The mascots of the 3rd European Games Kraków – Małopolska 2023 on a unique postage stamp
The European Games are considered the most important multi-discipline sporting event on the Old Continent. This year, athletes will compete in the Małopolska region. To mark the occasion, Poczta Polska has prepared a special postage stamp featuring the tournament mascots.
The latest philatelic stamp features the official mascots of the Games, depicting Krakus the Dragon and Sandra the Salamander. The illustrative characters were selected during a competition organized for children and young people from across Europe.
The first design, depicting a dragon, by 15-year-old Katarzyna Biśta and Libiąż, references the local culture and history of Krakow. The second selected work is a graphic by 10-year-old Gloria Goryl from Wojnicz. The young artist depicted a black-and-yellow amphibian native to southern Poland.
The two mascots carry the message behind the Games' slogan, "We Are One," and promote the importance of gender equality in society. The Dragon and the Salamander bridge the worlds of mythology and reality, bringing people from diverse backgrounds together, much like sports does.
" Poczta Polska's contribution to promoting the Kraków-Małopolska 2023 European Games is the introduction of a commemorative postage stamp. Sports themes frequently feature on our philatelic items. It's an important element of culture and social activity, igniting emotions and engaging crowds of supporters and fans of the competition. It's no wonder, then, that such stamps are very popular among collectors and sports enthusiasts both in Poland and abroad, " said Krzysztof Falkowski, President of Poczta Polska.
The official Olympic poster was chosen for the FDC envelope's graphic. The sports issue also features a date stamp featuring a simplified Olympic logo.
European Games 2023
The European Games represent an important step for European athletes on the road to the Olympic Games – many sporting events will be held at the level of European Championships and/or qualification for Paris 2024. The event will take place from June 21 to July 2, 2023. The competitions will be held in the following cities in Małopolska: Krakow, Tarnów, Krynica-Zdrój, Zakopane, Nowy Targ, Nowy Sącz, Oświęcim, Myślenice, and Krzeszowice. Athletes will also compete in other cities in southern Poland: Bielsko-Biała, Chorzów, Wrocław, and Rzeszów.
The exciting competitions are also excellent promotion for some newer sports, such as beach handball, which will be featured at the first senior multi-sport event since the ANOC World Beach Games 2019.
The EOC Coordination Commission, headed by Hasan Arat (TUR) and vice-chairs Zlatko Matesa (CRO) and Niels Nygaard (DEN), took over the oversight of the Games.
About the stamp:
Designer: Jan Konarzewski
Number of stamps: 1
Value: PLN 3.90
Circulation: 126,000 pcs.
Printing technique: offset
Stamp format: 31.25 x 43 mm
Paper: fluorescent
Sales sheet: 9 stamps
Date of circulation: June 21, 2023
