COVER N. 447 - FRANCE

Postmark: 58 - Calecy Nièvre 26.04.2024

Posted on the 26th April; received on the 2nd may 2024

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Citius, Altius, Fortius .... just heard on the night news that the flame had reached Marseille today, after a 13 day trip on board the Belem, Europe's oldest Europe's three-masted barque, built in 1886, the same year of the first edition of the Olympic games of the modern era...

One could argue that the Olympic games have lost a lot of their virtues in present times, but still there is no athlete that would not trade a kidney for the chance of being one of the few representing their country's colours in the most famous modern day athletics tournament of all.

Paris is hosting the 2024 Olympics. Que les jeux commencent, et un grand merci, Jean-Pierre, pour le beau pli.

The games of the 33rd Olympiad will take place in Paris from the 26 July till the 11 August this year.

Some time after, the stage will be taken by the athletes of the Paralympic games, from the 28 August to 8 September 2024.

Celebrating both these events, la Poste issued on 05APR2024 the 1,96€ stamp on the cover, which is illustrated with the Icon of all Paris icons, la Tour Eiffel, joined by several graphic elements which represent  the Seine River, an athletics track and even people (the undulating Seine takes another dimension when conjugated with the ball above it). The Tower, the legends and some graphic elements are printed in a very shinny gold ink, which really makes the beautifully laid out stamp pop up. 

The Postmark indicates that the letter was posted at Clamecy, a town in the Nièvre department, Central France.