A miniature sheet of 4 stamps will be issued on the occasion of the handover of the Olympic Flag from Beijing to London. This is a joint issue with China Post.
The handover is a deeply significant ceremony, and takes place on the closing day of the Games, Sunday 24 August. As Royal Mail does not issue stamps on a Sunday (or a bank holiday which is the following day), Royal Mail agreed with China Post and the IOC to issue the UK stamps on the Friday before the handover ceremony.
The four 1st class stamps show landmarks in Beijing and London: the National Stadium, Beijing; the London Eye; the Tower of London; the Corner Tower, Forbidden City, Beijing.
The Chinese Post Office is producing stamps of very similar design, which will be issued on 24 August.