Cycling . . . in Africa!
The number of cycling events in the world is too many to describe in a single article. Still, I enjoy being able to provide a picture from around the globe. That is certainly possible by continent. Will you cycle boundlessly with me? Let's “do” Africa now!
Last time, we “cycled through” the cycling events of the European continent in two episodes; in this episode, we are taking a “cycling-latelic” tour through Africa. We begin with the sports/cycling event in Somalia in 1958, east of Kenya and bordering the Indian Ocean.
Tour of Egypt
In 1958, the fifth International professional road cycling race was held in Egypt. This race is part of the UCI Africa Tour.
The winner of this competition was: Anatolij Olizarenko from Russia.
A beautiful cover with a great “Bicycle wheel stamping.” 1958. IFNI was a Spanish enclave on the coast of Morocco. Pro Infancia. Bicycles for the well-being of children.
Cycling events? Stamp Day
I have not been able to ascertain whether cycling events actually took place on the day of the stamp in 1964. The images on the stamps do suggest it, though. I find that quite nice…
1961. Games of Abidjan
1962. Tour of Ethiopia
Central African Games – 1962 and 1976
1963. Unknown cycling event
African Games
The African Games are a recurring multi-sport event organized every four years. It is a type of Olympic Games, but exclusively for African countries.
1965 1st in Brazzaville 1968 3rd in Algiers
The tenth African Games were held in 1975.
Mediterranean Games
The Mediterranean Games are an international sporting event. Thousands of athletes participate in a wide variety of sports. The Games are held every four years. They are held for countries with a coastline on the Mediterranean, and for a few other countries located near the sea. The participating countries:
The 4th edition was held in Naples, Italy, in 1963.
The idea for organizing such Games was mooted during the 1948 Summer Olympics in London by Muhammed Taher Pasha, then chairman of the Egyptian Olympic Committee. The first edition took place in 1951 in Alexandria. Until 1991, the Games were held in the year preceding the Olympic Games; thereafter, they were held the year after. 1967. Two neighboring countries, Tunisia and Libya, at the Mediterranean Games.
The Mediterranean Games provide a venue for peaceful competition between young people from different continents, cultures, and religions, all united by the Olympic ideal, which originated in Ancient Greece, the cradle of modern Western civilization. Through these Games, young people are given the opportunity to get to know each other, to learn to understand one another, and to renew and strengthen their bonds in an atmosphere of jovial rivalry. The Mediterranean Games are held under the auspices of the IOC and the Greek Olympic Committee. This is a tribute to the country where Western culture originated. The logo of the Games consists of three white rings representing Africa, Asia, and Europe, the three continents that meet at the Mediterranean Sea. The logo has been used since the Split Games in 1979. During the closing ceremony, the flag is passed on to the country where the next Mediterranean Games will be held. 1969. Opening of the Omnisport Stadium in Lomé.
In Togo, there was much interest in the problems of young people. At the opening of the University of Benin in Lome, the president said: “No sacrifice is too great for our government when it comes to the future of our youth in Togo.” He opened the Omnistadion that bears his name in Lome. The world of sport is constantly evolving; the stadium was renovated in 1978. Beyond its borders, Togo is a factor in sports exchange, understanding, tolerance, and friendship. Youth cycling in Tripoli in 1979
Indian Ocean Island Games
The Indian Ocean Island Games are a competitive sport and are represented by the various islands in the southwestern Indian Ocean. The idea to organize a sports competition in the Indian Ocean came from the Regional Olympic Committee of the island of Reunion.
The IOC “adopted” the Games in 1976. The games were initially announced as the Indian Ocean Games. The name was changed to the Indian Ocean Islands Games for the first Games. The Games have been held at the following locations:
- 1979 Meeting;
- 1985 Mauritius;
- 1990 Madagascar;
- 1993 Seychelles;
- 1998 Meeting;
- 2003 Mauritius;
- 2007 Madagascar.
All Africa games
The 4th All Africa Games were held from January 8, 1987, to December 8, 1987, in Nairobi, Kenya. 42 countries participated in fourteen sports. From the beginning, the intention was to hold the African Games every four years. Economic problems and general unrest disrupted the four-year cycle. The fourth Games in 1987 were no exception. Originally planned for 1982, a weak Kenyan economy was the cause of the postponement. The Chinese provided the necessary financial resources and manpower to build the Kasarani Stadium. Only delays ensued. Tunis wanted to take over the organization for 1982. Nairobi wanted to host the fifth Games for 1986. This was still not enough time for the Kenyans to prepare, and the 4th Games were eventually opened in August 1987. Since this edition, the Games have been held every four years.
Republic of Mali honors Miguel Indurain as holder of the world hour record with a distance of 53,04 kilometers.
