AUSTRIA (2021)-Sports (3v)- Judo, Wrestling, & Gymnastics

Historic ground sport: "Wrestling" gets its own commemorative stamp

The stamp shows two adult wrestlers in clothing typical of the sport against a blue and red background.

Wrestling was already a discipline in the ancient Olympics, so it's no surprise that the sport has been in the modern Olympics from the beginning. However, female wrestlers have been competing for the Olympics only since 2004. The first world championships in wrestling took place in 1950.

There are two different styles of the sport: the freestyle and the Greco-Roman style. The main difference is that in freestyle the entire body is used as an attacking surface, while in Greco-Roman style only the upper body is used. Techniques allowed in wrestling are throws, slings and levers. However, kicks, punches and chokes are prohibited. The highest priority is always fairness, which is why there are also many children who are enthusiastic about the sport.

Ground Sports in Focus: Gymnastics

This stamp from the series "Sports" shows an athlete practicing rhythmic gymnastics and using a hoop as a hand tool for an exercise.

Rhythmic gymnastics combines dance elements with acrobatics and is characterized by fusion of flowing, harmonious movements with top athletic performances. The first competitions took place in the 1940s, and the sport has been practiced in Austria since the 1950s. In competitions, the jury pays attention to both the technical complexity and the artistic value of the one-and-a-half to two-minute performances.

Rhythmic gymnastics is practiced almost exclusively by women, basic requirements for this sport are body control and concentration. The floor sport is performed to music, which gives the graceful movements a special aesthetic. Equipment such as the hoop shown on the brand, but also balls, clubs or ribbons are artfully integrated into the exercises and require additional technical finesse and a pronounced coordination skills.

Japanese martial arts: "Judo" from stamp series "Sports"

The stamp features an illustration of two judo fighters and demonstrates one of the martial art's many throwing, holding and choking techniques.

The name of this traditional martial art means "the gentle way", which is also reflected in the principle of the sport - "winning by yielding". Historically, judo developed at the end of the 19th century from jiu-jitsu, which in turn is based on the fighting techniques of the samurai in aristocratic Japan. In his martial arts school, the founder of the sport, Kano Jigoro, taught various techniques of Jiu-Jitsu with the principle of "the most effective use of mental and physical energy".

The sport quickly became popular in Japan and at the beginning of the 20th century, judo spread to Europe. Since the early sixties, judo has also been an Olympic discipline. At first, Olympic judo was a male domain, but since 1992 women have also competed in the discipline. This martial art trains the body - especially strength, endurance, speed and agility - as well as the mind.