Olympic Pin Collecting

Mascot Family LE pin

2007-12-24T07:45:00.000-08:00

The Vancouver Sun runs a sidebar in its Road to 2010 weekly feature called Collectors' Corner ... and it seems tailor-made for this blog. Enjoy.

What: 2010 Mascot Family limited-edition Pin

Value: $12

History: Actually, there isn't very much of a history yet for this, or any of the new pins celebrating the 2010 mascots.

But this one is notable because in the three weeks since VANOC introduced Quatchi, Sumi and Miga to the world, it has become the most popular retail pin produced for the 2010 Games.

Not only that, it has become the top seller on VANOC's Internet store site heading into the Christmas season, according to the organizing committee.

The pin is one of five versions produced by pin consortium Artiss Aminco ULC, which has the licence to produce all of the retail, corporate and specialty pins for the Games.

VANOC says only 2,502 of the Mascot Family pins were produced as a "limited edition," complete with an identifying backstamp and its own case. But copies of the pin without the case and limited stamp will continue to be produced for the retail market.

As trade value goes, the limited editions are still only worth the $12 VANOC is charging for them.

Errors and Mistakes

2007-12-17T06:30:00.000-08:00

The Vancouver Sun runs a sidebar in its Road to 2010 weekly feature called Collectors' Corner ... and it seems tailor-made for this blog. Enjoy.

In the realm of coin and stamp collecting, mistakes are generally prized more than when the item is correctly manufactured. When someone screws up in a process that is now highly automated, owning one of the resulting mistakes carries a certain cachet.

Perhaps the most famous example is 1918 Inverted Jenny error, when the U.S. post office accidentally printed a Curtiss JN-4 biplane upside down on a sheet of its new 24-cent airmail stamps.

The result is that a single unused stamp from that sheet is now worth more than $375,000 and a block of four is worth a cool $1.25 million.

You won't get rich on Vancouver 2010 errors, but perhaps the best one to date is the accidental printing of the Ilanaaq Olympic logo on a new Paralympic 25-cent coin instead of the Paralympic logo.

In the close, but still separated worlds of the Olympics and Paralympics, such a crossover is not wanted.

Although the Royal Canadian Mint made 30,000 sets of the coins, which sell for about $25, only a few thousand are believed to contain the error. The mint says it held back 8,000 sets and will destroy them after a corrected coin is minted.

Brian Grant Duff of the Bay Coins and Stamps says the set is now worth upwards of $400.

Spread Some Cheer !!

2007-12-14T08:00:00.000-08:00

Vancouver Chinese-language pin

2007-12-10T08:00:00.000-08:00

The Vancouver Sun runs a sidebar in its Road to 2010 weekly feature called Collectors' Corner ... and it seems tailor-made for this blog. Enjoy.

What: Vancouver City Chinese-language sponsor pin

Value: $40 for each of two types

History: Vancouver is one of four civic government partners in the 2010 Olympics and Paralympics. The others are Richmond, West Vancouver and Whistler.

Vancouver took its status to a new level, commissioning a pin in two styles of Chinese language; one in simplified text and the other in traditional characters.

The city bought 500 each through Artiss Aminco, the official 2010 pin producer for the purpose of giving them to visiting Chinese dignitaries and Chinese residents and taking them to Beijing for the 2008 Summer Games.

In their own right the pins are worth perhaps $20 each. There the story might have stood had it not been for one of those tiny mistakes that translate into major political goofs.

Artiss Aminco accidentally had the pins produced in Taiwan, Republic of China, instead of at its regular facilities in the People's Republic of China.

The PRC considers Taiwan to be a renegade province, and the stamp "TAIWAN" on the back of the pins was not discovered until most of the pins were distributed.

For the sake of political sensitivity, the city scrapped the remaining pins and pledged to re-order more made in China.

Olympic pins raise Chinese ire

2007-12-04T07:45:00.000-08:00

2010 Olympic Chinese language pins stamped 'Made in Taiwan' popular with collectors

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

VANCOUVER, B.C. - What's in a name? If the name is Taiwan and it's supposed to be China, and it involves political sensitivities around the Olympics, quite a lot of trouble, it seems. A Vancouver city official said Monday the city has had to scrap two runs of official Olympic government sponsor pins after it was discovered the manufacturer made them in Taiwan, known as the Republic of China, rather than in China, the People's Republic of China.

Taiwan, which China considers a breakaway region, is not formally recognized by Canada as a country. Relations between the two countries is at times tense, and Beijing protests regularly when Taiwan is given too much official status.

Sven Buemann, Vancouver's chief protocol officer, said the optics of the city's gaffe are obvious now, but it wasn't discovered until many of the pins were handed out.

"Right now we've had a printing error on them which we are hoping to get rectified very, very soon," Buemann said. "If you look at the back of the pin it says Taiwan. It's not a large issue, but it is one we are sensitive to. We had hoped these pins wouldn't say Made in Taiwan, as they are made for the Chinese market."

The pins feature two Chinese language versions of the term "Vancouver" and "Host City" above and below the official logo of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. On the back, above the pin, is a stamp "TAIWAN."

The city's communications department contracted with official Vanoc pin-maker Artiss Aminco Ltd. to produce the pins.

The city planned to give them out to Chinese residents, and to also take them to Beijing with an official delegation for the 2008 Summer Games. But the error went undiscovered for about a year.

Now, Buemann says the city will have to reorder the entire lot in advance of the Beijing Games.

Artiss Aminco, which produces all official Olympic pins for the Vancouver Organizing Committee, including for sponsors and retail sales, normally produces its pins in China, or at partner plants in Canada.

But for reasons CEO Chris Pasterfield can't explain, small runs of the Vancouver city pin were sent to a plant it uses in Taiwan.

"At the time we did it we weren't aware that it was going to be [produced] there," he said. "Vancouver hasn't contacted us yet. Hopefully they will."

Both Buemann and Mayor Sam Sullivan's office say they haven't had any official complaints from Chinese authorities. But clearly, the pins could not continue to be handed out, Buemann said. Jennifer Young, the assistant director of corporate communications, said the city paid $2 each for 1,000 pins, half of which were written in a traditional Chinese character, and half in a simplified Chinese text.

The mistake may be embarrassing for Vancouver, but it has become a hot commodity for pin traders and collectors. Frank Zavarella, of the Pacific Pin Trading Club, said he's being flooded with requests from collectors looking for one of the misprints. Where a Vancouver city host pin might be worth $20 in trade value, it's worth double that, he said.

"To me, all of the sudden they became a rarity," Zavarella said. "Everybody is wanting one now."

Pasterfield said he learned of the pin mistake last week when he was in Vancouver for the launch of the 2010 mascots. Vanoc spokesman Chris Brumwell said to his knowledge no other Olympic pins - whether for retail sales or sponsors - were produced in Taiwan.

The gaffe comes as Beijing considers Vancouver as one of three stops on an international torch relay for the 2008 Paralympic Games. In September, BOCOG, the Beijing organizing committee invited Vancouver, as well as London and Sochi, Russia - which will host the 2012 Summer and 2014 Winter Games respectively - to host the torch on the first international Paralympic tour.

Bell Mascots Giveaway Pin

2007-12-03T08:30:00.000-08:00

The Vancouver Sun runs a sidebar in its Road to 2010 weekly feature called Collectors' Corner ... and it seems tailor-made for this blog. Enjoy.

What: Bell Canada mascots limited giveaway pin.

Trade value: Undetermined.

History: As collectible pins go, sponsor pins rank up there among purists.

Retail pins -- those produced for sale to the public -- may be interesting, but their collectible value tends to be less.

Sort of like why stamps mailed from personalities are more sought after.

The most collectible pins are those produced in small numbers and distributed for private reasons, such as internal use, presidents' pins and the like. Bid pins and corporate sponsor pins fall in right behind them, since they aren't meant for public distribution.

So with that in mind, where does the new Bell Canada giveaway mascots pin fit in?

The pins were made available last week free to the public through a coupon program in major daily newspapers. But they aren't being put up for sale with the eight retail mascot designs being carried by HBC.

Frank Zavarella, one of B.C.'s expert pin collectors, says the Bell pin has a unique value. "What makes it collectible is that it has a mascot theme, is a corporate pin, is limited and isn't for sale," he said.

At 15,000, the production run is high, but it's still limited because it won't be reproduced, he said.

Every 2010 pin now available

2007-12-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

Vancouver 2010 launches Olympic Store

Every 2010 pin now available to collectors in Canada !!

December 3, 2007

Vancouver, BC – The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) opens today the virtual doors for its new Olympic Store at with hundreds of items available for purchase, including popular items featuring Miga, Sumi and Quatchi, the newly-introduced Vancouver 2010 mascots.

“Merchandise is popular way for people to connect with the Games” said Caley Denton, VANOC vice president of ticketing and consumer marketing. “People love the convenience of shopping online. The Olympic Store at vancouver2010.com will make it easy for people to own a piece of the Games.”

“Customers to vancouver2010.com can be assured of an easy, convenient online shopping experience and a growing line of quality products that will feature the elements – namely the emblems and mascots – that are quickly becoming iconic to the Games,” said Dennis Kim, VANOC director of licensing and merchandising.

The Olympic Store offers a wide range of Vancouver 2010-inspired merchandise, from caps to pens, t-shirts, pins, mugs and mascot plush.

Accessible day and night, year-round, The Olympic Store will regularly offer special promotions and, on occasion, special offers accessible exclusively to subscribers to the Tickets and Merchandise list at vancouver2010.com.

Bell Canada Mascot Pins ... all gone

2007-11-29T09:00:00.000-08:00

Pin promotion proves popular with populace

With last Tuesday's launch of the Vancouver 2010 mascots -- Quatchi, Miga and Sumi -- some 2010 sponsors have jumped on the bandwagon by producing mascot pins of their own.

Bell Canada was the first corporate sponsor with ads for a free lapel pin appearing in 24 Hours, Metro and The Province on Thursday, November 29th. 15,000 were in the marketplace and by the end of the business day ... were all gone.

Congratulations to Bell Canada for making pins the most sought-after item among the public in general, and pin collectors in particular !!

We look forward to many, many more such promotions from Bell and all other Vancouver 2010 sponsors too.

