To mark the start of the 14th Pacific Games, New Caledonia’s Post and Telecommunications Office OPT, Official Partner of the Games, is issuing a special and unusual souvenir sheet featuring three 110 XPF stamps illustrating the symbols linked to this major sporting event.
The first of the stamps, printed on gilded and embossed paper, pays tribute to the medal which will be the pride and joy of winning athletes in the 27 sports disciplines included in this year’s Games. The medals, fashioned from zinc alloy plated with gold (770 medals), silver (768 medals) and bronze (814 medals), have been designed by the volunteer members of the Marketing and Communication Commission of the NC2011 Organising Committee.
The second stamp in the series shows the Pacific Games torch and evokes the flame’s 40 day journey from 17 July to 27 August, carried in relay throughout the length and breadth of the country by over 2,000 torchbearers. The torch, which is intricately engraved and comprises a bamboo handle and an aluminium torch, was designed by New Caledonian sculptor Marc Rudelle.
This self-taught artist has also designed the nautilus-shaped bowl shown on the third and last of the stamps making up this souvenir sheet. On the evening of 27 August, athletes, officials, volunteer helpers and organisers, and spectators will witness the lighting of the bowl at Noumea’s Numa-Daly sports stadium during the opening ceremony for the third Pacific Games to take place on New Caledonian soil, following the Games held here in 1966 and 1987.
