Olympic Trading Pins Promote Friendship And Understanding

These are good times for trading pins. Introduced more than a hundred years ago, trading pins carry many messages today, and are wildly popular for many uses. With the 2012 Summer Olympic Games on tap for London in less than two years, trading pins are very much the focus of attention among pin collectors.

For the London Games, organizers have announced two thousand twelve distinct designs of trading pins to match the year. For Olympic trading pins, it’s a remarkable number of releases, and a far cry from the original Olympic pins first introduced more than a century ago.

Trading pins are a proud Olympic tradition. Athletes at the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 wore pins to identify officials and athletes. These were the precursors of the modern trading pins. Swedish athletes introduced yellow and blue pins (the national colors) which are considered the first real sports trading pins in 1906. Before long, athletes from many countries started trading pins among themselves as a symbol of friendship and camaraderie.

By the 1980 Winter Olympics, in Lake Placid, N.Y., spectators had picked up on the fun of collecting trading pins and joined the party. Major corporate sponsors such as Coca-Cola joined the pin trading frenzy as well. With the opening of its own Official Olympic Pin Trading Center for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Coke created a gathering spot for aficionados of trading pins that attracted more than 17,000 visitors a day.

Coke has sponsored pavilions for trading pins at every Olympic Games since, and the number of fans has increased year by year.

In 1992 alone, more than half a million people, representing 70 countries, came to the Coke trading pin center at the 1992 Summer Games in Barcelona.

Today’s trading pins go far beyond just the Olympics. Youth sports programs such as Little League have adopted the pin trading traditions as their own. South Williamsport, Pa., the home of the Little League World Series turns into a Mecca for trading pins and their collectors every August. Pin trading becomes a pastime second only to baseball. Teams from around the world gather to swap pins and make new friends.

Traders traditionally exchange trading pins at a one-for-one rate, but rare and uncommon pins can command a much higher “exchange rate.” Some trade for up to 10 ordinary designs for against a single desirable pin.

It’s no wonder that sports trading pins are so popular. They’re small and easy to carry, they have unique links to the sports or events they represent, and they feature attractive artwork. Add the fact that they’re easily affordable, and you’ve got an unbeatable combination. In some ways, trading pins are the perfect memento of events such as the Olympics.

Trading pins encourage participation and involvement. They help break the ice between strangers, who might not even speak the same language. In that sense, they truly represent the spirit of fellowship and understanding signified by the Olympic rings. Quite an accomplishment for something so small.

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Art collectors should invest in Fabian Perez prints as paintings by the Argentinean artist are big business.

Safetalks Business Blog advises art enthusiasts that buying Fabian Perez prints is worthwhile because any work by the South American is likely to increase in value due to the quality and popularity of the paintings.

Fans of Perez may not be able to afford the artist’s original work but investing in prints is a good way to start a collection which can increase in number and also value over a period of time.

“Any collector should also consider Fabian Perez art for their collection, whether they are purchasing canvas prints for the first time or have a whole series of paintings already in the home,” stated the blog.

The Argentinean does not like to label his work but has described his style, which mixes colors, shadows and highlights as ‘Emotionalism’.

Fabian Perez paintings were described by the blog as modern and amazing and the man himself was likened to “a rock star in the art world”.

This is not the first time that the artist has been compared to a rock star as Fabian Perez sports long hair, has a dedication to karate and has been involved in a number of high profile collaborations.

Fabian Perez’s artwork was used as the official image for the merchandise involved with the 2009 Annual Latin Grammy Awards including invitations, show tickets, posters and program books.

Latin Recording Academy President Gabriel Abaroa said: “Fabian’s timeless artwork is filled with energy and emotion. His piece brings a human element to our artwork.”

The following year Fabian Perez was commissioned by the U.S. Olympic committee to be the official artist for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Fabian Perez was born in a small city outside Buenos Aires and experienced an unconventional upbringing which would inspire his approach to art.

His father reportedly owned three brothels and his mother was a bohemian figure which led Perez to paint exotic and sultry women who “could seduce a man simply by lighting a cigarette”.

Both of Perez’s parents died while he was a teenager and this saw the young man embark on a journey of self discovery taking him to destinations such as Italy before settling down in Los Angeles.

Being based in L.A. does not restrict Perez from visiting his British fans as the artist regularly appears at galleries across the nation to promote his latest work.

About the author: My Artbroker offers the opportunity to buy and sell work from some of the most contemporary artists including Sarah-Jane Szikora prints, Fabian Perez prints and Rolf Harris prints. Visit the website at http://www.myartbroker.co.uk/ for more information.

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