By Duncan Mackay at the Grimaldi Forum in Monte Carlo

A special stamp has been released to coincide with the 127th IOC Session in Monaco ©Monaco Olympic CommitteeA special stamp and pin have been released to commemorate the Principality of Monaco hosting the 127th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session, which is due to start here on Monday (December 8).


Both the stamp and the pin feature the logo created for the Session, which is of the Prince's Palace, the the official residence of Prince Albert, a long-time IOC member. 

This is the 127th Session staged since the first one held in Paris in 1894 which created the IOC. 

The first staged here was in 1927, while the second was in 1993 when Sydney surprisingly beat Beijing to be awarded the 2000 Olympics and Paralympics. 

This will be the third time that Monaco has hosted the International Olympic Committee Session and the first since 1993 ©Getty ImagesThis will be the third time that Monaco has hosted the International Olympic Committee Session and the first since 1993 ©Getty Images

The stamp officially went on sale on Monday (December 1) and is available at the Principality's
Stamps Of!ice, the Stamp and Coin Museum, post of!ices and philatelic desks, in the shops of stamp traders and at the Post Museum and the Carré d'Encre in Paris.

The unique pin, however, is not for sale and is available only to members of the Olympic Family accredited for the two-day Session. 

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