NZ Post celebrates 100 years of the NZ Olympic team with stamps and coins – for the postponed Tokyo Olympics

NZ Post has released a series of stamps and coins to commemorate the postponed Tokyo Olympics, and to celebrate 100 years of the New Zealand Olympic team. A portion of the sales will support the New Zealand Team as they work towards the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games next year.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games scheduled for July this year were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but are due to take place next year, with the same name.

“NZ Post has a long history of supporting the NZ Team competing at the Olympic Games, and we were actually just about to release these stamps earlier this year, but then lockdown happened, and the Games were postponed. The upcoming Summer Games will still be known as Tokyo 2020, and we also wanted to commemorate 100 years of the New Zealand Team competing in the Olympics,” NZ Post Head of Stamps and Coins Antony Harris says. “We want to show our support for our Olympians, past and present, but especially in this time of COVID-19 we want to support our athletes, whether or not the Tokyo Games go ahead.”

Over the last 100 years, 1,364 Kiwi Olympians have competed, wearing the silver fern with pride and providing memorable moments, triumphs, pioneering efforts, near misses and hard-luck stories. The Games have survived through world wars, boycotts, controversy, and although delayed, they are on track to continue beyond the global COVID-19 pandemic.

“2020 has been a challenging year for many New Zealanders, including our athletes. Fortunately, we’re now seeing the return of international sport and the New Zealand Team is moving towards the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021 with a real purpose,” said NZOC CEO Kereyn Smith.

“It’s great to see the athletes who make us so proud featured on these stamps which are circulating nationwide. We’d like to thank NZ Post for their continued support, and we look forward to these stamps inspiring our next generation of Olympians.”

With familiar athletic silhouettes in motion, the stamps highlight some of the sports New Zealanders are training to compete in. A range of commemorative coins is also available in the series.

Tokyo 2020 stamps and collectables are available now at nzpost.co.nz/tokyo2020 and coins are available at nzpost.co.nz/tokyo2020coins