Gymnastics

Many of the world's top athletes, including Canada's best, will be competing in Barcelona, Spain from July 25 to August 9 at the 1992 Olympic Summer Games. One of 12 top corporate sponsors, Canada Post Corporation is issuing a booklet of 10 stamps on June 15, commemorating the Canadian athlete's participation. The five stamp designs depict track and field, gymnastics, swimming, diving and cycling. Since their birth in Athens in 1896, the modern Olympic Games have pursued the goals of international participation, co-operation and understanding. These are summed up in the motto "Citius, Altius, Fortius" - Faster, Higher and Stronger. It is indeed fitting that Barcelona at long last was awarded the Games. The city is noted for its devotion to sports and its outstanding facilities are essentially for the people. The founder if the modern Games, Baron Pierre de Coubertin was quoted saying, "Before I came to Barcelona, I thought I knew what a sporting city was . . ." High praise indeed! The five sports depicted on the stamps are among the most popular, arduous and crowd-pleasing at the Games. Gymnastics originated in ancient Greece with its modern form taking shape in early 19th century Germany. Canadian men have participated since the 1904 Games, with Canadian women joining the team in 1956.