Pin trading has become an iconic part of Olympic history, dating back to the 1896 Athens Olympics. Initially, wooden badges of various colors were used to identify officials and athletes at the first modern Olympic Games. However, it wasn’t until the 1924 Paris Olympics that pin trading truly took off. Athletes in the Olympic Village began exchanging pins as a symbol of international friendship, sparking a tradition that continues to this day.
Fast forward to the present day, and pin trading has evolved into a sport of its own at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Companies like Samsung Electronics have taken this tradition to new heights by introducing innovative and highly collectible pins for fans to trade and collect. At the Olympic Games Paris 2024, Samsung launched the Samsung Olympic Games Pin Masters Challenge, inviting fans to participate in Galaxy AI-powered challenges at various pop-up experiences across Paris.
The specially created pins for the Samsung Olympic Games Pin Masters Challenge are not your average pins. Made from recycled aluminum from Galaxy smartphones, these pins were designed by French illustrator Jean André. They feature classic Olympic and Paralympic sports like breaking, skateboarding, sport climbing, surfing, blind football, para athletics, wheelchair basketball, and wheelchair tennis. Additionally, there are special pins showcasing three-dimensional Parisian landmarks and the coveted Golden Pin.
To become a Samsung Olympic Games Pin Master, participants must collect all 16 pins, including the rare Golden Pin. The reward for achieving this feat is not only the satisfaction of completing the challenge but also a new Galaxy Z Flip6 and a chance to win a round-trip package for two to attend the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics.
Samsung Newsroom interviewed several Samsung Olympic Games Pin Masters of Paris 2024, including 8-year-old Ben Choi from the United States, 12-year-old Thomas Tamarelle, and 13-year-old Noahm from France. Ben Choi, a first-time Olympic Games attendee, comes from a family with a rich Olympic history. His great-grandfather competed at the Olympic Games Tokyo 1964, and his mother attended the Olympic Games Seoul 1988. For Ben, collecting pins at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 was a new and exciting experience, culminating in him becoming a Samsung Olympic Games Pin Master.
Thomas Tamarelle, attending his first Olympic Games with his dad, also found joy in collecting pins at the Samsung pop-up experience. Winning the Galaxy Z Flip6 as a prize was an unexpected bonus for Thomas, who was thrilled about the phone’s unique features.
Noahm, another Samsung Olympic Games Pin Master, made pin trading a family affair by involving her sister Leyna and dad in the challenge. By trading pins with other participants, Noahm was able to complete the collection in a short amount of time. The whole family is now involved in the challenge, with Leyna hoping to keep her new Galaxy Z Flip6 for the future.
The Samsung Olympic Games Pin Master Challenge will continue in Paris until September 8, giving fans more opportunities to participate and collect these unique and coveted pins. Pin trading has truly become a beloved tradition at the Olympic Games, bringing fans together in the spirit of camaraderie and competition.