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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Stamps mark Olympic Flag handover | Stamps mark Olympic Flag handover |
| (3 days 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |