Lamine Diack, President of the IAAF, accompanied representatives of the 17 founding member federations at the celebration of the organisation's Centenary Day (pictured below).

Guests also included the staff of IAAF headquarters, whose offices have been located in the Principality since October 1993.

All received the gift of a first day cover of the new stamp (pictured top), which is adorned by the IAAF Centenary logo and formally marks the 100 years existence of the body which was established as the International Amateur Athletics Federation and changed its name in 2001.

"On behalf of the 212 member federations of the International Association of Athletics Federations I whole heartedly thank their Serene Highnesses for honouring the IAAF with this reception and of marking the 100 years of our existence with a postage stamp," said Diack.


"The IAAF was invited to move to Monaco by His Serene Highness Prince Rainier III, and since the association's relocation to the Principality in 1993 we have been given the warmest of welcomes which has seen the IAAF prosper under the wing of the palace.

"For all of this we greatly thank you."

"The commemoration by Monaco of the IAAF's birth, which took place one hundred years ago today, is the latest of those kind gestures of friendship.

"The IAAF was born in Stockholm a matter of a few days after the close of the 1912 Olympics in Sweden and the very fact that both your Serene Highnesses are former Olympians, though in sports other than our own, makes us understand and appreciate evermore that our headquarters are situated in the most understanding of locations."

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