How Vanoc kept the mascots secret

2007-11-29T08:30:00.000-08:00

Games organizers won't say much about security, but here are some of the tactics

Thursday, November 29, 2007

There was a point last week when Patrick Roberge's four-year-old daughter Mandalay stumbled upon a secret her father was determined to keep from the world.

Sitting at his computer in his home office, Mandalay watched three images flash on to the screen, and at that point it became clear that Roberge was going to have to tell his daughter The Big Secret.

"I told her we were working on a show for the Olympics and that we had to keep it a secret, and we even had to keep it a secret from Mom. She thought that was pretty cool," Roberge said Wednesday.

Mandalay at that point possibly became the youngest person in the world to know about Quatchi, Miga and Sumi, the new mascots for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

For months, Roberge, president of Creative Sport Productions, had been stealthily working on production of a half-hour live show in which the characters were to be unveiled before 800 school children. His cast and crew of 80 people were the largest potential source of blabbermouths for Vanoc.

Roberge was so afraid of accidental leaks that he took files home with him, and wouldn't leave them in the car out of fear they might go missing if the vehicle was stolen.

In the end, Mandalay kept her secret, even from her preschool friends. And in doing so, saved her father from the wrath of Vanoc executives who had made him sign a comprehensive non-disclosure agreement in order to get the sole-sourced show production contract.

The secrecy extends even to this day: Vanoc wouldn't talk about the cost of the contract or any other commercial details involving the mascots. Vanoc didn't want to grant interviews for the purpose of this article because it is worried the information could be used against it in future. Like the "Mr. Big" scenario used by the RCMP to fool suspects into revealing their crimes, the veil Vanoc created was such a success it wants to protect it for future use.

On previous occasions the media or public had learned in advance the design of the Inukshuk logo and the identity of the creative producer for the opening ceremonies.

This time Vanoc kept the information so close that even many of its own staff weren't privy to the mascots' design. They avoided reporters' questions, and even went so far as to disguise necessary trademark and copyright filings.

But there are some little hints of how the mystery was protected. Vanoc officials said they tried not to discuss the designs over cellular phones. They didn't keep files on Internet-enabled computers and even papered over windows in work rooms to hide meetings from the prying eyes of other staff.

And of course, they strictly limited the number of people on a "need-to-know" basis, and made them all sign legal agreements. No more than two or three people in any production company, supplier or sponsor was permitted to have the details. Contracts were issued on a non-tendered basis to prevent public disclosure.

When HBC stores began to take delivery of a large shipment of plush toys, clothing, books and pins Wednesday, store managers still didn't know what they looked like. Bill Stanbury, the store manager for The Bay in Vancouver, said he found out when he went to the loading dock and opened one of the boxes. "We opened one up with a knife and took out Quatchi, and said "so that's what it looks like," he said.

Ian Tait, the general manager of Artiss Aminco, the official pin supplier, only saw the five mascot pin designs mid-morning Tuesday, just as Vanoc was unveiling the identities in Surrey.

Roberge said he was stunned the secret never got out. They could never be certain a janitor, inquisitive visitor or even family member didn't overhear or see the ideas.

2010 Mascots and Pins Unveiled !!

2007-11-27T09:00:00.000-08:00

Vancouver 2010 mascots introduced to the world

Miga, Quatchi and Sumi make their debut before hundreds of schoolchildren, and on vancouver2010.com

November 27, 2007

Vancouver, BC – Months of mystery and anticipation finally ended today as hundreds of local schoolchildren were the first to personally meet Miga, Quatchi and Sumi, the mascots for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Many more children around the globe had a virtual introduction to these friendly figures on a new mascot microsite at
vancouver2010.com

More than 800 schoolchildren from grades three to five filled the Bell Performing Arts Centre in Surrey, BC today to witness three enchanting characters emerge from the mists of a magical West Coast setting of gigantic trees, soaring mountains and a restless ocean, to take their place in history as cherished personalities of the 2010 Winter Games.

Designed by the Vancouver-based company Meomi Design, Miga,Quatchi and Sumi were inspired by local Aboriginal mythologicalcreatures and also strongly influenced by popular culture, modern animation styles, the Olympic and Paralympic Movements, the culture and wildlife of British Columbia and Canada, and the artists’ own imagination. Each of the creatures is unique, both in personality and physical appearance.

Miga is a snowboarding sea bear inspired by the legends of the Pacific Northwest First Nations – tales of orca whales that transform into bears when they arrive on land. Part Spirit Bear, a rare white bear unique to BC, Miga’s outgoing spirit and high energy draw her to action and adventure.

Quatchi, a shy and gentle giant, is a sasquatch – a popular figure in local Aboriginal legends of the Pacific West Coast. Quatchi reminds us of the mystery and wonder associated with the great Canadian wilderness. Although Quatchi loves all winter sports, he’s especially fond of hockey and dreams of becoming a world-famous goalie.

Sumi is an animal spirit who wears the hat of the orca whale, flies with the wings of the mighty thunderbird and runs on the furry legs of the black bear. With a name that is derived from the Salish word ‘sumesh,’ meaning guardian spirit,’ Sumi is passionate about the environment and is a fan of all Paralympic sports.

Joining the mascots is a ‘sidekick’ by the name of Mukmuk, a rare marmot unique to the mountains of Vancouver Island. Mukmuk is considered an honourary member of the team and pops up on occasion to share in the spirit and fun of the Games. Mukmuk’s name comes from the Squamish word for food (‘muckamuck’) because he loves to eat – when he’s not playing with his friends.

People across Canada and around the world are meeting the mascots on a specially designed mascot ‘microsite’ at vancouver2010.com. The microsite includes exciting child-friendly features such as an animated mascot video, character profiles, an online game, a mascot-related personality quiz, interactive e-cards, colouring pages and more.

“Miga, Quatchi and Sumi are ambassadors for Canada and we are thrilled to introduce them to Canadians and people from around the world,” said John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). “Great care has been taken in developing and designing these Vancouver 2010 characters. They will tell a unique story about the Games and they will appeal to children across Canada and around the world. The mascots truly represent the people, geography and spirit of British Columbia and Canada, while personifying the essence of the 2010 Winter Games.”

The mascots are a key component of the Games identity and a playful way to engage a young audience and, at the same time, increase understanding of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The mascot launch represents a significant milestone on the road to staging the 2010 Winter Games.

Said René Fasel, Chairman of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Coordination Commission: “The IOC welcomes these imaginative new additions to the Olympic Family as they take their place on the world stage today – a symbol of the Games and of Canada. We know that when Olympians, Paralympians and visitors from around the globe arrive in British Columbia at Games time, they will fall under the spell of these captivating characters.”

Noted Sir Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee: “The mascot for the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games is an excellent choice and I am sure that it will be loved by children all over the world. It represents the values of the Paralympic Movement, but also links to the Aboriginal Canadian culture and tradition.”

The second phase of the vancouver2010.com mascot program is scheduled for 2008, when additional online games and interactive features will be added. The online program takes traditional Games mascots to a new level, leveraging the reach of the internet so that children around the world can experience the mascots. The mascots will also be featured in the December issue of /EDU (at www.vancouver2010.com/edu), an online portal dedicated to connecting teachers, students and schools while celebrating the spirit of the 2010 Winter Games.

Beginning tomorrow, the mascots will make appearances across Canada as ambassadors of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, inviting Canadians from coast to coast to celebrate Vancouver 2010, as well as bringing fun and goodwill to events leading up to the Games. At Games time, these friendly figures will make appearances throughout the Vancouver region and the Sea-to-Sky corridor, offering a warm welcome to all.

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010.

Fatso the Fat-Arsed Wombat

2007-11-26T08:00:00.000-08:00

Australians delighted in making fun of the three Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Official Mascots -- Olly the Kookaburra, Syd the Platypus and Millie the Echidna -- with the creation of Fatso the Fat-Arsed Wombat, the Unofficial Mascot that quickly became more popular.

Here's just a sample. For more irreverence, be sure to click here!!

Fatso marks HIS territory at Closing Ceremony

Monday, October 2nd, 2000

The IOC finally backed down to the pressure of the Australian public to allow Fatso to have his place in the Closing Ceremony.

It was fitting that Fatso was one of the first of our icons to appear before the people.

Fatso, being the true blue fat-arsed wombat he is, wanted to thank the IOC for their generosity, so he decided to return the favour by offering them a gift.

Fatso thought "What do I have to offer a large organisation like the IOC - something they wouldn't have, but could remember me by?"

So Fatso, proudly offered them a gift they could truly cherish - his droppings.

Drop by drop he ornated the track, much to the delight of the crowd, as well as the IOC.

But the IOC rejected Fatso's gift. While the fireworks were taking place, it was quickly snapped up by Corey, a 14-year-old from Lysterfield, Victoria.

No doubt his parents will place them for all to see in the pool room, alongside the other family trophies.

More Links:

The skinny on Fatso - Sports Illustrated

The Rise of Fatso - The Fat-Arsed Sydney Olympics Wombat

Hyper-hush surrounds mascots

2007-11-26T06:45:00.000-08:00

Hyper-hush surrounds 2010 Games mascots 'til Tuesday, November 27th

On Tuesday, Vanoc unveils the 2010 Games mascot and partner to logo Inukshuk.

On Tuesday, the biggest Olympic secret since Vanoc's unveiling of its Inukshuk logo two years ago will be revealed when the mascots for the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics are made public.

The drama has been building. Websites and blogs have been speculating on what inevitably cuddly, cute creatures the Vancouver Organizing Committee has come up with.

What's at stake is an indelible image Vanoc wants recognized around the world, representative of British Columbia and Canada. They want mascots that will tie children and youth into the Olympic movement and to the Winter Games.

They also expect the mascots to drive their marketing and licence revenues.

On Wednesday morning licensees will stock stores with every manner of mascot-branded toy, clothing and trinket.

There has already been a frenzy among memorabilia collectors who have tried to get tickets to the unveiling at the Bell Performing Arts Centre in Surrey. Some have gone so far as to ask reporters if they can work as their assistants.

In response, hyper-secrecy has been the order of the day; Vanoc has kept details off Internet-enabled computers and hidden them from search engines that scour patent and trademark databases around the world.

Vanoc has kept most of its staff in the dark. Only slightly more than a dozen employees and executives, the design team and a few close-mouthed sponsors who needed to develop pin designs know the details. Even people working with the design team who don't need access to the images haven't been shown them.

