Sports

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Why not use the shortest lane ?
Runners never leave lane one empty : it is the shortest one !
(ROMANIA - 1950)



Athletics
In a hurdle race, there are never common hurdles for two or three lanes, each lane has its own individual hurdle.
(POLAND - )



Athletics
The baton is not long enough, it will be difficult for the relay runners to pass it to the next runner.
(RUSSIA - 1965)



Athletics
Not adapted outfit for this women to run this hurdle race.
(GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC - 1956)



Athletics
This is not a 1.600 m race, but a 4 x 400 m relay race.
(DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - 1958)



Wrong throw
In shot putting, when throwing with the right hand, it is the right foot that has to be in front.
(BRAZIL - 1959)



Strange high jump
Strange execution of a highjump, with both feet ahead
(BRAZIL - 1958)



Strange position of the sticks
This skirunner gives the impression to hold his stick between his legs.
(GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC - 1952)



Wrong commemoration
Rudolf HARBIG never participated to the Olympic games. He was a world record holder.
(GERMANY - 1968)



Incorrect baton pass
This is not the correct way to pass the baton between relay runners
(BRAZIL - 1956)



Wrong grip
The javelin is held far too close to the top
(ROMANIA - 1969)



Strange runners
One of the runners puts her 2 arms in front of her, another one holds her 2 arms behind her back.
(GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC - 1970)



Strange position
Not a common way to break high jumping records !
(BELGIAN CONGO - 1960)



Long javelin
The javelin pictured on this stamp is much too long !
(BELGIAN CONGO - 1960)



Javelin as teamsport
Javelin-throwing as a teamsport ? Unusual and … dangerous !
(CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC - 1964)



Wasting forces
During a marathon (the runner are still together), a runner will never make such a sudden effort to gain one or two places.
(CZECHOSLOVAKIA - 1956)



Fotofinish
Commemoration of KOLEMAINEN winning the 5.000m race at the Olympic games in Stockholm. His victory was not so easy as shown on the stamp : the Frenchman J. BOUVIN seemed to be in the lead, and lost only in the last meters.
(FINLAND - 1990)



Strange clothing.
Discus thrower in swimsuit, wearing gymshoes.
(MONACO - 1948)



Long pole.
The vault-pole is too long. After the jump, it has to fall underneath the lath.
(MONACO - 1964)



Wrong position.
According to the position of both hands, this jump cannever be successful.
(NICARAGUA - 1949)



Invalid trail
One foot on the ring in weight putting : this is obviously an invalid trail.
(SURINAME - 1960)



Discus or plates ?
What is this man throwing : 3 plates or a discus ?
(ROMANIA - )



Wrong person
This stamp honours Mary Peters,the 1972 pentathlon gold medal winner. Howevere on this stamp, Heidimarie Rosenthal from West Germany, who finished second was pictured.
(UPPER VOLTA - 1972)



Two errors
Wrong representation of the Olympic rings and comon
(ALBANIA - 1968)



Impossible position
Impossible position of the right arm during a jump. And where is that other arm ?
(CHAD - 1964)



Strange way
Wrong way to throw a discus. And only three instead of five Olympic rings.
(CHAD - 1960)



Strang jump
Take a rest sitting on the lath, maybe convenient, but quite impossible while jumping for competition.
(SAN MARINO - 1963)



Nice jump
Very artistic jump, but quite impossible while jumping for competition.
(SAN MARINO - 1963)



Missing lane
Only seven lanes
(CANADA - 2001)



Only four lanes
Only four lanes, not surprising that 2 runners seem to fight for the same lane.
(TANZANIA - 1984)



Out of proportion
The legs of this runner are really out of proportion compared to his body
(KAMPUCHEA - 1984)



Not well trained
Unrealistic position for a gymnast in very bad physical condition.
(BRAZIL - 1957)



New team sport
Javelin as a team sport ?
(POLAND - 1954)



Wrong lane
No runners in lane 1 and 2, but 2 runners in lane 3.
(GERMANY - 1986)



Forgotten second
Strange way to honor the winners : it seems better to finish seventh than second.
(DJIBOUTI - 1985)



Invalid trail
One foot on the ring in weight putting : this is obviously an invalid trail. In the background, two runners in the same lane.
(FIJI - 1966)



Strange execution
Not a common way to execute a pole vault jump.
(SOUTH KOREA - 1965)



Turned centerpiece
Is this horizontal bar fixed in the wall ? No, the picture of this stamp was just turned by 90 degrees.
(RWANDA - 1980)



Not clever !
The runners do not use the inner lanes, although they are the shortest.
(NIGERIA - 1983)



Wrong name
The girls are wearing shirts marked 'worker'. However no team was actually called a worker team, the shirts had the name of the participating regions and associations.
(CHINA - 1985)



Error in name
The runner name is not Ron DELANEY but Ron DELANY.
(DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - 1956)



Wrong grip
The javelin is held almost at the end.
(GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC - 1956)



Two errors.
Wrong : Journée DE Professeur - Correct : Journée DU Professeur . And the technique of the jumper needs really to be improved.
(AFGHANISTAN - 1962)



Strange run
Or they are running in lanes, and two runners are fighting in the same lane. Or the run is free, but then there is no reason why the middle runner stays so far from the center.
(LIBERIA - )



