Novak Djokovic can add another accomplishment to his long list of accolades. The World No. 1 was recognised this week with his own Serbian postage stamps — one each for mailing letters domestically and internationally. He is the first athlete from his country to be placed on a stamp with his name on it.
“[It is] an honour to receive my very own Serbian stamp. Thank you to my generous country for this rare gift! I’m humbled!!” Djokovic tweeted. “Excited to share we’ll partner with the Serbian National Postal Service on Novak Djokovic Foundation projects for every child to have the opportunity to attend preschool.
“Gratitude for everyone that brought this together. Now Jelena Djokovic and I will take some stamps home for the kids to write to Santa.”
The artwork was done by Boban Savic, with references to some of Djokovic’s greatest accomplishments, including his 37 ATP Masters 1000 titles and 20 major triumphs.
”Thank you to the Post of Serbia for this initiative, which I experienced as an effort to revive the tradition of writing letters and postcards, and I am glad to be able to contribute to that,” Djokovic said according to the Novak Djokovic Foundation’s website. “Our Foundation receives many letters every day from children and their teachers throughout Serbia, who need help and support in early development and education.
“We want, and we are committed to that every day, that in the next 10 years, every child in Serbia has access to kindergarten and the conditions to dream and realise their dreams. Together we will try to get the results as soon as possible, and we are glad that more and more partners are joining us, including the Post of Serbia.”
Zoran Djordjevic, the acting general manager of the Post of Serbia, said it is an honour to dedicate a stamp to Serbia’s “best athlete of all time”.
“The Post, as a national institution, in this way made an appropriate homage and a sign of gratitude from the people of Serbia to Novak Djokovic, for his sport achievements, and everything he is doing for the well-being of the citizens of our country and its reputation in the world with his public and humanitarian work,” Djordjevic said. “We believe that this unique postage stamp will not only record and preserve his successes for future generations but also encourage young people to give their best in all fields of life.”
Source: atptour.com