Edmonton

According to Nietzsche, the German philosopher, "The belly is the main reason why man does not mistake himself for a god." All is not lost, however, for though many Canadians are groaning under a heavy burden, the Commonwealth Games will encourage them to become fit. The Games will take place from August 3 to 12 in Edmonton, a fitting tribute to the city's international prominence. The Alberta capital has come a long way since 1795 when Europeans erected two rival fur trading establishments in the area. Even in 1900 Edmonton failed to impress Bob Edwards, the controversial prairie publisher. He pronounced the region's homes uninteresting and stated, "They contained nothing but enlarged pictures of deceased Ontario relatives." Today, having achieved world economic power, the city will become a centre of international sport, thanks to the Commonwealth Games and the new 42,500-seat Commonwealth Stadium. This Commonwealth Games stamp were designed by Stuart Ash of Toronto. The se-tenant 30-cent stamp feature the city of Edmonton as symbolized by the Alberta legislature building presented against a stylized version of the foothills of the Rockies. All four stamps retain the background of silver horizontal bands used in the earlier issue of Commonwealth Games stamps on 31 March 1978.