Vanoc is even reluctant to take reporters' calls about the design and process. The launch, as Dave Cobb, Vanoc's executive vice-president of marketing and communications, says, is one of the signature events in the run-up to the Games, and the principle of "loose lips sink ships" has been practised to high art form.

In one unintended hint, Vanoc CEO John Furlong once referred to the mascots in a speech as "critters." We also know that the winning submission came from a pair of graphic designers, location unknown, whose bid was among 178 submissions professional designers made to Vanoc last September.

So, with all that in mind, what else is known about the mascots?

Well, there are at least two -- one for the Olympics and one for the Paralympics. There might possibly be more, but Vanoc won't say if it is following in the steps of other Games committees that have chosen multiple mascots.

They will also have two legs. They have to, in order for humans to operate them. Even if they are, speculatively speaking, four-legged sea otters or Vancouver Island marmots, two-finned beluga whales or a First Nations-inspired thunderbird with wings.

Will they be uniquely identifiable as British Columbian? After all, even Premier Gordon Campbell has weighed in, suggesting the white kermode bear of B.C.'s central coast would be appropriate.

Vanoc is keeping mum. But Ali Gardiner, Vanoc's director of brand and creative services, does say the winning designs are ones that Canadians will adopt as their own and yet have regional characteristics that people in any province can accept.

"A good mascot can help reveal a side of your country and tell a story of the Games that will really appeal to children, and also to adults and youth."

Most importantly they will have character. Vanoc has spent a lot of time developing the back story for each mascot, testing them with groups of children around North America. It was fairly easy to find what Gardiner called "the magic factor."

"There were a lot of concepts that were popular, but there were a few we could tell really just captured peoples' imaginations," she said. "You would hear them talking about them as if they were a family member or friend."

Vanoc winnowed through more than 20 concepts. The names and images were also screened for unintended meanings in all the world's languages and cultures.

It's a task Fraser Bullock, the former CEO of the 2002 Salt Lake Games, says is critical if the committee wants to avoid a cultural disaster.

"You have to run all the traps so that you don't offend a culture or a country with a name you didn't realize had a different meaning," he said.

Bullock, who is also a member of the International Olympic Committee's Vancouver Coordination Commission, said he hasn't seen Vanoc's designs.

Mascots are supposed to be something that "ties to the culture, to the land, something about your community, province or state," said Bullock. For example, Salt Lake created three mascots, Powder (a hare), Copper (coyote), and Coal (a bear) that represented the Olympic motto of Citius, Altius, Fortius, or Faster, Higher, Stronger, as well as snow and the two primary resources of Utah.

"What we were trying to accomplish was to create greater affiliation with the Games, and at the same time tie it to our local identity," he said. Vanoc is not giving any hints about the form or type, other than to say that they won't be fantastic creations of the mind that have no connection to animals, minerals or elements.

In the history of the Olympics and Paralympics, only the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games ventured into the realm of the fantastic, creating a mascot out of nothing, an amorphous blue blob that even its creators had trouble defining. They even settled on a name, "Whatizit," which became shortened to "Izzy," while wags wanted to call it "Whoneedzit" and "Getridofit."

Gardiner smiled ruefully when asked if she's prepared for the inevitable satirization of the mascots. Satire will only get people talking about the mascots, and that's not a bad idea, she said.

Oh, we kind of expect that to happen. We try to not make that too easy," she said. "But I don't expect it will be more than five minutes before something is on the Internet."

OLYMPIC MASCOTS -- FRIENDLY, POPULAR, OR NOT

Ask a dozen people which Olympic mascots they like, and risk getting a dozen different answers. But there are some images that have gone down in history as either the most favoured, or the most disliked.

The 1992 Barcelona Summer Games may not rank as the most memorable, but it seems its mascot, Cobi the dog, is.

Cobi is repeatedly cited by designers, organizing committees and creative directors as hitting the "sweet spot" with people.

With its Picassoesque face and cheeky attitude, it became such a beloved character that on the 10th anniversary of the Games it was still revered as an idol, according to Ali Gardiner, Vanoc's director of brand and creative services.

At the other end of the spectrum is Izzy, the blue mythic creature picked by the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games organizers.

Although it sold well in stores, it didn't garner much respect.

Even Simpsons creator Matt Groening described Izzy to Sports Illustrated as a "bad marriage of the Pillsbury Doughboy and the ugliest California Raisin."

The first official Olympic mascot was Waldi the dachshund of the 1972 Munich Summer Games. But the first unofficial one was "Schuss," a man on skis, which debuted at the 1968 Grenoble Games.

Canada weighed in with the second official mascot, Amik the beaver, in 1976 in Montreal.

Twelve years later, Calgary broke new ground with the introduction of Hidy and Howdy, a pair of polar bears, the first multiple mascots, and gender-specific at that.

The 2008 Beijing Games have moved to a new level with the creation of five Olympic ring-coloured mascots. Called the Friendlies, they represent four animals and the Olympic flame.

In 2006, Turin, Italy, was the first Olympic Games to use mascots that weren't animals or human beings.

Neve was a snowball and Gliz an ice cube.

Their Paralympic partner was Aster, the one-legged snowflake.

In the history of mascots, parody is a matter of fact. Turin's mascots were turned into political and risque objects by artists around the world.

And Australians poked fun of their three Sydney 2000 mascots, Olly, Syd and Millie (a kookaburra, platypus and echidna) with the creation of Fatso the Fat-Arsed Wombat, an unofficial mascot that quickly became more popular.

Beijing BC-Canada Pavilion pin

2007-11-19T07:45:00.000-08:00

The Vancouver Sun runs a sidebar in its Road to 2010 weekly feature called Collectors' Corner ... and it seems tailor-made for this blog. Enjoy.

What: Beijing BC-Canada Pavilion pin

Trade value: Undetermined.

History: At the 2006 Turin Winter Games, the B.C. government experimented with an idea for presenting a Canadian face at the Games. It built a stereotypically Canadian building, a two-storey log house, on a little-used plaza in Turin. The idea was to generate attention for B.C.'s tourism and economic development programs, and to a lesser extent, for Canada.

But B.C. had trouble getting support from the federal government, which only bought into the idea at a late date, and only with value-in-kind contributions. Nonetheless, BC-Canada Place became a roaring success, with long lineups of spectators wanting to tour the building.

This time, however, B.C. has lots of support for its BC-Canada Pavilion for the 2008 Beijing Summer Games. It will be in an existing building, the entrance marked by 13 massive wood rings to symbolize Canada's provinces and territories.

To commemorate the event, the province has just produced a new pin to be handed out to visitors during the Games next August. It's not for sale, and right now only tiny quantities are being handed out in Vancouver at special events.

Of note to collectors: The pin doesn't have the words "Olympic," "2008" or other references to the Summer Games because the facility is not an official sponsor.

Andorra la Vella 2010 bid pin

2007-11-12T08:30:00.000-08:00

The Vancouver Sun runs a sidebar in its Road to 2010 weekly feature called Collectors' Corner ... and it seems tailor-made for this blog. Enjoy.

What: Andorra la Vella 2010 bid pin

Value: $30

Details: For more than seven centuries, tiny Andorra -- nestled in the Pyrenees Mountains between Spain and France -- has been governed under a co-principality.

At one-sixth the size of Metro Vancouver, Andorra's economic prosperity has been tied almost entirely to tourism, its role as a tax haven, and in the past, smuggling. In 1993, the government became a parliamentary democracy.

For the more than 70,000 residents, the Olympics has long been an attraction. It formed its national Olympic Committee in 1971. And briefly, it held dreams of hosting the Winter Games. In the late 1990s it began agitating to hold the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Despite its role as a ski resort, it is such a small country, and plagued by many problems, including traffic jams, that the International Olympic Committee quickly dismissed the possibility. On August 28, 2002, the IOC put an end to Andorra's bid, along with that of Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina.

For its bid, Andorra la Vella produced small quantities of a single paper and plastic bubble tack-back pin, now relatively difficult to find.

Schoolkids to meet mascots first

2007-11-06T14:30:00.000-08:00

Children's launch celebration planned for November 27 in Surrey, BC

VANCOUVER, November 6 - Who are the mascots for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games? More than 800 schoolchildren will be the first to find out at a fun-filled event to be held in Surrey, BC, at the Bell Performing Arts Centre, on November 27. The rest of Canada and the world will also meet the mascots the same day through an interactive online mascot program launch at vancouver2010.com as well as vancouver2010.com/edu, the site's educational portal.

"The mascot launch is a much-anticipated celebration leading up to the Games. The mascots will become cherished icons - especially for children - and symbols of our Games, our country and our moment on the world stage," said John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). "They are a playful way to engage a young audience and increase their understanding of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and we hope they will spark excitement, laughter and cheers from children and adults alike."

Attending this special event will be more than 800 children from grades three to five, representing eight schools in the 2010 Winter Games host region. Participating schools were selected with assistance from regional school trustees.

The introduction of the mascots is a major milestone on the road to the 2010 Winter Games. The mascots are a key component of any Games identity, always highly sought after for photos by children and Games enthusiasts.

As ambassadors of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the mascots will make appearances across Canada immediately following their introduction, bringing fun and goodwill to events leading up to the start of the Games. At Games time, these captivating characters will offer a warm welcome to Olympians, Paralympians and visitors from around the world as they arrive in Vancouver and Whistler.

"The city of Surrey is proud to host the first-ever meeting with the Vancouver 2010 mascots," said Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts. "We want to extend a warm welcome to everyone who will be here for this historic event. Surrey is pleased to support the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and we are delighted to share in this moment."

While children are meeting the mascots in person for the first time, the mascots will be simultaneously introduced to the rest of Canada and the world via an online mascot program at vancouver2010.com. The program is projected to reach millions of children and adults before the 2010 Winter Games begin - both in Canada and around the world.

vancouver2010.com will engage visitors through interactive web features including games, video, and stories about the mascot characters that will draw children of all ages into the excitement of the Games experience.

vancouver2010.com/edu, a portal dedicated to connecting teachers, students and schools across Canada while celebrating the spirit of the 2010 Winter Games, will also feature the mascots in its December e-magazine issue.

Since the first official mascot debuted at the Munich 1972 Summer Games, mascots have become popular and memorable symbols of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. They help to educate by telling the unique story of the Games and are often a reflection of the history, land and culture of the host region and country. They also embody the ideals of the Olympic and Paralympic Movements, bringing to life the spirit of friendship, fair play and participation.

