Football Championship - Austria / II. Republic of Austria 2008 - 30 Euro Cent

On the occasion of the upcoming European Football Championship, the UEFA EURO 2008 ™, which takes place from 7 to 29 June 2008 in Austria and Switzerland, Österreichische Post AG - as the national sponsor of this major sporting event - will issue a number of thematic stamps. The two brand blocks "Participating countries I" and "Participating countries II" are undoubtedly highlights of this attractive program. Eight of the 16 national teams competing for the title "European Champion" will be shown on the two blocks. In Block II, these are the teams from Switzerland, Russia, Germany and the Netherlands, Romania, Poland, France and Turkey. The graphic interpretation of the theme has been magnificently solved in a symbolically modern way: the faces of the fans painted with the colors of the respective national flags express the equally sporty and humanitarian basic idea of ​​the European Football Championship in an aesthetically touching way. (Incidentally, the painting of the body with colored materials has existed in human history since time immemorial.) Even the Stone Age people painted with earth colors: ocher, black manganese oxide or charcoal, using animal hair that they tied to sticks - or they The colors were immediately applied with the hand.) Back to the present: Whether the proud painting of the faces really spurs on the "heroes in the stadium" and encourages them to perform excellently will only become apparent in the course of the tournament. One thing is for sure: it is a charming gag that literally sparks colorful specks on the crowds. And he always expresses fairness and enthusiasm better (and at least more peacefully) than other behavior patterns of die-hard followers. Football: In June 2008 certainly more than just "the most important thing in the world" ...