Olympic and Paralympic mascots feature in last batch of Rio 2016 stamps

The third and final batch of Rio 2016 commemorative postal stamps has been launched, featuring Olympic and Paralympic mascots, Vinicius (pictured) and Tom ©Rio 2016

The third and final batch of Rio 2016 commemorative postal stamps has been launched, featuring Olympic and Paralympic mascots, Vinicius and Tom.

While the 11 new sport-themed designs pay homage to 10 Olympic and one Paralympic discipline, there are also four mascot designs, two for Vinicius and two for Tom.

The Vinicius and Tom stamps are likely to become valuable collectors' items as they are the first Olympic and Paralympic Games commemorative stamps to be inscribed in braille.

"They are rare and unique items," said Reinaldo Estevão de Macedo, President of the Brazilian Philatelic Federation.

There are two stamp designs for Paralympic mascot Tom ©Rio 2016

The print run is 150,000 sheets for each mascot, with each two-stamp sheet worth BRL R$3.25 (£0.56/$0.84/€0.77).

The mascot stamps were unveiled during the recent Rio 2016 tennis test event, shortly before an exhibition match between Thomaz Bellucci and Orlando Luz, both of Brazil.

Three-time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten, also of Brazil, helped unveil the new designs.

The sports-themed stamps were launched during the Brazilian Tennis Awards, which took place after the test event at the Gran Mercurio Riocentro Hotel in Barra da Tijuca; close to the Olympic Park where the new Olympic Tennis Centre is based.

They feature the sports of athletics, beach volleyball, equestrian, gymnastics, hockey, judo, modern pentathlon, sailing, shooting, tennis and Paralympic swimming, and complete the set of 31 designs in recognition of the fact that the Rio 2016 Games will be those of the 31st Olympiad.