Royal Mail had promised to paint a post box for every member of Team GB that won a gold medal at the Olympics and Paralympics.

However, Smyth (pictured top), who lives in Northern Ireland in Eglinton, County Londonderry, represents Ireland rather than his home nation.

The 25-year-old and locals had campaigned for Royal Mail to paint his post box gold, but the calls have fallen on deaf ears.

Also deprived of the honour will be the London 2012 T37 800m and 1500m gold medallist Michael McKillop.

Although McKillop, who won the Whang Youn Dai Achievement Award during London 2012 for exemplifying best the spirit of the Paralympic Games, lives in Glengormley in Northern Ireland he also represented Ireland at the Games.

Jason Smyth took to Twitter to push for a golden post box

Bethany Firth, a swimmer who won SB14 100m backstroke last week, was another Paralympian born in Northern Ireland who represented Ireland.

Smyth had used social networking site Twitter to ask for a golden post box in Eglinton, writing: "What does anything think, do we deserve a #GoldPostBox in Eglinton because I live and am from Northern Ireland?"

He sent the message directly to Royal Mail's Twitter account.

Barbara Roulston from Royal Mail responded: "Royal Mail announced in June that it was to mark the achievements of Team GB and ParalympicsGB by issuing gold medal stamps for gold medal winners and painting a post box gold in their home town.

For every British gold medal at London 2012, Royal Mail painted a post box gold in the athlete's home town

"We were clear that this tribute was for athletes representing Team GB and ParalympicsGB.

"Royal Mail understands that the way sport is organised in Northern Ireland means that some competitors will represent Ireland rather than the United Kingdom, but that this is matter for individuals not for Royal Mail.

"Nonetheless, we offer our sincere congratulations to Jason, Michael and Bethany for their respective gold medal successes."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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