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Special license plates have been issued for official or commemorative purposes for almost every Olympic Summer Games, and three Olympic Winter Games, since 1956. Although the first year of issue known to us is 1956, one cannot say for certain that these were in fact the first issue of Olympic plates. It is possible that a series of plates, for a city hosting the Olympic Games, were set aside for officials of the Games, however none has surfaced to date. So-called “Olympic” plates can be classified in four categories that have evolved since 1956. The Olympic Games are awarded to a host city, not a country, state, province or territory. Therefore, license plates, issued by the government agency were primarily for officials and dignitaries attending or supervising the Games of the host city. A second category would be when the Olympic symbol, of the host city and or the Olympic Rings, are used on all plates of the issuing governmental jurisdiction or agency. The license plates issued in every state of Mexico (Mexico City - 1968) and the Province of Quebec (Montreal - 1976) would fit into this category. A third category would be the issue of an Olympic license plate for fund raising purposes. Examples of this would be the Olympic plates issued in California (Los Angeles-1984), Alberta (Calgary-1988) and Georgia (Atlanta-1996). The fourth category would be souvenir license plates which are sold to commemorate the Games but are not generally numbered and are not “legal” for identification purposes by law enforcement. These plates are generally sold as a collectible through licensing agreements. Olympic license plates are not required to be issued by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOC is the governing body that has the ultimate authority and responsibility for awarding the Olympic Games to a host city. A single “candidate city” is selected by a particular country and promoted to host the Games. The IOC votes on selected cities and awards the Games, approximately 7 years in advance of the Games being held. It is at the discretion of the host city and the State, Province or National Government, whether Olympic plates will or will not be issued. Olympic license plates can ease the flow of traffic for athletes and officials getting to and from a particular venue/event. More recently, Olympic plates have proven to be a valuable tool for raising needed funds for hosting the Games. The first known plate issued for an Olympic Games was in 1956, issued by the State of Victoria, Australia, for the Olympic Summer Games in Melbourne that year. This plate was issued to officials and dignitaries, in pairs. This is one of the few dated Australian license plates and the only dated Australian passenger series plate. It is believed this plate was only valid for the duration of the Games. This is the only Olympic Summer Games plate to have the Olympic Rings actually painted in full Olympic colors (blue, yellow, black, green and red). The Olympic Rings are fully embossed and were hand painted. All other markings on this plate are black on reflective white. Approximately 200 to 300 plates were produced. There were no known plates issued for the Olympic Winter Games in Cortina d Ampezzo, Italy, in 1956.
Olympic plates were issued for the first time in 1960 for both the Olympic Winter and Summer Games. Rome, Italy, hosted the Olympic Summer Games in 1960. Special license plates were issued for officials only. These plates were issued in pairs and were made of celluloid plastic. The front plate was smaller than the rear plate, which is normal in Italy. These Italian plates have a black painted legend with a golden representation of the five Olympic Rings and a bear. The date, (MCMLX) is black on a blue field, in Roman numerals. It is not known how many of these plates were issued though the highest known number to exist is 523. Also, in 1960, the State of Nevada issued the first Olympic Winter Games plate specifically for Olympic officials. This plate was the standard silver on blue used that year with a revalidation month of February. This is the first Olympic plate not to display the Olympic Rings. The numbers were applied on reflective stickers and apparently wore off easily. There was only enough room on the plate for 99 plates to have been issued. While these plates would have been valid from 1960 to 1964 it is presumed that they were removed immediately following the Olympic Games in Squaw Valley. These plates are of interest because they were issued in the State of Nevada. The host city for the Olympic Winter Games was Squaw Valley in California. California did not issue a special license plate for the 1960 Winter Olympic Games.
The Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, 1964 did not produce any special Olympic Games license plates. However, a special motor club insignia was manufactured for attaching to the front grille. No plates were issued for the Olympic Winter Games held in Innsbruck, Austria, in 1964. In 1968 the country of Mexico wanted to share the pride for all Mexicans in hosting the Olympic Games in Mexico City. All license plates issued in every Mexican State and Territory (32) for 1968 - 1969 were embossed with the five Olympic Rings. It is estimated over 10 million plates were issued during this time period. This is the only time in Olympic history that license plates for an entire nation have been emblazoned with the Olympic Rings. These plates were a two-year issue (Œ68 - Œ69), painted red on white and issued in pairs. The name of the State or Territory was abbreviated by two or three letters in the lower right corner. No unique or special plates other than these are known for the exclusive use by officials or dignitaries. No Olympic plates are known for the Olympic Winter Games held in Grenoble, France in 1968.
No Olympic plates are known for the Olympic Summer Games held in Munich in 1972 or for the Olympic Winter Games held in Sapporo, Japan in 1972. In 1976, Olympic license plates were issued by the Province of Quebec to commemorate the Olympic Summer Games held that year in Montreal. All residents of Quebec were issued special Olympic plates, vermilion on cream for 1976. These plates carried a modified five ring Olympic symbol as well as the provincial slogan “La Belle Province”, issued in pairs. No unique or special plates other than these were issued to officials. No Olympic plates are known to have been issued for the Olympic Winter Games in Innsbruck in 1976.
