussian FDC was issued on 25 October 2001 and features a lovely blue-coloured souvenir sheet showing water skiing. The sheet shows 3 different poses of a woman water skier.

The Souvenir sheet also reads,

"National Waterski Team Belarus

2 times World Champions and 

10 times Europe Champions"

The souvenir sheet is of 1000 Rubles denomination.

As a sports fanatic, I really love this FDC from Belarus.

What do you think about this cover?

4th Independence Anniversary August 14, 1951

Although issued on Independence Day this set of stamps was declared as 'definitive. Country's renowned artist A. R. Chughtai designed the stamps in 2 1/2a, 3a, 3 1/2a, 4a, 6a, 8a, l0a and 12a values. The 2 1/2a (crimson) and 3 1/2a (blue) are in same design showing Vase and Plate surrounded by decorated frame. Value is printed in square tablets on sides of the base, where 'Pakistan Postage' is also printed linking the tablets. "Pakistan" and "Postage" in Urdu are printed at upper sides, diagonally. Saracenic leaf pattern is selected for 4a and 6a stamps in green and orange. "Pakistan/ Postage" is printed in between value tablets, and 'Pakistan' in Urdu at the centre of a crescent placed at the middle of the leaf pattern.

Two values intended for 'airmail' are 3a red and 12a slate in vertical shape, showing Hour Glass and symbolic aeroplane, crescent & star is also seen behind the plane. Elements are placed differently in these two values; country name in English is at the top panel and in Urdu, at bottom left, in decorated triangle. Face value is engraved at upper corners, in Urdu and English.

Arch and Lamp is the subject of next two denominations; 8a sepia and l0a purple. Horizontal stamps are decorated with floral design all around and two columns on either side, carrying tall trees. Value tablets are engraved at sides.

Pakistan Painting Postcard - Girls Sitting Together

Hi Pals!
Here's just another painting postcard from Pakistan to share with you.

I really like the smile on the face of the girl in pink dress. With the backdrop of Malala Yousafzai fame, this postcard becomes a real special one.
Just in case you do not know Malala Yousafzai's story, here's a re-cap.
Malala Yousafzai was a small girl living in Swat Valley which was under occupation of Taliban terrorists some years ago. WhileTalibans opposed girls' education, Malala raised her voice as a 9-year old and started writing her online diary at BBC Urdu Website, by the nick name of Gul Makai.

Malala Yousafzai

After a long and strenuous fight, Pakistan Army cleared Swat Valleyfrom terrorist elements and life came back to normal. Malala Yousafzai became a national symbol of girl education and Pakistan'sthen Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani re-named Pakistan Peace Award as Malala Peace Award.

In Oct 2012, some Taliban miscreants stopped Malala's school van and fired at them from point blank ranges. Malala suffered a head injury along with some of her friends too. She remained under-treatment in Pakistan and then in England.

Lately Malala Yousafzai was invited by United Nations to address the Youth General Assembly on the eve of her 16th birthday.United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and the Ex-British PM Gordon Brown were also there to wish her a happy birthday.

Malala Yousafzai has definitely become a symbol of struggle against the oppressors and a source of inspiration for everyone around the globe.

Although the above postcard does not have any direct link withMalala's story but still these cute girls and their smiles make me think of them as small Malalas.

May God bless them with endless smiles and very happy lives. Amen!

Pakistan Postcard Altit Fort, Hunza, Gilgit Baltistan

Pakistan Postcard Badshahi Mosque, Lahore, Punjab

Pakistan Earth Day Stamp From The Pages Of History

To match the theme of Sunday Stamps # 119 on Viridian's blog, I decided to find something on the same topic.
I wondered if Pakistan ever issued a stamp on Earth Day, so I thought to run a search in the pages of history and found this beautiful stamp issued by Pakistan Post on Earth Day in 1995.

 The stamp shows snowy mountains, vast deserts, trees and sea, which can all be seen in the beautiful Pakistan. I sometimes say that Pakistan is the ONLY country in the World whose surface varies from 0 feet above sea level to 28029 feet above sea level (K-2: 2nd Highest Peak in the World).
What a diverse environment along the length of Pakistan!!!

 I hope that you all will like it and share with friends too! Do feel free to share with friends on Facebook or Google+ or anywhere else to spread the word :)
Keep Smiling and Keep Shining!