Scott No: -
Serial number: 2006-22
Values in set: 6
Date of issue: August 8th, 2007
Denomination: 720 fen
Designer: Ma Gang
Size of stamps: 30 * 40 mm
Perforation: 13.5 * 13
Size of sheet: 216 * 156 mm
Sheet composition:
20 for Sheet I;
12 (2 sets) for Sheet II
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

This stamp set was officially issued on August 8, 2007. It consists of six stamps, each with a face value of 1.20 yuan, for a total face value of 7.20 yuan. The stamps were designed by Ma Gang, with Zhao Lei serving as the responsible editor, with materials provided by the Organizing Committee of the 29th Olympic Games, and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using the photogravure process.

The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games marked the first time China hosted the Summer Olympics. This set is the second group of Olympic sports series stamps, featuring six diverse sports: diving, shooting, athletics, volleyball, BMX cycling, and weightlifting. The stamps use the Fuwa cartoon mascots in athletic poses to present the dynamic charm of sports, embodying the Olympic spirit of "Faster, Higher, Stronger," and creating a festive atmosphere in anticipation of the Games.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Diving

Jingjing is depicted performing a mid-air somersault, capturing the graceful and fluid moment of high-dive movement, showcasing the elegance and blend of strength and beauty in diving.

Shooting

Yingying is shown aiming with a gun, with a calm and focused expression, reflecting the controlled precision and concentration required in shooting.

Athletics

Nini is portrayed in a powerful sprint start, full of explosive energy, representing the speed and passion of sprinting—one of the most fundamental Olympic events.

Volleyball

Beibei is shown leaping and spiking the ball, recreating the powerful offensive moment in volleyball, paying tribute to the fighting spirit of the Chinese women's volleyball team.

BMX Cycling

Huanhuan is depicted performing a BMX stunt in mid-air, dynamic and bold, representing the youthful energy and excitement of this emerging extreme sport.

Weightlifting

Jingjing is shown lifting a barbell with full force, embodying the strength and challenge of weightlifting, capturing the sport's power and intensity.

Artistic and Design Features

The six stamps share a unified vertical format, featuring the Beijing Olympic Fuwa mascots as the main characters in sports poses, with bright and lively colors and simple, childlike designs. Each stamp uses a distinct vibrant color theme, with exaggerated and dynamic movements. The photogravure printing provides rich and vivid colors, and the self-adhesive miniature sheet adds a unique tactile quality. The overall style is consistent with the first group of sports series stamps, forming a complete Olympic cartoon sports series.

This stamp set is a commemorative issue for the Beijing 2008 Olympics, available in three formats: stamp set, regular large sheet, and self-adhesive miniature sheet. Collectors often collect both groups of Olympic sports stamps, along with venue and opening ceremony commemorative issues, to form a complete Beijing Olympic collection, making this a popular item in Olympic sports-themed stamp collections.