That concludes our bicycle-latelist journey through the continent of Africa. Greetings from the Bicycle Latelist. 
If you are not really a cycling enthusiast, I can imagine that you have little to no idea that people cycle a lot in Africa too.
I actually didn't know that, although I do know/have the stamps from Ifni and Spanish Guinea. How nice to see Ifni stamped for a change!
Dolores, are IFNI stamps generally only bought as a tourist gadget and subsequently not used for philately?
@Jan, I am never cease to be amazed by your collection of bicycle stamps from 'all over the world' with accompanying explanations. Super! I think that brown IFNI stamp from 1958 is the most beautiful.
Jan, they can no longer be used because Ifni as a Spanish colony ceased to exist a long time ago. They were used there, though. http://cgi.ebay.es/Lote-ex-colonias-espanolas-ifni-fernando-poo-/320607162184 But I don't come across them very often. Perhaps they can be found postmarked much more frequently in Spain, as well as postal items from that period. The only postmarked Ifni stamp I have is therefore from Spain 😉
'@Jacqueline, It's nice that you're amazed by what I've collected… Africa is “my” 2nd continent. Thank you for your compliment. I have since started on Asia, “my” 3rd continent. My favorite in this article is the 1958 cover of the Tour of Egypt…
@Dolores, yes of course! A clear response. I already wrote myself that IFNI WAS an enclave… I followed the link and took a look as well. Thank you .. and I just checked for you if I still have a stamped IFNI copy, but that is not the case, too bad ..
Ah, how nice of you, Jan, thank you 🙂 I suspect there is quite a bit available in Spain. Unfortunately, my grandfather's mail, who served in the Spanish Sahara, has been lost…
Yes, I see you knew that yourself already, but the mint stamps do indeed seem to have just been released. I sometimes wonder too if they are actually from the 50s/60s.
One more question/comment: Dia del Sello means Day of the Stamp. I wonder if there is actually a cycling event in honor of this day? Or if an image of cyclists was chosen?
@Dolores, You're welcome. It's a shame that some mail got lost. Ifni was transferred to Morocco in 1969. I remember acquiring the Ifni stamps quite early on when I started this cycling-themed collection in early 1980. I therefore assume that the Ifni stamps went on “sale” starting in 1969. You are an attentive reader. The images certainly suggest that a cycling event was actually held on the occasion of Stamp Day in 1964. And I think that's quite nice…
That's fun too! I think the stamps from the Spanish colonies portray this region very nicely, in terms of nature, culture, politics, and sporting activities.
Uncancelled stamps cost almost nothing, but used envelopes definitely have more value. Here are some more beautiful examples, including the bicycle:
http://www.ifniville.com/document_files/document_D247231252689392.pdf
The stamp from Mali is also very beautiful, by the way, and the envelope from Egypt is stunning!
While searching, I also came across this nice site, Jan. It's not Africa, but you might like it, and it's even translated into Dutch (sometimes a bit awkwardly).
http://www.lossellosdelcamino.com/index.php?option=com_zoo&view=category&Itemid=160
@Dolores, I looked at your links. You have a beautiful collection of covers of your favorites. The registered cover from 1964 with the cyclists is also beautiful. I didn't find any stamps on your Lossellos link, but I did find cancellations. I am currently working on the cycling events of the Asian continent. Cycling . . . boundless and worldwide.
The covers aren't mine, mind you! But I think you already figured that out. It's more because with Ifni and the like, you only think of the cute little desert animals, but there is much more…
You're right, the other link only shows the postmarks, sorry!! How did I come up with that... I found a few sites via fiets, and I put the wrong one down. Oh well! I'll post it here later if I find it again 😉
Back to bikes, nice topic, hope to read more about it.
'@Dolores,Okay.., I thought it was (part of) your collection.. Yes, the bicycle is commonplace, so you come across it more often. Also on the stamp blog.. Have you read my previous articles? Otherwise, feel free to click on my name ….greetings, the Bicycle List..
Hi Jan,
I find this article about the bicycle very interesting.
I am also a bicycle stamp collector and would like to exchange some stamps with others.
My email address is: minirondjes@hotmail.com.
Kind regards, Ron Mientjes
@Ron, Thank you for your compliment. It's nice that you collect this theme too. I'll send you an email shortly.
Hi Jan.
It is indeed raining, but I think it's fine; a good day so far.
I just looked at everything and I like your writing
Very interesting. You know, of course, that for me a bike is just something to deliver cakes with. But I take my hat off to you. Well done, keep it up.
Jan, something about South Africa.
We also have big tours here.
with foreigners as participants
It should come to Africa as well.
PLease hans