Previous Games mascots can be viewed in the photo gallery, where additional information about the search for the mascot artist can also be found.

Media will be invited to attend the launch of the mascots and a media advisory will be issued in the near future.

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and stagingof the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler fromFebruary 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the ParalympicWinter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010.

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Olympic-size hobby

2007-10-30T09:30:00.000-07:00

Fargo man stuck on pin collecting

The Forum
Fargo, North Dakota
February 11, 2002, Page A6.

There's more to the Olympics than the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. There's also the hunt for the hottest pin of the day and the barter for pins of Olympics past.

Beyond the games--around the edges of the rinks and on the sides of the mountains--there's the world of Olympic pin collecting. It's a game of its own kind.

Fargoan Mike Miller knows the world of Olympic pin collecting from the inside out.

He caught pin fever at the 1984 summer games in Los Angeles and has since amassed a collection that probably numbers in the thousands, although for security reasons he doesn't like to discuss the size and value of his collection.

While Olympic spectators are watching figure skating or hockey this week, he'll be wheeling and dealing in pins.

Mindboggling craze

How big is the Olympic pin craze? Thousands of Olympic pins already are in circulation, and by the end of the Salt Lake Games, pin expert Mark Stewart of the host city expects 2,500 to 3,000 new pin designs will appear.

For each of those designs, anywhere from a couple dozen to tens of thousands of pins have been produced. All totaled, hundreds of thousands--if not a million or more new pins--will be in circulation throughout the city.

The Olympic committee puts out official pins. And, it seems, every company, club and country does the same. Coke makes hundreds of pins. So do the TV networks, Kodak, the nations of Canada, Israel and hundreds of others.

Miller, a North Dakota State University librarian, will spend much of the Olympics trading pins. He is one of about 10 serious traders who will set up booths at the Olympic Pin Show at Crossroads Plaza in downtown Salt Lake.

Wild West is hot

Pins depicting cowboy boots or a cowboy hat will be hot, Miller predicts. He said Europeans love to trade Olympic pins and they especially go for items with a Western flair.

As for value--the dollars and cents side of the craze--he expects team pins and security pins to be worth the most. But he and other traders won't know just what values pins will fetch until the games get rolling.

Team pins are those produced for each nation's athletes. They are rare because so few are made, and they are given only to athletes who may choose to keep them, give them to friends or turn a profit by selling them, Miller said.

Security pins are something new this year. It is a category of pin basically unheard of before the September ll terrorist attack turned the world upside down and cast the threat of terrorism over the Olympics.

The various security forces have joined the pin craze, Miller said, producing their own designs. He expects them to be hot, hot, hot because the pins will show respect and thanks for security forces and because the proceeds of some security pins will go for charitable causes.

Traders get serious

This year's games are the 10th Miller has attended.

At first, trading was done mostly at the games, he said. For most collectors, it was a hobby, helping forge friendships and common interests among spectators from all over the world.

By the 1990s pin collecting had exploded--it became an obsession for some. Then along came the Internet, turning it into a 24/7 global business.

Trading is no longer something spectators do just for fun. It's big money for some collectors who've transformed themselves into dealers.

Sure, some folks still do it for pleasure and camaraderie--like Miller. But others do it for dollars, schillings or deutschmarks.

"One of the reasons I'm going is to see friends I've developed through pin collecting," he said.

At past Olympics, Miller said, traders and less rabid collectors typically have shown off their collection--and served as their own walking billboard--by wearing a long winter scarf laden with dozens of pins.

"But with all the metal detectors that may not be possible," Miller said. "This security mess will change pin trading."

Web rich with info

In preparation for the Olympic pin show, he amassed hundreds of 2002 pins for wheeling and dealing. Miller says he doesn't know how many pins he shipped or carried to Salt Lake City. Judging by the piles on his living room floor, the number is well into the hundreds and possibly more than 1,000.

Miller said the new 2002 Olympic pins he will trade or sell at the show will range in value from $7 to $15. Or, two of his American cowboy hat pins might go for two European pins.

While pins are an integral part of Miller's Olympic experience, he won't spend every moment at the pin show. He wants to make sure he samples the pageantry, hoopla, competition and food.

Most serious pin collectors have launched Web sites. Miller's page showcases pins from the current Olympics all the way back to the 1960 Squaw Valley games. There are links to other Olympic pin collecting sites, including one written in Norwegian.

Popular Games site opens

2007-10-22T07:30:00.000-07:00

Pin Center: Popular Games site opens

Peter Thunell
Deseret News
November 4, 2001

PARK CITY — A new Olympic venue opened Thursday for an unofficial Olympic sport that many say they're stuck on. Park City officials and Olympic sponsor Coca-Cola opened Utah's first official Olympic pin trading site at Miner's Park on Main Street.

At the site, pin traders will be able to meet and swap Olympics pins — a popular Games pastime. There are plans to create two other pin trading sites, another one in Park City and one in downtown Salt Lake.

Park City Mayor Brad Olch, an admitted Olympic pin aficionado, said the pin swapping lets everybody get involved.

"We want to give the community a chance to enjoy the Olympic spirit and provide as many opportunities as possible for Park City residents and visitors to have memorable experiences during this special time in our city's history," Olch said.

Trisha Dewaal, who works nearby at Village Keepsakes in Park City, said she recently caught the pin-trading fever at work.

"Everyone is looking for pins," Dewaal said. "Someone comes in and has never heard of the pins, and by the time they leave the store they have at least five."

Dewaal said her pin genre of choice is pins depicting food, and already she has a collection of 80 pins, with her peanut butter pin ranking as her favorite.

Some professional Olympic pin swappers also were on hand Thursday giving advice and helping to get the ball rolling with the trading. Bill Hipson got his pin trading start in 1988 at the Calgary Winter Games and now trades and sells Olympic pins for a living.

He said the trading is addictive — he sold his refrigerator, washer and dryer once for three pins — but in the end it is more about meeting people and having fun.

"Trading is the fun of it," Hipson said. "The only rule is that it needs to be a good trade for the both of you. Sometimes people will say 'My pin's worth 50 bucks and yours is only worth 10.' They're all just 50-cent pins when they're born."

Still, the name of the game is scarcity. The more scarce a pin is, the more valuable it is. Some of the pins, like the original green Jell-O pin and the fry sauce pin, are already climbing in value, Hipson said.

A friend of Hipson, Helene White, said that in Atlanta, a restaurant made a pin of five onion rings in the Olympic symbol that was quickly banned by Olympic officials. The pins shot up in value and now are almost the "Holy Grail of Olympic pins," some having sold for as much as $1,500 each.

Riverton resident Dolan Hudson said some of the more rare pins for the Salt Lake Games include one with crossed skis and the now-discarded bid logo, the cowboy hat pin with the bid logo, a puzzle set with the bid logo and one with the Olympic logos from the past four Games.

The hottest pins Thursday were two limited edition pins Coca-Cola released, one depicting Miner's Park and the other having a big 100 on it to commemorate the 100 days until the Games. Hipson said that because there were so few of the pins made, they jumped in value just as soon as they sold out.

Pindemonium .... the movie

2007-10-11T18:00:00.000-07:00

Click here to view the trailer.

The fiercest competition at the Olympics doesn’t erupt in the stadiums …

Alongside the world’s greatest athletes are the world’s most zealous collectors, a group of self-proclaimed hunters who will stop at nothing to take home a prize from the games.

The object of their passion… PINS.

PINDEMONIUM provides an intimate and comic look at this curious international phenomenon.

For the uninitiated pins are simply memorabilia. But in the energetic subculture represented by Gary, Arne, Janet, Oleg, Sid, Don and Remi, Olympic pins provide the foundation for life-changing friendships, refuge from grief and pain, and an overwhelming sense of importance and belonging.

And who knew that collecting and trading pins could be so intense!

Immersed in this unusual form of global trade–actually a billion dollar marketplace–the competition is incredible. Each of the characters walk a fine line between enjoying a healthy hobby and feeding a debilitating obsession.

As Janet Grissom, collector of over 20,000 pins says, “I’m glad I’m addicted to pins and not cocaine, ’cause if it was coke, I’d be in serious rehab!”

In that regard, PINDEMONIUM is as much a sensitive journey into the mysterious mind of the collector as it is a visually stunning voyage around the world.

Out of the 10 million pin-related transactions at the Olympics, the most valuable just might be in the exchange of spirit shared in this eclectic community.

NOTE: The Sundance Channel has picked up Pindemonium for US television distribution. Watch for it to air in August 2008 ... just before the start of the Beijing Olympic Games.

About ... Bridge Pins

2007-10-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Besides all of the pins commemorating the 2010 Winter Games, as a collector, you'll be able to find pins from past Summer and Winter Olympics too.

And, if you look hard enough, you may be able to find pins for the 2002 Salt Lake Games, 2004 Athens Games, 2006 Torino Games and 2008 Beijing Games — plus a wide assortment of bid pins for 2010, 2012 and 2014.

One way that pins link the Olympics is through "bridge" pins, which feature the logos and names of two different Games.

For example, one bridge pin might feature the 1998 Nagano Games and 2002 Salt Lake Games as consecutive Winter Olympics. Another pin may feature the 2000 Sydney Summer Games and the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Games as consecutive Olympics.

They are usually produced to coincide with the closing of one Games and the "passing of the flame" to the next Host City. Watch for them ... there's not many made!

Jaca 2010 bid pin

2007-10-01T07:30:00.000-07:00

The Vancouver Sun runs a sidebar in its Road to 2010 weekly feature called Collectors' Corner ... and it seems tailor-made for this blog. Enjoy.

What: Jaca 2010 Bid Pin

Value: $25

In the history of Winter Olympic bids, tiny Jaca, Spain, is almost in a category of its own. Four times it has bid for the Olympics, and four times it has failed. Like the little engine that could, the small city on the edge of the Pyrenees Mountains has always thought it could host the Games.

The International Olympic Committee has always thought otherwise, to the point that Jaca, which is on a triangle between Pamplona and Zaragoza, has never made it to a short list. It bid for the 1998, 2002, 2010, and most recently 2014 Games.

In 2010, it was knocked out early in the bid. Vancouver, as we know, went on to the finals with two others, Salzburg and Pyongyang, both of whom also re-bid in 2014.

