Royal Mail first class postage stamps launched for London 2012 Olympic Games

First-class stamps which champion the different Olympic and Paralympic sports at the London 2012 Games have been unveiled. Each stamp is designed by a leading artist. The first set of ten stamps go on sale on October 22. Artists are designing images of another 20 sports for stamps that will go on sale in 2010 and 2012. Aquatics is illustrated with an image of a diver by Julian Opie

An action-packed illustration of canoe slalom by John Royle

A shuttlecock by David Holmes was used as the image for badminton

Weightlifting is illustrated by Guy Billout

A track athletics collage by Nathalie Guinamard

Picture: PA

Basketball by Huntley Muir

Picture: PA

The judo image was drawn by Paul Slater

Picture: PA

Paralympic archery illustrated by George Hardie

Picture: PA

Boccia is illustrated by David Doyle

Paralympic Equestrian by Andrew Davidson