Dozens of passionate pin traders and collectors are fervently exchanging pins in the heart of Paris on Aug. 2, 2024 engaging in what many call an 'unofficial' Olympic sport. The pin trading fair gathered traders from around the world, all drawn by the allure of the Olympics. For two hours, the area was bustling with people eager to make a good trade. For years, people have been trading national team emblems and other souvenirs at Olympic events. According to the official Olympics website, pin trading dates back to the first modern Games in 1896, where athletes wore cardboard badges. Nearly 130 years later, the variety of pins has significantly expanded, with national organizing committees, sporting federations, media companies, and sponsors all offering their enameled mementoes.
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