Canadian stamp stories

To celebrate the spirit of the 2002 Winter Games taking place February 8-24, 2002 in Salt Lake City, Canada Post will issue four stamps featuring some of the most exciting events of the games.

Freestyle Aerials
Performing a variety of maneuvers, aerial skiers begin by choosing a point at which to start, and attain their take-off speed. Aerial ramps as high as four metres allow for jumps at angles of up to 70 degrees. Dropping from a height of 9 to 12 metres (the equivalent of a three-storey building), competitors land on a snow-covered area that absorbs the impact of their landing. Marks are given for takeoff, form, landing and the number of flips or twists they accomplish.

Curling
Curling was first played as an official Olympic event in 1998. There are four players on a team: the Lead, the Second, and the Third (Vice Skip). The Fourth (Skip), is the captain, who directs the game and calls the shots. Curling is played on a constantly groomed ice surface, and the object of the game is to accumulate points by finishing with your stone or stones closer to the button (or centre) than your opponents.

Women's Hockey
Beating strong US teams in both the 1999 and 2000 World Championships, the Canadian Women's Hockey team is looking forward to repeating this success in Salt Lake City. Women's Hockey will showcase the skill and determination of the players that has made it one of the Games' most exciting events. Gathering in Calgary in August, 2001, this year's Canadian team of 30 is made up of all 20 members of the National Women's team and twelve of the 30 are silver medallists from the Nagano Games.

Short Track Speed Skating
A combination of speed and precision, short track speed skating takes place on a 111.12 metre circuit with skaters taking part in 500-metre, 1,000-metre, 1,500-metre and 3,000-metre events. The competitors in the 500, 1,000 and 1,500 events must finish in the top two of their heat, quarter-finals and semi-finals to qualify for the final and must accumulate enough points from the previous trials to enter the 3,000-metre event. This thrilling sport will attract some fierce competition as well as some of the Games' largest crowds.

About the Stamps
Produced by Bhandari and Plater Inc. of Toronto, the stamp designs reflect the speed, agility and grace of winter sports - as well as the cool crisp colours of their surroundings and the team uniforms.