About
What is Olympic Pin Collecting?
Olympic pin collecting is a tradition that dates back to the earliest Modern Olympic Games, where pins served as identity badges for athletes, officials, and journalists. Over more than a century, these small emblems have evolved from simple identification into sophisticated pieces of art that celebrate the Olympic spirit. Today, collectors from over 30 nations actively trade and showcase pins representing every Olympic Games in history.
A Rich History Since 1896
The tradition began at the Athens 1896 Games when cardboard badges identified participants. By the 1920s, pins became metal and decorative. Pin trading exploded in popularity during the 1988 Seoul Games and has reached new highs at every Olympics since. The world's oldest active pin collecting club was founded in 1983 and continues to grow, with organized communities hosting the World Olympic Collectors' Fair biennially.
Types of Olympic Pins
Olympic pins come in many varieties: NOC (National Olympic Committee) pins represent each country's Olympic committee, Media pins are issued to press and broadcasters, Sponsor pins feature corporate partners of the Games, Mascot pins showcase each Olympics' beloved characters, and Commemorative pins mark special moments or anniversaries. Many collectors also seek out athlete pins, volunteer pins, and limited-edition trading pins that are only available at the Games themselves.
Join the Global Community
Olympic pin collecting connects people across borders through a shared passion for the Olympic Movement. Collectors gather at every Olympic Games for pin trading events, and organized clubs host fairs, silent auctions, and online exchanges year-round. Whether you have one pin from a Games you attended or thousands spanning decades of Olympic history, this community welcomes all levels of collectors to share, trade, and celebrate together.
Explore Our Pin Catalogs
Olympic Pins Club (OlympinClub) catalogs thousands of Olympic pins spanning games from Athens 1896 to Paris 2024 and beyond. Explore our curated collections:
Create your collection to share, trade & sell pins with collectors worldwide
Get Started