11/09/2012

Royal Mail: Jason Smyth Will Not Get A Golden Post Box For Eglinton

Royal Mail has confirmed that Northern Irish athletes who competed for Team Ireland will not get a post box painted gold in their home town.

The golden post boxes have been a Royal Mail tribute to Team GB in London 2012, but Northern Ireland does not have one as none of its gold-winning athletes were on the GB team, in either the Olympics or the Paralympics.

Jason Smyth, now dubbed the "fastest Paralympian on earth" after winning the T13 100m and 200m finals and setting world records in both, is from Eglinton in County Londonderry.

A resident of the village called on Royal Mail to "join in the community spirit".

Dymhna Stewart said: "A gold medal is a gold medal. Jason lives in the village and his post is delivered by the Royal Mail. All his congratulations cards and fan mail will be delivered by Royal Mail to his house.

"I think it would be fantastic if Royal Mail joined in the community spirit.

"We are so so proud of Jason I think the community deserves a gold post box and we would love to see a gold post box in Eglinton."

But Royal Mail said that although they "absolutely acknowledge" the sprinter’s achievement, the gold-pained post boxes are “specifically for gold medal winning Olympian and Paralympians who competed for Team GB.

A spokesperson continued:"“We can't change that, even for people in the north of Ireland."

(NE)

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