No legal Olympic plates were issued for the Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid, New York, in 1980. However, this is the first time in Olympic history that souvenir plates made their appearance on the world stage. The Soviet Union (Russia) issued special Olympic license plates, for officials only, during the 1980 Olympic Summer Games in Moscow. None however are known to exist in a collection. These plates were designated with the prefix “OLM” followed by 3 numbers. A maximum of 999 pairs could have been produced though that many is unlikely. These plates were black on white. In 1984 the Olympic Summer Games arrived back in the United States for the first time since 1932. Los Angeles, also was the host city in 1932. The State of California issued legal Olympic license plates, to the general public, in pairs. These plates sold for $100.00 per pair and could be personalized or sequentially numbered. These Olympic plates were red and blue on a reflective white background. The symbol, logo, of the Los Angeles Olympiad, the “star in motion” was printed in blue to the left of the embossed alpha numerics. Approximately 25,000 of these Olympic plates were issued. These plates are valid indefinitely as long as the current registration fees are maintained. Souvenir plates were also issued but on a limited basis. No Olympic plates were issued for the Olympic Winter Games in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, in 1984.
The Olympic Winter Games held in 1988 in Calgary, Alberta, produced legal Olympic plates, souvenir Olympic plates, Olympic plates for official use and the first Olympic Torch Relay plates. The legal plates were issued to residents of Alberta and sold to collectors worldwide. All legal plates were accompanied by a commemorative registration certificate. These plates were valid through 31 March 1988.. All legal plates were issued as a single plate except those issued for “official use only”, which were issued in pairs. Legal plates were silk screened with “Alberta” at the top and “XV Olympic Winter Games” at the bottom, in blue, the Calgary Olympic symbol, the stylized snowflake, was printed on the left side of the plate, in red, with the Olympic Rings in full Olympic colors. Alpha numerics were embossed to the right, in red. A number of souvenir plates were also offered for sale.
The designs for the souvenir plates were distinctly different from the legal plates with designs celebrating the Games being held in Canada and others with the first dual mascots in Olympic history, Heidy and Howdy (polar bears). Olympic Torch Relay plates also made their appearance for the first time in Olympic history. These plates were embossed “TORCH 1 through TORCH 40” and were on the standard provincial series, not the Olympic series. The same is true for “special” license plates set aside for Olympic officials, athletes, and dignitaries. These plates were embossed OCO - 001 through OCO - 999. No Olympic plates were issued for the Olympic Summer Games in Seoul, Korea in 1988.
Olympic plates were issued in Spain for the 1992 Olympic Summer Games in Barcelona, Spain. These plates were issued to official cars and vehicles to transport officials and athletes, only. These plates carried the logo of the Barcelona games on the left side of the plate in white on a grey reflective background. The right side of the plate has the numbers embossed, printed in black, on a white reflective background. These plates were not available to the general public. Souvenir plates were produced and were very popular during the Summer Olympics. It is not known whether Olympic plates were issued for the Olympic Winter Games in Albertville, France, in 1992. However, souvenir plates were produced.
It is not known whether Olympic plates were issued for the Olympic Winter Games in Lillihammer, Norway, in 1994. Again, souvenir plates were produced and were very popular during the Games. In 1996, the Olympic Games celebrated the Centennial Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. The State of Georgia issued Olympic plates, to the general public, for a small additional fee ($10.00). These plates were issued as a single rear plate, as is standard in Georgia. The sale of these plates far exceeded the expectations of the State. Olympic Torch Relay license plates also made a reappearance for only the second time in Olympic history. These plates were embossed “TORCH 1 through TORCH 40”, special motorcycle plates were embossed “M - 1 through M -10” and were NOT produced on the standard Olympic Georgia series. These plates were produced as official plates and issued in pairs for the entourage and official vehicles of the Olympic Torch Relay. Souvenir license plates were also issued for the Atlanta Games. For the first time, the Virgin Islands also issued an Olympic license plate to raise money for the Virgin Islands Olympic Committee. The additional fee for these plates was $40.00 and incorporated the Atlanta Games marks.
It is not know whether Nagano, Japan, host city for the 1998 Olympic Winter Games, issued a special license plate to commemorate the Olympic Winter Games. Souvenir license plates with the Nagano logo were available. In addition, the Virgin Islands issued a second limited edition legal license plate to raise money for the Virgin Islands Olympic Committee. This plate incorporated the official games marks and also the “owlet” mascots.
Sydney, Australia host of the 2000 Olympic Summer Games introduced a special legal commemorative Olympic license plate for use in the State of New South Wales. Souvenir license plates were also issued for the Sydney 2000 Olympics. The third in a series of official legal license plates, incorporating the use of the official mascots; Oly, Syd and Millie, was issued in the Virgin Islands to raise money for the Virgin Islands Olympic Committee. These plates sold for $50.00.
The State of Utah issued legal Olympic license plates to commemorate the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in the summer/fall of 1998. The State of Utah issued Olympic plates, to the general public, for a small additional fee ($20.20). Souvenir license plates were also issued for the Olympic bid, using the official bid logo, as well as the Olympic logo adopted in 1998. Another official legal license plate, incorporating the use of the official mascots; Powder, Coal and Snow, was issued in the Virgin Islands to raise money for the Virgin Islands Olympic Committee. The additional fee for these plates was $50.00.
A number of States, in the United States, offer legal Olympic license plates using the USOC (United States Olympic Committee) logo and/or Olympic Rings which benefit the USOC.
Photo Courtesy of Geoff Knox
Olympic License Plate Photo Guide |
