Set of 4: 1984 Winter Olympics

Front:
PLACID JAN 1984 /294 USA 20c Olympics 84 OCK LAKE ROCKES ROCKETS PLACID JAN (8 KOHO 1984 12946 122 Olympics 84 ÚSA 20c KOH ENC NDUSTRY COLD 20 LAKE PLACID JAN 6. Olympics 84 20c 1984 ellesse 12946 SARAJEYO 84 KITZBUHE 31LVY o1 CARI 154 KUONI 22 52 IVECO LAVIGN 52 LAKE PLACID JAN 1984 12946 Olympics 84 ÚSA 20c TLAT 272 VOLKSSKILAU STAR Stt 40 15 275 GEHOUE ANGLA LAKE

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Modern ice skating originated sometime in the late four- teenth century, when skates appeared in the Nether- lands. Skaters used the numerous frozen waterways there as winter roads. However, the art of skating has since developed into one of the most artistic competitions in the modern-day Winter Olympic Games — Ice Dancing. In this delightful Olympics event, contestants ... made up of male and female partners ... gracefully glide over the ice and perform various movements before an audi- ence and a panel of judges. Each pair of skaters adapts a number of movements from ballet, jazz, modern dance, and even rock and roll into a carefully executed skating routine where they actually seem to dance to- gether across the ice. During the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, the Ice Dancing competition will be held in the Zetra Sports and Recreation Complex. In honor of this enchanting Olympics event, the United States Postal Service issued the stamp that is featured on this Maximum Card. No. 84-5 ©1984 The Maximum Card Collection A Division of Unicover Corporation . Cheyenne, WY 82008-0007 Original painting by Robert Goldsmith. Ice hockey ... one of the most fast-paced team events of the Olympics ... was added to the Olympics roster during the thrilling 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium. As this exciting event begins, players swiftly skate along the ice, while passing a small rubber puck back and forth between them. Ultimately, they attempt to maneuver this puck into their opponent's goal. How- ever, this requires outstanding coordination and endur- ance. Often, when shooting, the player draws back his stick then forcefully swings it in an arc, “slapping” the puck and following through. With speeds of over one hundred miles per hour, this “slap shot” is by far the fastest shot in Ice Hockey. During the 1984 Winter Olympics to be held in Yugoslavia ... the ice hockey event is sure to be an exciting contest. This thrilling event will take place in the Zetra Sports and Recreation Com- plex in Sarajevo. In honor of this exciting Olympics event, the United States Postal Service issued the stamp which is featured on this Maximum Card. No. 84-4 1984 The Maximum Card Collection A Division of Unicover Corporation . Cheyenne, WY 82008-0007 Original painting by Robert Goldsmith. The alpine skiing competition of the Winter Olympics consists of three different events — slalom, giant slalom and downhill. Of these events, downhill is ultimately the most dangerous and exciting. In contrast to the slalom events — where athletes must ski at more moder- ate speeds in order to maneuver through obstacles – there are no obstacles which must be avoided during the downhill race. As a result, the average racing speed of a downhill skier is usually over fifty miles per hour, with top speeds approaching one hundred miles per hour. Because of the break-neck speeds involved in this event, downhill skiing is perhaps the most dangerous of all events in the Winter Olympic Games. This hazardous event joined the Winter Olympics in 1948 when the Olympics were held in the Swiss Alps surrounding St. Moritz, Switzerland. To honor this world-class sports event which will soon take place at the 1984 Winter Olympics, the United States Postal Service issued the No. 84-3 ©1984 The Maximum Card Collection A Division of Unicover Corporation . Cheyenne, WY 82008-0007 Original painting by Robert Goldsmith. The demanding sport of cross country skiing first joined the modern Olympic Games during the 1924 Winter Olympics. Previously, there was regional variation of the rules, and more order was needed to standardize the sport. Fortunately, in 1924, the Federation Internationale de Ski – an international skiing organization — was formed to regulate cross country skiing, as well as govern such other Olympics skiing events as slalom, giant slalom and downhill racing. This organization set up the regu- lation cross country courses at fifteen, thirty and fifty kilometers for men and five and ten kilometers for women, with an average of one-third uphill, one-third downhill and one-third flat terrain. Competitors in this event are usually spaced well apart at the start of the race and the winner is the one with the best time. In addition to the individual events, there are team relay cross country competitions. In honor of this demanding Olympics event, the United States Postal Service issued the stamp which is featured on this Maximum Card. No. 84-2 ©1984 The Maximum Card Collection A Division of Unicover Corporation . Cheyenne, WY 82008-0007 Original painting by Robert Goldsmith