For Olympic pin collector Chuck Jones, '80, the pursuit of pins isn't about numbers, though he has about 4,000 in his collection. Every four years, pins are created by nations, individual sports organizations, corporations and media outlets to commemorate the games. "It's a great way to add to your Olympic experience, to meet people," says the Menlo Park resident. "You don't have to be able to speak the same language." Jones, who has attended seven consecutive summer games ("I don't do cold," he says), notes his collection, though substantial, is "minor league" compared to the most serious collectors, who might amass 100,000 pins. His aspirations include obtaining a pin from each nation that has participated in the summer games. He has a few from countries that no longer exist, such as East Germany.
With hundreds of people walking around in pin-laden hats or vests, the Olympics are the only time the collectors' flair doesn't look out of place. In fact, in Beijing, Jones was approached by dozens of people who wanted a picture with him and his pin hat. "I'm probably on the Facebook pages of close to a hundred people over in China, and they have no idea who I am," he says. "But that's what makes going to the Olympics fun."
JENNY PEGG is a doctoral student in history and former Stanford intern.
