How Olympic Games Pins Tell the Story of Global Openness: From Early Olympic Games to Milano Cortina 2026

Olympic pin trading dates back to the earliest modern Games. At Athens 1896, wooden badges were used to identify officials and athletes. By Paris 1924, those badges had evolved into items of exchange — small gestures of friendship shared between athletes, teams and spectators. Over time, what began as simple identifiers grew into a global tradition of collecting and swapping that spans generations and continents. 

Today, Olympic pins are far more than souvenirs. Worn on lanyards and jackets, displayed in collections around the world and traded in Olympic Villages and fan zones, they serve as tangible symbols of connection long after the Games conclude. Each pin carries a story — of where it came from, who exchanged it and the moment it represents. 

 © 2024 / International Olympic Committee (IOC) / MAKINO, Rakuto

Why Olympic Pins Matter 

Unlike medals, which recognise athletic achievement, Olympic pins are designed to be shared. Their value lies not in competition, but in connection. 

Pin trading reflects the core values of the Olympic movement by inviting participation from athletes, fans, volunteers and visitors alike, fostering cultural exchange through designs inspired by host cities, sports and national identities, and encouraging togetherness through face-to-face interaction in an increasingly digital world. 

Through every exchange, pins become reminders that the Olympic Games are as much about meeting one another as they are about sport. 

Samsung and a Modern Take on a Timeless Ritual 

The spirit of pin sharing reflects Samsung’s role in connecting people through the Olympic movement. At Milano Cortina 2026, Samsung continues its long-standing tradition of Olympic pin creation with a new collection developed in collaboration with acclaimed illustrator Olimpia Zagnoli. 

Inspired by the energy of the Winter Olympics and the cultural character of Milan and Cortina, the designs bring bold colour, movement and warmth to a winter setting — inviting people to connect through art and shared experience. Created not just to be worn but to be exchanged, each pin acts as a conversation starter, opening the door to new encounters, memories and friendships throughout the Games. 

Samsung celebrates the Olympic spirit with a designer Pin Collection by Olimpia Zagnoli 

A Small Symbol with a Big Meaning 

More than a century after the first Olympic badges were created, pin trading remains one of the most human traditions of the Olympic Games. In a world shaped by technology and global change, the simple act of exchanging a pin continues to express something timeless: openness, generosity and the joy of connection. 

The tradition lives on with Milano Cortina 2026 — one pin, one exchange and one shared moment at a time.