Jaca isn't without ability to host major events; it hosted the 1981 and 1995 Winter Universiades, and in February the European Youth Olympic Festival.

For the 2010 bid, Jaca organizers produced one ski-shaped pin in three different shades of blue. They are scarce but can be found on auction sites or at pin trading clubs from time to time.

Pin trading ... Salt Lake Style

2007-09-26T07:30:00.000-07:00

Pin trading ... what's all the fuss ??

Keith McCord, KSL-TV
February 16, 2002
Salt Lake City

Olympic pins first showed up at the Los Angeles Games in 1984. Since then, they've become an obsession for people all over the world.

Keith McCord decided to hit the streets, to see what all the fuss is about!

McCord says, "I've had these pins in my desk for several years. I don't know whether they're worth anything or very popular, so we thought we'd come over to the pin trading booth to see how it goes."

The pin booth is on South Temple across from the Delta Center, and any time of the day or night it's jammed with people and pins.

We wandered in with our meager selection.

A guy from California has been trading pins since the 1984 games. He actually liked one that I had! It was the America's Opening pin.

In exchange, we took an old Salt Lake bid pin and headed down the aisle where we ran into a guy from Toronto who calls himself "The Pin Man".

He has about 50-thousand of them -- really! And he brought bags and bags and bags of them here to trade with other pin enthusiasts.

Fair warning here, if the pin trading bug bites you, it will sometimes get overwhelming. It's like a kid in a candy store.

It's hard to decide which ones to trade for. The "Pin Man" is slick. He told me the pins I had were "terrible."

"This arrowhead is a big sculpture down at the end of the block. It's a terrible pin, sir, terrible. What do you want for it?" he asked.

One thing I learned in my first pin trading adventure, is that you'd better not get attached to your pins, because, well, sometimes, you won't keep them for very long.

I will say this... it's easy to get caught up in all this. With thousands of people clamoring for hundreds of thousands of pins, how can you NOT? And, as with all pin trades, the final part of the transaction is a handshake!

It doesn't matter whether you own one pin, or a thousand, just get in there and start trading!

If you have the patience to battle throngs of people, you can have a good time and make some pretty good trades, too. We did pretty well.

Click here to view the video

Biathlete Coin

2007-09-17T07:30:00.000-07:00

The Vancouver Sun runs a sidebar in its Road to 2010 weekly feature called Collectors' Corner ... and it seems tailor-made for this blog. Enjoy.

What: 25-cent Olympic biathlete coin

Trade value: Depends on type of coin

History: For more than 240 years, men and women have been trying to prove they could ski and shoot better than their neighbours. The first recorded instance of a biathlon race was in 1767 between Sweden and Norway, and the game has not changed all that much.

The sport was introduced to the first Olympic Winter Games in 1924 in Chamonix, France, and remained on the program until the 1948 Games in St. Moritz. It was brought back 12 years later at Squaw Valley, and has remained on the Olympic program ever since.

On Sept. 12, the Royal Canadian Mint unveiled the fourth coin in its stable of 17 coins celebrating the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This one, on a 25-cent coin, depicts the sport of biathlon. Glenn Green of Vancouver designed the side depicting a biathlete. Susanna Blunt designed the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the other side.

Up to 22 million of the coins will go into circulation through RBC Royal Bank and Petro-Canada, which will sell biathlon sports cards. A sterling coin collector version designed by Bonnie Ross of Nova Scotia will sell for $69.95.

8th Olympic Collectors’ Fair

2007-09-11T10:30:00.000-07:00

The 8th Winter Olympic Collectors’ Fair in Hamar, Norway

If you are passionate about the Olympic Winter Games or if you are looking for a particular object, don’t miss the 8th International Winter Olympic Collectors’ Fair in the Norwegian city of Hamar on 26, 27 and 28 October 2007.

On the first day, the Fair will offer an internal market, especially for collectors, while on the following two days, the Fair will be open to the public.

This Fair will be held in the Hamar Olympic Hall, Vikingskipet (the viking ship), site of the speedskating events during the 1994 Lillehammer Olympic Winter Games. Limited pins, made especially for the Fair, will be sold.

Organised by the Oslo Pin Club, in conjunction with the annual Used and Antiques Fair for Collectors, and in close cooperation with the International Olympic Memorabilia Federation (FIMO), this Fair is a unique opportunity for collectors from across the world to exchange, buy, sell, compare and complete collections of pins, mascots, torches, stamps, coins, medals, posters, post cards and any other object bearing the Olympic Rings.

Learn more about the Fair on: www.oslopinclub.org/english

Olympic enthusiasm building

2007-09-07T07:30:00.000-07:00

Here's a pin trading memory from the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games ... enjoy the read, and be sure to watch the video clip too.

Olympic enthusiasm building

November 4, 2001
KSL Television Coverage
Click here to view video

Park City now boasts a new Olympic attraction — a full-time pin trading center, set up in a park.

The center was dedicated during a party to mark the 100 day countdown on Thursday night. News Specialist Nadine Wimmer reports it's apparent that enthusiasm is starting to build.

"I'm getting really excited, because we have some tickets to some of the shows — the events — and I'm really excited to go see them," said Park City resident Mallory Doughtery.

"I think it's finally starting to hit home to everybody that there's a lot to deal with," David Dowie added.

"(I) get a little quiver every now and then and go, 'Oh, this is kind of cool,'" another resident said.

Park City opened a pin trading center where poeple can take part in an unofficial Olympic event. Getting the right pin can be tricky.

Then, Olympic athletes did a little cheerleading.

"It doesn't matter if you're a competitor, spectator, part of the media. There's no event like it. I don't even think the Superbowl can compare," said three-time Olympic athlete Heidi Volcker.

But as signs of the games become more obvious, anticipation is building on its own.

Talking to people in Park City, the one thing they still want is snow!

Berne Switzerland 2010 Bid Pins

2007-09-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

The Vancouver Sun runs a sidebar in its Road to 2010 weekly feature called Collectors' Corner ... and it seems tailor-made for this blog. Enjoy.

What: Berne, Switzerland, bid pins

Trade value: $30 to $50

History: On Sept. 27, 2002, the Swiss Olympic Association withdrew from the race for the 2010 Winter Games. It was an end to a troubled candidacy, one that had started out almost a year before.

With a lukewarm endorsement from association members, they voted 145 to 121 to support the country's third consecutive bid for the Winter Olympics. Switzerland made it to a final four, including Vancouver, Pyeongchang in South Korea and Salzburg, Austria. But voters around Berne dealt a killing blow when they rejected the cost of funding the event.

In the short life of the bid, organizers produced at least five different pins. The first two were of a Swiss flag with Olympic colours. The other three were of a dancing bear wearing sunglasses.

Craig Perlow of Olympian Artifacts says about 5,000 pins were made of one of the flag varieties. It is unknown how many were made of the others. However, all are considered scarce because, when the bid was withdrawn, the remaining pins were destroyed.

Perlow estimates that flag pins run about $30 US, with bear pins closer to $50 US.

Rally on Robson Supporter Pin

2007-08-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

The Vancouver Sun runs a sidebar in its Road to 2010 weekly feature called Collectors' Corner ... and it seems tailor-made for this blog. Enjoy.

What: Rally on Robson supporter pin

Trade value: $30-$40

History: In March, 2003, the International Olympic Committee's 2010 evaluation committee came to Vancouver to check out the city's bid.

It was a momentous event, one that if handled well could help seal the deal and give Canada the Games. If handled wrong, it could spell disaster, giving Vancouver's rivals a leg up. So the city, province and Canada literally rolled out the red carpet.

One part called for a massive public rally on Robson Street on Sunday, March 2, the first full day of the commission's visit. Organized by the Robson Street Business Association, the so-called Rally On Robson involved a street party featuring everything from a dryland bobsled track to a temporary ice rink. There were street performers and musicians.

Someone produced a small group of gold-coloured pewter "Rally on Robson" pins that were sold at a couple of stores along the drag. Frank Zavarella, one of the deans of Vancouver's pin-collecting world, estimates no more than 500 of the pins were produced.

The pin is now considered scarce. Ironically, the IOC commission never got to the rally because it was in meetings all day.

Feature: Business on pinpoint

2007-08-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

The Vancouver Sun included an excellent article on pins in its Road to 2010 weekly feature ... and it seems tailor-made for this blog. Enjoy.

Business on pinpoint

The making of an Olympic pin is hardly simple

It is sometimes hard for Ian Tait to imagine that those lapel pins that people buy by the tens of thousands at Olympic Games in every conceivable shape and size all start out as pieces of formless metal, to which a surprising amount of high-tech attention is paid.

"Just look at that work. You can't imagine how much effort goes into making this," he says as he runs his fingers over a stunningly beautiful pin of an antlered deer, whose throat and chest rise up from a dark brown at the bottom to a blended tan to a bone white on the whithers. Every one of those colours has been hand-applied with a hypodermic needle, making each pin subtly different from the next.

The pin Tait is talking about is a head of a stag made for the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Games, made in the traditional "cloisonné" style of glass-applied metal work of art that has a myriad of colours. It is one of only 1,000 made, and it sits in his pin bag as an example of the finest style of pin-making.

Tait, the general manager of Artiss Aminco, which has the exclusive contract to provide pins for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games, has brought over an array of lapel pins to show just how these souvenirs are made. They range from simple buttons to pieces of interlocking shrapnel that would weigh down even the strongest general.

There are two-tone silver and gold metal pins. There are simple die-stamped images to which soft enamel has been applied. There are even papered pins over which a plastic cover has been attached.

But it is the intricate die-stamped, three-dimensional pins with the finest glass or resin colors that stand out the most.

History records that the forerunner to today's lapel pins were likely brooches made in the 12th Century in Egypt and Mesopotamia, possibly from colored ceramics or pottery.

Tait, who worked for BC Hydro for years before working on the 2010 bid, is a pin collector at heart. He says there is something magical about finding or trading a pin, even if it is one of the cheaper ones.

"Every pin begins as a memory. It is not a lapel pin, it is a connection to a person, place, time or event," he said. "You may not remember some things, but most people will know exactly who gave them that pin they treasure."

Tait speaks from experience. He still has the first pin he ever received. "It was in 1967, I was a young scout, and it was a pin for my first provincial jamboree in Penticton."

In the Olympic world, pin-trading got its start at the very start of the modern Olympics.

"It started in 1896, at the first Games," Tait said. "The athletes and officials were all given cardboard discs to identify themselves, and many of them traded with each other."

The first Olympic sponsor pin -- which unlike retail pins are not sold but are given away by companies as rewards or for promotional purposes --was a pin made by a Finnish margarine company in 1920, Tait said.

Today's pins have come a long way, but the best of them are still made in the refined cloisonné style (pronounced cloy-so-nay), which is French for "partitioned".

Tait says there are as many as six steps in making a pin, from developing the art concept to colourizing it, approving it and making the dies, to making pre-production and post-production samples.

Most pins start out as a blank piece of copper, zinc or steel. The finished artwork is transferred and engraved into a hard metal die that is used to stamp out images from the roll of blanks. Depending on the type of pin and how intricate it is, it goes through one, two, and even as many as three or four stamps.

The first die stamp usually builds the impression in the metal, including the cloisons, or cavities, that will be filled with colours. The second stamp cuts the rough pin away from the excess metal. If the pin has cut-out areas inside, or requires background applications such as a pebbled surface, it is stamped again.

And that's just the automated part of the job. The next part is the most laborious.

Every one of those cavities in the pin now must be filled by hand with the colour scheme.

"There is no room for error. There has to be a high degree of accuracy, because a single colour put into the wrong cavity changes the pin," he said.

The pin has to be fired in an oven for each colour, meaning a pin with five colours requires five firings. After the colour application process, the pin is buffed and cleaned to make the surrounding metal stand out. If the scheme calls for the pin to have gold or silver plating, it goes through an electroplating process to apply a tiny amount of the precious metal.

In today's world, true cloisonné glass pins are collector-grade. But they are also the most expensive to make. Hence, the industry has adapted new materials to bring down the cost, including resins, hard and soft enamels, and paper images in plastic domes, the latter of which are usually sponsored giveaways at corporate and public functions.

Just who buys these tiny pieces of art? "Everyone," Tait said. "I like to say my job isn't to sell a pin, it is to create a collector." The pin-trading world is the subject of a story for another day.

For the 2010 Olympics, Artiss Aminco will produce about 800 to 900 retail designs, including series on sports, landscapes, heritage sites and even the most whimsical, such as a flashing Halloween pumpkin.

The company is a venture of two of the largest pin-makers in North America, California-based Aminco, which has done every Olympics since 1996, and Laurie Artiss Ltd., a Regina-based company that is the largest of its kind in Canada.

BC Lottery 2010 Bid Supporter Pin

2007-08-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

The Vancouver Sun runs a sidebar in its Road to 2010 weekly feature called Collectors' Corner ... and it seems tailor-made for this blog. Enjoy.

What: B.C. Lottery Corporation Bid Supporter Pin

Trade value: $40.

History: In the bid phase, Vancouver enjoyed support from companies that included Telus, ICBC, Molson, and media organizations. But only one company, BC Lotteries, appears to have produced a pin to celebrate Vancouver's entry into the Olympic process.

The Crown corporation underwrote two types of pins. One, a vertical domed paper label pin, was for Lotteries staff and to hand out to the public in limited numbers. It was made in two versions, with gold and silver backing.

The other style was a series of three horizontal pins with the term "Team 2010" atop a BC Lotteries logo and the term "Vancouver 2010 Founding Supporter."

These pins, produced in 2003 just before Vancouver's win, came in silver, gold and a cloisonné-style white enamel with a coloured logo. They were handed out only to BC Lotteries staff and a small number of volunteers and bid staff.

Only 4,000 of the vertical pins were produced in May 2001. Laurie Artiss produced very, very small numbers of the three horizontals.

All are scarce, and if found, sell for between $40 and $50 US.

The Exclusive Prague Pin

2007-08-13T09:30:00.000-07:00

The Vancouver Sun runs a sidebar in its Road to 2010 weekly feature called Collectors' Corner ... and it seems tailor-made for this blog. Enjoy.

What: "Prague" Pin

Trade value: $250 or more.

History: In late June 2003, John Furlong led a contingent to Prague in the Czech Republic to make Vancouver's formal presentation to the International Olympic Committee at the 115th IOC Session.

Among the group of 100 were Vancouver Bid Corp officials and staff, bureaucrats and politicians from the federal and provincial governments, as well as the municipalities of Vancouver, Burnaby, West Vancouver and Whistler.

Each member of the delegation -- was given a special kit, including a jacket for the men, skirt for the women, shirts and blouses, ties, a lucky loonie and a special delegate's pin that was produced only for that occasion. (The two RCMP honour guard officers didn't get the clothing kit. There's another story about a last-minute change of ties because of a clothing clash, but that's for another day).

The pin contains a raised enamel gold rectangle of the bid logo, incorporates the Olympic rings, and states "Vancouver 2010 Candidate City." Vanoc says only 150 were produced.

Pins from "Birds Nest" Steel

2007-08-10T07:45:00.000-07:00

Coca-Cola to produce Olympic pins from "Birds Nest" steel

10 August 2007

Coca-Cola will be working with the official pin licensee in China to produce Coca-Cola branded Olympic pins from the same consignment of steel as used in the construction of the Beijing National Stadium.

Earlier this year, Worldwide TOP Partner The Coca-Cola Company hosted a delegation from China, including the team responsible for building the landmark Beijing National Stadium and BOCOG, at its global headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Chinese team presented a gift of a section of steel weighing over 500 kilos which came from the same batch as used in the construction of the innovative Beijing National (or “Bird’s Nest”) stadium.

The section of steel will remain on display at the world headquarters of The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta as a lasting memento of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

"By using leftover steel from the Bird’s Nest construction in the manufacture of Coca-Cola pins, we are bringing people closer to the Olympic Games experience, and supporting the pursuit of a "Green Olympics," said David Brooks, Vice-President and General Manager of the Coca-Cola Olympic Project Group.

"It was an honour to host our guests in Atlanta and receive this beautiful memento of our involvement with the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games."

About ... Media Pins

2007-08-02T09:30:00.000-07:00

Thousands of Olympic media types represent scores of publications and TV and radio stations from across the globe — and most will have at least one pin representative of their media market.

Why do some media pins bear the Olympic rings or a Games logo? Because the media corporation is also a sponsor or supplier — and at a high enough level to allow the use of the Olympic rings or the Games logo on paraphernalia ranging from pins and packaging to apparel and equipment.

A prime example is NBC, which pays hundreds of millions of dollars for the rights to broadcast the Olympics. Other media sponsors include Sports Illustrated, Canadian Press, USA Today, Time magazine, Reuters, Kyodo News and other major national and international media corporations.

Some longtime Olympic media players have become quite good at producing popular pins, despite being restricted from use of Olympic symbols and logos. Many such pins feature eye-catching designs using landmarks and symbols representative of the Games' locale.

Also, some sponsors and suppliers produce "media" pins — not because they're in the print or broadcast business but to distribute among the media. The result is another limited-quantity, specialized pin that becomes popular among traders.

The Elusive We Won! Pin

2007-07-30T08:30:00.000-07:00

The Vancouver Sun runs a sidebar in its Road to 2010 weekly feature called Collectors' Corner ... and it seems tailor-made for this blog. Enjoy.

What: Decision 2010 We Won pin.

Trade value: $250 or more.

History: One of the two rarest Vancouver 2010 bid pins made, this emblem has a curious history. Pin-maker Laurie Artiss Ltd. made 200 of these metal pins as a gift for Vancouver bid committee staff at BC Place on July 2, 2003 in the event Vancouver was chosen by the International Olympic Committee.

Ian Tait, who now works for Artiss Aminco, was the senior Bid Corp. employee at BC Place that day. Artiss gave him the pins, to be handed out only if the IOC announced Vancouver had won. As crowds at BC Place erupted, Tait handed the pins to bid corporation staff, key volunteers and sponsors.

Because of the guesswork, the pin is extraordinarily valuable in a pin- trading world where the average retail pin gets exchanged one-for-one and even scarce pins rarely go above $50 or so. It is difficult to find and ranks up there with a limited pin the Bid Corp. gave to senior bid staff to wear in Prague. We'll review that one next week.

'Celebration of Canada' Pin

2007-07-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

The Vancouver Sun runs a sidebar in its Road to 2010 weekly feature called Collectors' Corner ... and it seems tailor-made for this blog. Enjoy.

What: "Celebration of Canada" government 2010 pin.

Trade value: $50 for the gold one, $50 for the misprint, $30 for the regular.

History: In March 2003, the International Olympic Committee's 2010 Evaluation Commission was in town to test-drive Vancouver's bid, and was invited to a gala to showcase Canada's culture.

For the event the federal government contracted with Laurie Artiss Ltd. of Regina to produce a limited number of pins encompassing the 2010 bid logo with the famous government logo of a flag flying off the D in the word Canada.

Only 1,000 gold-coloured pins were made for guests and officials. A larger distribution of enamel-coloured pins was produced. There is also a rare misprinted colour pin, with one red leaf instead of two. About 20 copies of this pin are known to exist.

About ... Sport Pins

2007-07-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

The Olympics are about sporting events and athletic competition -- and that fact isn't lost on pin producers or pin purchasers.

Many pin designs center on one or several of the sports of the Games -- in Salt Lake City's case, it was the 15 Olympic Winter sports presented at their Games in 2002. The figure skate pin shown is one of twelve sport equipment pins designed for the 2010 Winter Games.

The design may depict one or more athletes participating in an event or the type of equipment relating to the sport. It may feature the Games' mascots participating in the sport, or it may highlight a past, present or future Olympian in a specific event.

Wheelchair Curling Coin

2007-07-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

The Vancouver Sun runs a sidebar in its Road to 2010 weekly feature called Collectors' Corner ... and it seems tailor-made for this blog. Enjoy.

Last week, the Royal Canadian Mint officially released the third of 17 circulation coins to celebrate the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Wheelchair curling is depicted on the 25-cent coin. The RCM is proud to be the first mint to commemorate the Paralympic Games through the issuing of a circulation coin.

Up to 22 million 25-cent wheelchair curling coins will enter into circulation on July 11 and will be available exclusively at RBC Royal Bank and participating Petro-Canada outlets.

Participating Petro-Canada gas stations will also sell wheelchair curling sports cards, containing a uniquely painted version of the coin. The sports cards will sell for $7.95 and will also be available as of July 11th.

Wheelchair curling is the first of two Paralympic circulation coins to be featured in the RCM's extensive Olympic and Paralympic coin program. The ice sledge hockey 25-cent circulation coin will be launched in June, 2009.

About ... Dated Pins

2007-07-12T08:30:00.000-07:00

It's perfectly alright for an Olympic pin to be "dated."

Seems like you can find an Olympic pin celebrating just about any holiday or calendar date imaginable, from New Year's Day and Halloween, to Christmas and Canada Day.

Others pins commemorate significant countdown dates — three years to go, 1,000 days to go, six months to go, 200 days to go and so on.

Still other pins may celebrate anniversaries, such as a year anniversary from the announcement of a city's winning the balloting to become an Olympic host city.

Keep a look out for the ones that you want to collect !!

Four Host First Nations Medallion

2007-07-09T11:00:00.000-07:00

The Vancouver Sun runs a sidebar in its Road to 2010 weekly feature called Collectors' Corner ... and it seems tailor-made for this blog. Enjoy.

What: Four Host Nations 2006 Winter Games Medallion

Value: $50 US plus.

History: One of the most unusual pieces of 2010 Winter Games memorabilia, this medallion was produced by the Four Host First Nations and VANOC as a "witnessing" emblem to be distributed only at the closing ceremonies of the 2006 Turnin Winter Games.

VANOC and the four nations on whose traditional territory the Games are being held were part of a six-minute segment in Turin's closing ceremonies.

According to Tewanee Joseph, the executive director of the Four Host Nations Secretariat, about 32,000 of the brass-coloured pewter medallions were produced and distributed to spectators who attended the ceremonies in Turin's Stadio Olympico.

On one side of the medallion are four faces representing the four nations of Lil'wat, Musqueaum, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh. Although more of these medallions were produced than most retail pins, they are relatively hard to find.

About ... NOCs, IFs and NSOs

2007-07-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

NOCs, IFs and NSOs — yes, there is some reason to this Olympic alphabet soup. And it really pays for the collector to know the difference.

NOC is the acronym for National Olympic Committee. An NOC is the governing and coordinating Olympic organization within a specific nation. There are more than 200 NOCs worldwide.

IF represents International Federation, or the worldwide sport governing associations, such as the International Skating Union or the International Ice Hockey Federation.

NSO stands for National Sport Organization and is national governing body for a specific sport, such as Luge Canada or US Rowing.

NSOs establish rules and standards for national competition, and determine which athletes compete at the Olympics.

Each group has its own official pins, which often are among the most sought-after by collectors at an Olympic Games. So, know the difference and be on the lookout !!

Happy Canada Day !!

2007-07-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

What better way to show your patriotism for Canada, and support for the 2010 Winter Games, than to wear the Official Vancouver 2010 Canada Day 2007 pin! Good luck finding one ... only 1,000 were made.

Special Pins for Special Days

2007-06-25T09:35:00.000-07:00

The Vancouver Sun runs a sidebar in its Road to 2010 weekly feature called Collectors' Corner ... and seems tailor-made for this blog. Enjoy.

History: Have a theme, make a pin. That's the stock-in-trade now of Olympic organizing committees, which issue hundreds of pins celebrating every possible style, event, theme or day. Add to that, gimmicky things like flashing lights, and you have another reason for someone to be interested.

In this case, VANOC's licensed pin producer, Artiss Aminco, is producing a small run of special day pins that blink. One is the St. Patrick's Day pin, of which only 1,000 were made. Aminco says the pin is now sold out -- at least to retailers -- although we found a small group of 15 at VANOC's Olympic Store at their headquarters.

Aminco usually issues 2,010 pins for each style, but limits some pins, like this one and the upcoming Canada Day pin, to smaller runs. Pin historian Frank Zavarella says the St. Pat's pin will be a hot trader during the Olympics.

Collectors’ rendezvous in Beijing

2007-06-21T08:30:00.000-07:00

If you are passionate about sport and Olympism, if you are looking for a particular object, or if you are missing a piece from your collection, Beijing is the right place for you to be from 23 to 28 June 2007 with the 13th World Olympic Collectors’ Fair.

Co-sponsored by the IOC, the Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, the Chinese Olympic Committee, the State Post Bureau, and Desheng Ltd., the fair will host one of the pioneers in the Olympic collectors’ world, the founder of the fair 12 years ago, Juan Antonio Samaranch, IOC Honorary President and Chairman of the Olympic Philately, Numismatics and Memorabilia Commission.

Collectors from all over world

This Fair will see Olympic collectors from all over the world bringing their treasures of stamps, coins, medals, torches and other memorabilia, which carry more than one hundred years history of the Olympic Movement, to Beijing to exchange with Chinese collectors and to show to Chinese people the greatness of the Olympic Collectors Family. Around 329 people have registered so far, including more than 200 Chinese collectors. Some 21 countries, including China, are being represented and more than 15 organizations will be present.

'The Olympic Games and China’ exhibition

The Chinese Sport Stamps Collectors' Association (China Chapter of the FIPO – International Olympic Philately Federation) will hold a stamp exhibition to qualify the best exhibited for the 2008 Beijing Games. A large-scale exhibition entitled "The Olympic Games and China" will also be held during the Fair to display sport-themed Chinese artworks and the items reflecting China's participation in the Olympic Movement.

Vancouver 2010 Bid Pin Primer

2007-06-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

The Vancouver Sun runs a sidebar in its Road to 2010 weekly feature called Collectors' Corner ... and seems tailor-made for this blog. Enjoy.

History: In the scheme of Olympic collectibles, pins created by bid groups are considered a specialty. They aren't generally made for retail sale, and instead are booster items bid societies use to promote their quest for a particular Games.

When Vancouver and Whistler tourism and business types first contemplated bidding for the Games in 1998, they participated in a "domestic" competition to win support of the Canadian Olympic Committee.

Vancouver and Whistler's bid (which the International Olympic Committee later ruled had to be listed by only one name, Vancouver) created a square gold tack back pin with a mountain image in the middle and the words "Can You Imagine" across the top. The pin was produced by Laurie Artiss Ltd of Regina, one of Canada's largest pin manufacturers.

B.C. pin collector and historian Frank Zavarella says only about 200 of the first run were created for a press conference at the Robson Square media centre. Another pin expert, Craig R. Perlow, has documented that the pin was later produced in larger quantities.

About ... Bid Pins

2007-06-11T08:30:00.000-07:00

Pins have been a part of the Olympic Games since the turn of the 20th century. Nowadays, everybody has a pin - the athlete, the official, the sponsor, the media representative, the law-enforcement officer - and the list goes on. Here's an overview of Bid pins.

A city or organization doesn't have to wait for the Games to come before producing pins. A committee bidding for future Games will pump up its campaign by distributing pins and other promotional materials emblazoned with the city name, the bid logo and the target year.

Bid cities are recognized first by national Olympic committees as their official bid finalists and then national bid city, followed by recognition by the IOC as a candidate city, finalist and eventual bid winner. That could result in different pins marking the different stops along the process: bid-city pins, candidate-city pins and finalist pins. And once a city wins the right to host the Olympics, another logo change islikely in the works.

For example, after Sydney won the 2000 Summer Games, it dropped its outline of the Opera House skyline design for its "millennial man" logo depicting a torch-runner made up of boomerang shapes. And Salt Lake eventually dropped its vertical, three-sided bid logo for the snowflake-like emblem representing the sun over a snowy mountaintop.

Pacific Pin Club Show

2007-06-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

I travelled to the Pacific Pin Club's 7th Annual West Coast Pin Collectors Celebration at the Richmond Cultural Centre on June 3, 2007.

By all accounts, the 40 collectors at the event had a great time with many of them coming from out of town.

Collectors gathered from throughout British Columbia, Alberta, California, Oregon, Saskatchewan, Washington and Wisconsin. And more than 200 visitors ... and potential new Olympic Pin Collectors ... came to the show too.

The event was well covered by local media ... Global TV Saturday Noon News had a minute-long clip, and there were articles in Business in Vancouver, Ming Pao, Richmond Review, Sing Tao and 24 Hours about pin collecting and the show.

This kind of interest and media coverage bodes well for the hobby!

Pin company hits Olympic jackpot

2007-05-15T07:15:00.000-07:00

Pin company hits Olympic jackpot

Selected as Vancouver Olympics' supplier

Business Edge
Vol. 2, No. 24
Published: 24 Nov 2005

A small Regina-based company is going for Olympic gold by creating pins.

Laurie Artiss Ltd. beat out a field of international competitors to be selected as the official supplier of pins for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

"From a sporting point of view, this is the pinnacle," says Chris Pasterfield, vice-president of Laurie Artiss Ltd. "Olympic pins is the very top."

Named after its now retired founder, Laurie Artiss was the official supplier to the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. Pasterfield says the staff at Laurie Artiss understands the enormous task at hand. For the Vancouver Olympics the company will create nearly 2,000 designs.

Pasterfield estimates between five and 20 million pins will be manufactured for the 2010

Olympics depending on future sponsorship agreements and the strength of retail sales.

"We'll have to put together a major retail distribution system," he says. "We'll have our own sales force in Vancouver."

To be selected as the winning bidder, Laurie Artiss, also known as "The Pin People," had to beat out some significant players in the pin-producing business, including competitors as far away as Norway.

For the 2010 Winter Olympics, the company has teamed up with U.S. pin manufacturer Aminco International Inc., based in Lake Forest, Calif. Founded in 1978 by William and Ann Wu, Aminco most recently supplied the pins for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt lake City.

"Merchandising has moved in quantum leaps. We felt we needed some expertise in retailing," says Pasterfield. "Aminco wanted to go after Vancouver, but knew there would be an advantage in having a Canadian company involved."

With Laurie Artiss and its deep Canadian roots and Aminco bringing its merchandising experience to the fore, including pin sales over the Internet, Pasterfield expects the new enterprise created by the two companies will renew feelings of Olympic glory in Saskatchewan.

"Artiss Aminco Ltd. is a Canadian company that will be based in Regina," he says.

In addition to bolstering its salesforce, the pin company also has plans to take on four to six more artists to be based in Vancouver.

They will have the task of creating innovative designs that will capture the sport, cultural and historical themes associated with the 2010 Winter Olympics, including honouring the Aboriginal heritage of B.C.

"We can only use so many designs with a hockey player," says Pasterfield. "You have to have artists that are well travelled and experienced. They need to know what they can and can't do with metal. And they have to be sensitive to Native icons."

The 2010 Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) has already faced controversy over its logo - a stylized Inukshuk (stone marker) that was designed by Vancouver's Rivera Design Group - that was criticized by some groups for not depicting more closely the culture of Vancouver or B.C.

"They (VANOC) have a graphics-approval system at the Vancouver Olympics," says Pasterfield. "We want to be sensitive to Native cultural icons."

Beyond the creative forces operating behind the scenes, Pasterfield says the company has teamed up with a manufacturer in China, and a yet-to-be announced operation based in Alberta, to manufacture the millions of pins that will be required in advance of the Winter Olympics that begin in Vancouver on Feb. 12, 2010.

"They will manufacture exclusively for us," says Pasterfield.

All the factories are required by VANOC to meet a social and environmental compact that ensures accepted international standards are maintained. Working with the same manufacturer since 1976, Pasterfield says Laurie Artiss has already had the Chinese-based factories inspected by Olympic officials to ensure those standards are being met.

Leading up to the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics, some social-rights organizations, including Oxfam, accused specific sportswear manufacturers of producing Olympic goods in factories in several Asian countries where forced overtime and low wages were the norm. The campaign, called Play Fair at the Olympics, was critical of companies including Fila, Puma and others.

It's a situation that VANOC hopes to avoid in 2010 by having each company producing Olympic materials enter into an agreement that outlines in detail the expectations under which they must operate.

"Environmental stewardship and social responsibility are significant elements of VANOC's strategy to host a sustainable 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games," says VANOC spokesman Chris Brumwell.

"Companies that are bidding or carrying out contracts with VANOC must be guided by the specific sustainability objectives clearly outlined to them within the request for proposal (RFP)."

And not to be left out of this primer on Olympic pins are the collectors, whose enthusiasm, some say obsession, drives the business.

Ivan LeBlanc of Winnipeg has been collecting pins for the past 25 years.

"I'm very excited about the Vancouver Olympics," says LeBlanc. "I'm looking forward to it."

With a collection numbering 15,000 pins, LeBlanc says he has had to specialize in Olympic pins so that his avocation didn't completely take over his home.

"They are on display from the floor to the ceiling," says LeBlanc. "I love the colourful representations of the different countries. The way they depict some of the sports is just fabulous."

Trading and purchasing pins at international events and over the Internet has allowed LeBlanc to amass a collection that he estimates is today valued at approximately $100,000.

Asked whether he plans to be trading pins in Vancouver in 2010, LeBlanc chuckles and says: "Health-permitting, I'll be there. I've already made arrangements."

Olympic license latest 'pinnacle'

2007-05-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

Olympic licence latest 'pinnacle'

Regina Leader-Post
Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Chris Pasterfield, vice-president of Laurie Artiss Ltd., which has been named the official pin supplier to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.

For Chris Pasterfield and the staff at Laurie Artiss Ltd., winning the worldwide competition to produce pins for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics is like winning an Olympic gold medal.

"Getting a licence for Olympic pins is -- I hate to use the pun -- the pinnacle in our industry,'' said Pasterfield, vice-president of Laurie Artiss Ltd., the Regina-based lapel pin designer and manufacturer.

"We were fortunate enough to do pins for the Canada Games, Pan Am Games, and that's very, very rewarding. But the Olympics are absolutely the top when it comes to licensing for lapel pins,'' Pasterfield said.

In fact, pin trading is an unofficial Olympic sport, with more than 30 million traded at the Coca Cola Pin Trading Centres alone. "It's the one event spectators can participate in.''

Of course, Laurie Artiss Ltd., which was founded by former Leader-Post sports editor Laurie Artiss, who is now retired and living in B.C., is no stranger to Olympic competition.

Laurie Artiss Ltd. was the official pin supplier to the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary and has designed and manufactured pins for the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) for 10 Olympic Games.

Artiss, who was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame as a builder in 2004, turned over the business to his daughter and Chris's wife, Karen, in 1997. Karen Pasterfield, who is president of Laurie Artiss Ltd., has worked in the pin business since she was 13.

Despite the company's impressive credentials and sporting pedigree, winning the Olympic pin contract was no slam dunk.

Laurie Artiss Ltd. first had to submit an expression of interest to the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) in spring and then be invited to submit a proposal.

The company also wisely joined forces with Aminco International of Lake Forest, Calif., which had the contract for the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002.

"Combining the two firms (for the 2010 pin bid) was very beneficial. We take advantage of their recent merchandising and marketing experience in Salt Lake City and they take advantage of our heritage and tradition here in Canada,'' including 18 years of supplying the COC, he said.

Now that the pin contract has been awarded, the real work of designing, manufacturing and distributing pins begins. "We've got to come up with more than 2,000 designs,'' based on sporting, historical and cultural themes, Pasterfield said.

With five years to go before the Games begin, Pasterfield said the company can afford to make the odd mistake -- a well-designed, well-executed pin that, for whatever reason, doesn't sell well.

Laurie Artiss Ltd. also has some designs on the drawing board and some that are ready for the initial retail launch in December. "Our first series will be using the VANOC (Inukshuk) logo as a major component, then we'll bring out some skiing and hockey-type themes in time for Torino.''

That's because the 2010 Winter Games pins have to be ready for the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy. That means more work for the company's staff of about six, some additional hiring and probable relocation of Chris and Karen to Vancouver for the last year or two before the Games.

But Pasterfield said the contract to produce Olympics pins isn't a licence to print money.

"We've made a tremendous financial commitment to VANOC for this licence, so we have to sell a lot of pins. And we're going to have to expand locally and to Vancouver. We're going to have to take on some additional artists.''

That's why the staff at Laurie Artiss Ltd. are celebrating winning the Olympic pin contract, but don't plan on getting swelled heads over it.

"You cannot forget your core business. One thing we learned from Calgary in 1988 was exactly that. Olympics come and they go,'' Pasterfield said.

"We learned that we can't forget our schools and churches and local sporting groups that buy their pins from us. Because that's our bread and butter.''

Official 2010 pins coming soon

2007-05-05T07:45:00.000-07:00

Here's how it all started ... it's the press release announcing the appointment of the Official and Exclusive Vancouver 2010 Lapel Pin Licensee ... Artiss Aminco.

Official Vancouver 2010 lapel pins coming soon

VANCOUVER (October 24, 2005 -- Some call it the most popular sport at the Winter Games - pin trading. Now, Olympic Games fans are one step closer to starting their pin collections with the announcement today that the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) has awarded its exclusive pin license to Laurie Artiss Ltd.

Based in Regina, Saskatchewan, Laurie Artiss Ltd. will manufacture, distribute and sell lapel pins, related products and accessories bearing the Official Marks of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games. It is expected that pins will be available for purchase at select retailers including Hbc, souvenir and gift shops and ski resorts starting in December 2005.

"Pins are one of the most popular, accessible and collectible products associated with the Olympic Winter Games," said Dave Cobb, VANOC Senior Vice-President of revenue, marketing and communications. "Working with a company like Laurie Artiss Ltd. that has major Games experience will result in a unique line of pins that will capture the spirit and passion of Canada's 2010 Winter Games."

In 1896, when the Olympic Games were revived in Athens, pins were made of cardboard and were issued exclusively to athletes and journalists. Metal pins were introduced at the 1900 Paris Games, with the earliest evidence of pin trading dating back to the 1924 Olympic Games when athletes began exchanging pins in the spirit of friendship. In 1988, the IOC officially recognized pins as Olympic Games memorabilia, and it is estimated now that more than 30 million pins are traded at Olympic Games in Coca Cola Pin Trading Centres alone.

"We're delighted to continue our longstanding association with the Olympic Games in Canada and are absolutely thrilled to be part of the Vancouver 2010 Games," said Chris Pasterfield, Vice President of Laurie Artiss Ltd. "Each and every pin we produce will reflect our enthusiasm for Vancouver, Canada and the 2010 Games, resulting in a range of pins that people will be proud to collect and wear."

Laurie Artiss Ltd. has 37 years of experience, including the Calgary 1988 Olympic Winter Games pin program, as well as being a Canadian Olympic Committee pin supplier from 1988 to 2004. For the Vancouver 2010 pin program, Laurie Artiss Ltd. will partner with Aminco International (USA) Inc. of Lake Forest, California to form a new company to fulfill the license. Aminco has 28 years of experience and was the pin licensee for the Salt Lake 2002 Winter Games.

"We are pleased to have the opportunity to work with Laurie Artiss Ltd. and to be involved in the Vancouver 2010 Games," said Adrian De Groot, Chief Operating Officer of Aminco International (USA) Inc. "We have a strong track record for developing Olympic pin programs and look forward to delivering high-quality, innovative products to pin collectors, sponsors and Canadian consumers alike."

The Vancouver 2010 exclusive pin license was awarded through the Organizing Committee's Request for Proposals process designed to ensure a fair, equitable and open selection of the successful applicant. Each application was independently evaluated and three companies were short listed and independently evaluated to determine the successful company.

The sale of Vancouver 2010 pins and all official licensed products contribute directly to Games revenues and thereby support the financing and staging of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

About VANOC

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010.

About Laurie Artiss Ltd.

Laurie Artiss Ltd., the Pin People, has been designing and producing custom lapel pins for local sports teams, schools, towns and cities since 1968.

About Aminco International (USA) Inc.

Aminco has been in operation since 1977 and has grown to be one of the largest manufacturers and designers of licensed pins in the United States.

How I got started with pins

2007-05-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

There I was, in downtown Calgary in 1988, and it happened.

I saw a Swiss athlete ... make that a Swiss Olympic Gold Medallist ... and went up to shake his hand and congratulate him. What an impression that first encounter would make.

After I said hello, and what a terrific downhill run he had, he pressed something into my hand and said, "Here ... this is for you."

It was my very first Olympic pin ... a Swiss National Olympic Committee or NOC pin. I was hooked ... and it's continued ever since then.

Because this is not just some small piece of metal to adorn your lapel ... it's a connection. It's a connection with a person, place, time or event.

For me, it was a Swiss Olympic Gold Medallist on a downtown street in Calgary, Alberta, Canada in February 1988. And I will always remember that.

Do you have a favourite Olympic Pin Collecting memory?