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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Stamps mark Olympic Flag handover | Stamps mark Olympic Flag handover |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| A special set of four stamps is being jointly issued by the Royal Mail and China Post to mark the handover of the Olympic Flag from Beijing to London. | A special set of four stamps is being jointly issued by the Royal Mail and China Post to mark the handover of the Olympic Flag from Beijing to London. |
| The stamps, featuring landmarks from the two cities, will be sold in both countries, but the Queen's head will only appear on the British version. | |
| Royal Mail said they would both "celebrate a wonderful Games" and "whet our appetite for what is to come". | Royal Mail said they would both "celebrate a wonderful Games" and "whet our appetite for what is to come". |
| The Olympic Flag will be handed over at the closing ceremony on 24 August. | The Olympic Flag will be handed over at the closing ceremony on 24 August. |
| Royal palaces | Royal palaces |
| All four stamps carry the five Olympic rings, and the set as a whole depicts the old and new in both cities. | All four stamps carry the five Olympic rings, and the set as a whole depicts the old and new in both cities. |
| The 100,000-seater Bird's Nest Stadium, where the track and field events have been held, goes hand-in-hand with the London Eye. | |
| Meanwhile, Beijing's Corner Tower of the Forbidden City - home to China's Emperors for five centuries - is joined by another former Royal residence, The Tower of London. | |
| Julietta Edgar, head of special stamps at the Royal Mail, said: "The moment when the Olympic Flag passes from one city to another is always a ceremony of great poignancy at the close of any Olympic Games. | Julietta Edgar, head of special stamps at the Royal Mail, said: "The moment when the Olympic Flag passes from one city to another is always a ceremony of great poignancy at the close of any Olympic Games. |
| "These stamps are made all the more special as they not only celebrate a wonderful Games in Beijing, but they whet our appetite for what is to come as the UK takes over the honour." | "These stamps are made all the more special as they not only celebrate a wonderful Games in Beijing, but they whet our appetite for what is to come as the UK takes over the honour." |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown and London Mayor Boris Johnson are among the dignitaries travelling to the closing ceremony. | |
| On Thursday, Mr Johnson insisted the organisers of London 2012 had not been fazed by the "dazzling" Beijing Games. | On Thursday, Mr Johnson insisted the organisers of London 2012 had not been fazed by the "dazzling" Beijing Games. |
| Footballer David Beckham, singer Leona Lewis and Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page will be among the celebrities representing London at Sunday's closing ceremony. | Footballer David Beckham, singer Leona Lewis and Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page will be among the celebrities representing London at Sunday's closing ceremony. |
| The stamps will be on sale in the UK and in China from 22 August. | The stamps will be on sale in the UK and in China from 22 August. |
| Where have you been watching the games? Share your Olympic experiences with us using the form below. We also want to see pictures and videos of you watching the games around the world. | Where have you been watching the games? Share your Olympic experiences with us using the form below. We also want to see pictures and videos of you watching the games around the world. |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or 61124 if you are in the UK. If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or 61124 if you are in the UK. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |