You may be noticing a special message on your letters this week…
Following the outstanding performances of Team GB and ParalympicsGB athletes at this year’s Tokyo Games, Royal Mail is applying a special congratulatory postmark to stamped mail this week (Monday 6 – Friday 10 September).
The postmark reads:
Congratulations to all our Team GB and ParalympicsGB athletes
Tokyo 2020
The Royal Mails’s congratulations echoes the sentiments of the nation after a truly outstanding year for GB athletes.
At this year’s Olympic Games, Team GB matched their incredible medal total from London 2012 winning 22 golds, 21 silvers and 22 bronze medals in Japan.
That put Britain on 65 medals – equalling their performance as hosts nine years ago and making Tokyo their second-most successful overseas Olympics after Rio 2016.
The Team GB performance in Tokyo exceeded pre-Games predictions of 52 medals and 14 golds after Team GB’s medal aspirations were revised down by the governing body to take account of the “extraordinary circumstances” presented to athletes and staff in the build-up to the Games.
Sports Minister and MP for Mid Worcestershire Nigel Huddleston said:
“This is a truly spectacular Olympic performance by @TeamGB – to equal our medal tally from 2012 when we hosted the games and to win medals in no less than 25 different disciplines. So proud of #TeamGB.”
ParalympicsGB also rewrote the history books at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games after a phenomenal medal haul which saw the team reach the podium in more sports than any other nation at a single Games.
The British team won medals across 18 sports and finished second behind China on the medal table with 124 medals overall, including 41 gold, 38 silver and 45 bronze.
Chef de Mission Penny Briscoe OBE said:
“I am so proud of what all of our 226 athletes here in Tokyo have achieved over the last 12 days of competition.
“The team came into these Games after an extremely difficult 18 months as the COVID pandemic brought the world to a standstill. Never before has ParalympicsGB faced such a complex and demanding Games environment – the phenomenal determination and resilience of athletes and staff throughout this period has been remarkable and we couldn’t have achieved all that we did without the invaluable support of The National Lottery players.
“To finish second on the medal table, with more medals overall than the total number we won at our home Games in London nine years ago, is a fantastic achievement.
“ParalympicsGB’s traditionally strong sports, such as cycling, rowing and equestrian, once again proved to be the best in the world but we also had best performances this century from the likes of our wheelchair fencing, judo and table tennis squads.”
The Prime Minister and Culture Secretary have announced that the Government will provide £232 million to support Team GB and ParalympicsGB athletes prepare for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The £232 million will be used to back aspiring Team GB and ParalympicsGB athletes as well as their coaches and support staff, in addition to funding from the National Lottery.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
“Team GB showed us the very best of this country in Tokyo – demonstrating sportsmanship, hard work and record-breaking performances. From the pool to the track to the velodrome, our Olympians gave us so many reasons to be proud, and to celebrate their extraordinary success.
“This increased funding will support Team GB to deliver their best possible performances in three years time in Paris.”
