The 29th World Olympic Collectors Fair is underway this Memorial Day weekend in Colorado Springs, drawing Olympic enthusiasts from 11 countries to the Antlers Hotel Downtown.
The event, supported by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum, fills booths with memorabilia, former Olympian merchandise, and thousands of pins, the centerpiece of what many call the unofficial sport of the Olympics: pin trading.
For collectors like Shlomi Tsafrir, the fair is a chance to showcase pieces tied to personal Olympic memories. He traveled all the way from Japan to be at the event.
"I'm from Nagano, the Winter Olympic city, '98. So this is the torch. It's one of the most beautiful torches ever," said Tsafrir.
He's talking about one of the torches used at the 1998 Olympic Games. The relic already sold.
Scott Reed said the pins represent more than collectibles.
"In my collection it's not just a pin, it's a memory and it's an interaction and that's the case for a lot of people here," said Reed.
Getting to Colorado Springs was no small feat for some attendees, with collectors traveling from as far as Japan and Massachusetts to reach Olympic City. For Tsafrir, the cost of the trip is worth it every year.
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"It is expensive, but guarantee every year, wherever the show is, I'm going. The main reason is to meet my friends," said Tsafrir.
Bob Boehm, who says he has over 5,000 pins in his collection, echoed that sentiment, saying the connections made at the fair make the journey worthwhile.
"The camaraderie of pin collecting and memorabilia collecting is well worth it to me," said Boehm.
The pins are just one part of the event. The passion for the Olympics and community connection are a big part.
Collectors also say the event marks the unofficial start of excitement building toward the LA 2028 Summer Olympics. Reed pointed to a rare pin from the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympic Games as an example of the kind of treasures that fuel that anticipation.
"It's a Coke pin that was only made for Coke executives in Milan and there are only 30 made and 30 pins is not many," said Reed. "It's very rare."
For Reed, the end of one Olympic Games immediately sparks enthusiasm for the next.
"Once one game ends the next game just becomes front of mind almost immediately," said Reed.
Reed said collectors use this event as a way to plan future travel for the next Olympic Games and begin collecting pins and memorabilia.
But the World Olympic Collectors Fair isn't just for current pin collectors. Organizers say they welcome anyone who is interested in getting involved or who wants to see some cool artifacts from previous games.
The event is happening Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is free to the public and is held in the Antlers Hotel Ballroom.
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