Year-to-go Olympic stamps unveiled by Royal Mail

Sprinter Jeanette Kwakye described the stamps as "beautifully designed"

A set of 10 stamps has been unveiled by Royal Mail to mark the one-year countdown to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The first-class stamps, titled Get ready for 2012, feature classic Olympic sports like athletics and gymnastics.

They also include more recent additions such as triathlon, handball and wheelchair rugby.

The Royal Mail has created a total of 30 stamps to mark the 30th Olympiad taking place in London next year.

The designs, created by 30 different artists, feature every sport in the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Jeanette Kwakye, Team GB 100m sprinter, who helped launch the stamps at the London 2012 Olympic Stadium, said: "These Royal Mail stamps are beautifully designed.

"All three sets provide a fitting tribute to the Olympic and Paralympic Games."

Stephen Agar, from Royal Mail, said: "As we reach the one-year countdown to London 2012, these stamps are a celebration of what is set to be a great event in UK sporting history.

"Our stamps celebrate the more traditional sports such as athletics and aquatics, through to newer sports including wheelchair rugby."