Victors’ stamp of approval
Neatly combining the promise of riches with honors, the Greek Post Office yesterday said it would reward every Greek athlete who wins a medal in the Athens Games with up to 100,000 euros, while at the same time instantly printing their features on a new stamp. Post Office (ELTA) Managing Director Angelos Bratakos told a press conference that the company will pay 100,000 euros for winning a gold medal, 50,000 euros for a silver medal and 25,000 euros for a bronze. Bratakos said that on the day after each Greek Olympic victory, including second and third placings, ELTA would print special stamps and first-day covers featuring the victorious athlete. These will have a face value of 65 cents, and will be sold in sheets of 10. The stamps will go on sale at 65 Athens post offices, and will be available throughout the country within three days of the victory. ELTA is a Games sponsor, having already contributed 11.7 million euros to the Olympic effort. Greece won 13 medals in the Sydney 2000 Games.