Not fixed
Suspended in the air.
(POLAND - )



Too high
Wrong way to pass a hurdle in a 3.000m steeple competition.
(GUINEA - 1969)



Dangeous
Discus throwing without protection fence while runners are passing nearby, a very dangerous situation.
(FRANCE - )



Not allowed
By shot-put, long hair his not allowed, or has to be kept together.
(GERMANY - 1976)



Inversion
Inversion : the featured high jumper Patrick Sjöberg normally starts running from the right, and thus ought to jump to the left.
(SWEDEN - 1986)



Bad style
What a bad technique, certainly not a winners jump !
(SPAIN - 1972)



Wrong position
The shot-putter has a wrong position of his head and arm.
(NETHERLANDS - 1928)



Missing lanes
Only 5 competition lanes instead of eight.
(DJIBOUTI - 1988)



Wrong shoes
These shoes are not for athletics at olympic level
(NICARAGUA - 1964)



Not adequate
In a hurdle race, there are never common hurdles for two or three lanes, and they are separated to avoid collusions.
(TANZANIA KENYA UGANDA - 1972)



Strong fingers
Put all the weight of the body on four stretched fingers is even for a well trained sportsdman impossible.
(BULGARIA - 1964)



Individual
In a hurdle race, the hurdles are individual.
(UPPER VOLTA - 1976)



Missing vertical holders
In a hurdle race, the hurdles are individual.
(HAITI - 1964)



Strange position
Not a common way to execute a pole vault jump.
(BULGARIA - 1995)



Wrong position
Wrong position of the left arm.
(BULGARIA - 1971)



Wrong title
Was never world champion, but world record holder.
(HAITI - 1958)



All identical
All the runners wear the same shirts without country colours, and without an individual number.
(CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC - 1964)



Missing starting blocs
Missing starting blocks at the head of the lane.
(BENIN - 1996)



Common hurdles
In a hurdle race, there are no common hurdles for two or three lanes, each lane has its own individual hurdle.
(RAS AL KHAIMA - 1972)



Individual
In a hurdle race, there are no common hurdles for two or three lanes, each lane has its own individual hurdle.
(CHAD - 1968)



Impossible
It never happens that batons are transmitted synchroneously during a relay race.
(CHAD - 1968)



Individual
In a hurdle race, there are no common hurdles for two or three lanes, each lane has its own individual hurdle.
(MAURITANIA - 1972)



Not modern
Discus thrower without shirt and using an ancient disc type.
(UPPER VOLTA - 1972)



Verly powerful
A weightlifter who takes his weights with to the medal ceremony ?
(BENIN - 1980)



Wrong direction
This athlete is going to throw his javellin into the public.
(CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC - 1968)



Too early.
The golden medal is always delivered after the two other medals.
(TANZANIA - 2000)



Not clever !
The first lane is never leaved empty, as the runners always try to take the shortest distance.
(TANZANIA - 2000)



Too long
The pole is much too long.
(GABON - 1992)



Incorrect position
Not correct position of this pole vaulting jumper.
(GUINEA - 1969)



Wrong grip
The grip on the javelin is much too close to the end, and strange olympic rings.
(VIET NAM - )



Invalid trail
This will be an invalid trail, as one foot touches the end line of the launching area.
(KAMPUCHEA - 1983)



Outside his lane
The runner jumps between two hurdles, and thus runs outside his lane.
(MAURITANIA - 1979)



Outside the lanes
This runner is crossing the lanes.
(MAURITANIA - 1979)



Wrong place
The obstacle was put in the central field, not in the lane where the runners are;
(CONGO REPUBLIC - 1964)



Wrong position
In a correct jump, while passing the bar, the feet of the jumper are higher than his head.
(GUINEA - 1968)



Wrong grip
The grip on the javelin is much too close to the end.
(ROMANIA - 1964)



Unrealistic
Only 3 or 5 competition lanes, and no people are watching the competitions.
(GREECE - 1985)



Wrong finish
Approaching the finish, all the runners throw themselves to gain some additional centimeters.
(SENEGAL - 1972)



Wrong position
A marathon never starts from starting blocks
(GHANA - 1989)



Too low
In pole vault competitions, a normal jump is far above 4 meters. Thus the bar should not have been visible on the stamp.
(GABON - 1992)



Shortest lane
There is no reason why the runners should not use the inner lane, it is the shortest !
(CHAD - 1979)



Wrong grip
The javelin is held almost at the end.
(CHINA - 1965)



Missing lanes
Only 3 lanes for an international competition ? This means a medal for everyone.
(Malta - 1993)



Not present
Javelin was introduced at the Olympic games of 1908, and did not exists in 1896.
(BAHAMAS - 1996)



Strange outfit
Identical outfit and missing shoes for all runners
(CYPRUS - 1968)



Strange competition
Runners in the same lane jumping over hurdles without supports.
(RUSSIA - 1968)



Strange competition
Two runners in the same lane, and no individual hurdles
(TANZANIA - 1976)



Too long
The javelin is too long and touches the ground
(PANAMA - 1960)



Missing border
No border around the launching area
(PARAGUAY - 1972)



Missing shirt
Discus thrower without shirt
(PARAGUAY - 1979)