PRESS RELEASE

Bääärtil becomes a stamp

In collaboration with Wisby Mail, a series consisting of ten different Bääärtil stamps will be issued. They will be on sale from 16 November.

"Island Games and Island Post are a natural combination!" says Håkan Malmros at Wisby Mail.

The original idea comes from Bosse Eriksson of Gotland Web (www.gotlandweb.com). He tried to get the Swedish Post Office to issue stamps for the NatWest Island Games 1999. The proposal was considered by the Post Office Board, but in late spring the Managing Director of the Post Office, Ulf Dahlsten, announced that no stamps would be issued.

At most previous Island Games, stamps have been produced in collaboration with the national post distributor, to the delight of the Island Games participants and supporters as well as philatelists.

When the Post Office said no, the question was passed to Wisby Mail, who immediately leapt at the chance. "A fantastic idea, the Island Games, and great fun. Unfortunately, not everyone has understood what a big thing this is. In addition, Bääärtil is a very suitable subject for stamps, and it is great to be able to issue a series of ten different motifs," says Håkan Malmros.

The first impression will comprise 120,000 local postage stamps, at a value of SEK 3.05. Håkan believes there will be great interest among collectors all over the world this time. People outside Gotland who would like to order the stamps can do so via the Wisby Mail website. Besides stamps you can also buy first-day covers (postmarked 16 November 1998) and ordinary cancelled covers (order at www.wisbymail.com).

The stamps show the following motifs:

• The NatWest Island Games logotype
  
• Bääärtil with the winner’s trophy by a letterbox
  
• Badminton Bääärtil*
  
• Cycling Bääärtil*
  
• Athletics Bääärtil*
  
• Swimming Bääärtil*
  
• Shooting Bääärtil*
  
• Volleyball Bääärtil*
  
• Basketball Bääärtil**
  

• Bowling Bääärtil**
  
  

* The six obligatory sports in the NatWest Island Games

** The two sports that Gotland has chosen to add to the programme

It is difficult to see the whether the sporting lamb is male or female, so it could just as easily be Bääärta performing on the stamps.

Susanne Gustafsson, information officer for the NatWest Island Games, says: "We are very satisfied with the arrangement and the opportunity to reach almost all Gotlanders and market the Island Games over a period of almost nine months. We hope this will help to involve Gotlanders, sponsors, volunteers, and functionaries in the biggest and most international sporting event ever held in Gotland."

The drawings of Bääärtil are by Tina Gustafsson, Sundbyberg.
The originals for the stamps are by Katarina Hage, Klintehamn
The stamps are printed by Snabba Tryck, Visby.

For more information please contact:
Information officer Susanne Gustafsson, telephone +46 498 708 290606 or Håkan Malmros, Wisby Mail, telephone +46 498 29 10 00, fax +46 498 21 10 03. Homepage www.wisbymail.se

N.B. To editors/journalists
Please note that the name of the games has now been changed to NatWest Island Games.

This page was updated 10/02/04
e-mail: islandgames@bigfoot.com