The Olympic games was born in Greece many centuries before the birth of Christ, and was held without a break for 1,370 years. The ancient Greeks celebrated this "Festival of Youth" every four years, untill it was suppressed by the Roman Emporer, Theodosius in 394 A.D. More than 1,500 years after the Olympic "flame" was finally put out at Olympia, it was again lit at the Brand new stadium in Athens, Capital of Greece to mark the rebirth of the Olympics. The revival of the games was due to the devoted zeal of a French nobleman as the Pierre de Coubertin who is regarded as the "Father" of the Modern Olympic Games.

Since the First Games in Athens in 1896, he Olympic has been held 16 times, and the games had to be abondoned thrice (1916, 1940 and 1944) because of the two World Wars. The Olympic family consists of 127 member nations. The Olympic Games is different from all other "international" sports competitions, because it is not a 'world championship.'

In keeping with ancient Greek tradition, it is not a sum total of sporting contests, but a 'Festival' in which Man celebrates his humanity. India is one of the Oldest Asian members of the Olympic family, joining the International Olympic Committee in 1927. But even before this, Indian participants appeared in the Olympic arena in the 1920 Games (Antwerp) and the 1924 Games (Paris). India's main interest in the Games has been hockey, a game in which the country enjoyed world leadership for an unbroaken span of 32 years in six Olympic games in a row. This is a record surpassed only by the United States in BAsketball. India lost the Olympic Hockey crown to Pakistan at Rome (1960) and regained the title in the 1964 Games in Tokyo. In the last Olympics (Mexico City, 1968) India was pushed down to third place - failing to get into the final for the first time in 40 years.

The only India so far to win an Olympic medal in an individual event is wrestler K.D. Jadav, who was placed third in the free-style bantamweight class at Helsinki (1952). It is of interest that in the II Olympic Games (Paris) a young Anglo-Indian youth of Calcutta, Norman G. Pritchard, won the silver medal in the men's 200 meters sprint. Nothing, however, is known of the circumstances in which Pritchard went to Paris. But the Olympic record describes Pritchard as an "Indian". Among other notable Indian participants is Milkha Singh, popularly known as the "Flying Sikh". In the Rome Games, Milkha Singh became the first Indian to enter the final of an athletic event.

In 40 meters Milkha Singh broke the Olympic record, but was placed fourth. ANother Indian athlete, Gurbachan Singh, finished fifth in the 110 meters hurdles in Tokyo. Several Indian wrestlers have won the "Olympic Diploma" which is awarded to competitors who fail to win a medal, but are placed among the first six in any event. The Munich Games, XX in the series, is the second to be held in Germany - the first was held in Berlin in 1836. Indian participation in the Games, apart from Hockey, will be in athletics, boxing, wrestling, yatching and shooting. Whether India is able to regain the Hockey title or not and whatever our fortunes in the other events. India will live up to the Olympic ideal that taking part is more important than winning.

The Indian Posts and Telegraphs Separtment is celebrating India's participation in this year's Olympic Games by issuing two special postage stamps in the denominations of 20 paise and Rs. 1.45 on the 10th August, 1072.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India