US SAILING
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lindsay DeWall
U.S. Olympic Committee
719-866-4529

2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Sailing
to be Honored with Postmarks

Colorado Springs, CO (Sept. 27, 2007) – The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and Sports Philatelists International (SPI) have announced that five special postmarks will be available on opening day of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Sailing. The Trials in seven Olympic sailing classes will be conducted over a 12-day period from Oct. 3-14, 2007, in five cities:

• Newport, R.I. (Laser Radial Class for women and Laser Class for men)
• Long Beach, Calif. (RS:X & 470 Classes)
• Marina del Rey, Calif. (Star Class)
• Newport Beach, Calif. (Finn Class)
• San Diego, Calif. (49er & Tornado Classes)

Each postmark measures 1½ inches in height, features the logos of the USOC and 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, and is customized for the city in which each event is held. Postmarks will be available on a handback basis on Oct. 3 at the following post offices (please contact individual post offices for times of operation):

• Newport (R.I.) postmark: 320 Thames St., Newport, RI 02840
• Long Beach postmark: 300 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802
• Marina del Rey postmark: 4766 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, CA 90292
• Newport Beach postmark: 1133 Camelback St., Newport Beach, CA 92658
• San Diego postmark: 2535 Midway Drive, San Diego, CA 92110

There is a 30-day grace period during which collectors may mail in requests for the cancel by sending their self-addressed stamped envelopes to: U.S. Olympic Trials Station, Postmaster, [remainder of address below]

• Newport (R.I.) postmark: 320 Thames St., Newport, RI 02840
• Long Beach postmark: PO Box 140, Long Beach, CA 90801
• Marina del Rey postmark: 4766 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, CA 90292
• Newport Beach postmark: 1133 Camelback St., Newport Beach, CA 92658-9998
• San Diego postmark: PO Box 86530, San Diego, CA 92186-6530

The USOC is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the sole entity in the United States whose mission involves training, entering and underwriting the full expenses for the U.S. teams in the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games. In addition to being the steward of the U.S. Olympic Movement, the USOC is the moving force for support of sports in the United States that are on the program of the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games. For more information, visit their website at www.usolympicteam.org.  

Sports Philatelists International is a not-for-profit educational organization dedicated to the study and collecting of postage stamps and related material dealing with the Olympic Games and all sports. Established in 1964, SPI is the U.S. philatelic arm of the IOC’s Olympic Collectors Commission. Find out more at their website: www.sportstamps.org.  

For more information: Mark Maestrone, Sports Philatelists International: markspi@prodigy.net.  

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