With the tradition going as far back as 1896 at the first modern Olympic games in Athens, Greece, pin trading isn’t a new phenomenon and athletes and spectators alike, take part in the custom bartering the pins.

Originally, the pins were made of cardboard and were intended to identify officials and the athletes with vibrant colours. Nowadays, the pins are used promote camaraderie between athletes and those who travel miles away to cheer on their home countries.

According to the Olympic Collection website, up until the late 1970’s, pin trading was only permitted for athletes and officials. During the 1980 Winter Olympics held at Lake Placid, spectators were finally allowed to acquire the pins and start their own collections of each Olympic games.

Athletes and collectors alike on social media are showcasing their accessories adorned with pins, creating a cheerful and generous atmosphere at the village.

Trading boomed in popularity during the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics where sponsors, media companies and other organizations like the Coca-Cola Company started capitalising on the practice, releasing regular and limited edition pins.

Of course, some traders have found a way to make capital from this expensive hobby, listing special edition pins for prices as high as $316 USD.

Talking to CBS News one trader, Don Bigsby, reminisced on his first pin show in 1980 ” he (another trader) had his from Lake Placid 1980, some of the same ones I did. And he had prices on them, like $60, $80, $30. Whoa! I mean, I’m not in this for the money, but I didn’t realize these things are so valuable.”

Even the esteemed Olympic champion, Simone Biles seems to be trading with her own custom gold pins, distinct from other athletes’ typical flag pins.

Countries like Grenada, Bermuda and Belize unveiled the designs for the 2024 Paris Olympics, featuring the nutmeg from the ‘Spice Island’ and Belize’s national bird, the keel-billed toucan.

Bermuda’s pin is comically in the shape of a triangle, referencing the ominous Bermudan triangle legend where ships and aircrafts are known to disappear under mysterious circumstances.