PRESS RELEASE 2

The organization of the World Olympic - Sports Stamp Exhibition, Coins and Memorabilia, OLYMPHILEX 2004 which will be held in Athens concurrently with the Olympic Games between 12-22 August 2004, is moving on with the efforts of the Organizing Committee accelerating.

- So far, 33 foreign Commissioners have been appointed by the respective Philatelic Federations-members of FIP, covering almost all Continents.
This proves once again that Philately embraces all nations irrespective of colour, political beliefs and religion and unites all people under the umbrella of the great sport event of this year.
The final date of submission of entry forms for the participants by the Commissioners is scheduled on the 20th of May. However, the entries received so far demonstrate a high interest for the Exhibition and we are confident we shall have the honour to host several significant collections.

- One of the difficult problems Organizing Committee was facing was the appointment of the Exhibition's official hotel. After careful consideration, it was elected the hotel ANNA-MARIA. 
It is situated 10 kms from the new Athens airport in Varkiza, a favourite summer resort of the Athenians, at the Argosaronikos Gulf. The distance to the Exhibition venue is no more than 35 minutes.
The Organizing Committee in order to offer the best possible hospitality to Jury members, Commissioners and other invited officials as well as their partners, has selected this cozy fully airconditioned hotel by the European Union's blue flag sandy seaside, which will enable them to enjoy the sea- apart from Philately - during the long warm days of August.

- Visitors and exhibitors seeking accommodation, are kindly requested to contact Alfred's Tours, which has been appointed official accommodation agent of OLYMPHILEX 2004 (email: alfreds@hellasnet.gr). In this respect you will find some tips attached.

- OLYMPHILEX 2004 should be considered as a world's first, as far as the communication system adopted is concerned.
As the new technology of internet has drastically entered our lives, it was considered that the world wide web with the facilities offered should considerably help the fast, easy and reliable contact required with all persons involved with the Exhibition, around the world.
Therefore, all correspondence, entry forms of exhibitors, application forms for booths' rent by Postal Authorities or stamp dealers is entirely carried out by internet. So far, the experiment is very rewarding and sooner or later the experience gained will help future organizers of International Exhibitions.

- Although the Exhibition will open its doors to the public on the 12th of August, the official opening is planned for 16th of August, in order members of the members of the Government, officials of the International Olympic Committee and of the Olympic Games 2004, Greek Olympic winners etc. would be able to attend and honour its cultural side as it will vividly expressed by the participating world philatelic community.

- As there will be no Bulletin with the appropriate Regulations as customary (the latter have been already circulated in the internet and by e-mail to the respective Commissioners), the bilingual Exhibition's Catalogue shall include all the relevant Regulations governing the Exhibition together with other material which, it is hoped, will be of permanent reference for any collector of Olympic-Sports Philately.

For further information regarding OLYMPHILEX 2004 you may contact
tel: (0030) 210 3353521, (0030) 210 3353528 Fax: (0030) 210 3353531
e-mail: olymphi1@otenet.gr or olymphi2@otenet.gr

News of the Exhibition can be also found at the Hellenic Philotelic Society's website www.hps.gr from where you may download the respective Regulations.

Athens, 10 May 2004

AV/LS