Olympics-Pin enthusiasts lament loss of trading chances in Tokyo

Yoshiyuki Terajima (51), a pin collector based in Tokyo, displays his Olympic pin collection near the National Stadium, the main stadium for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games that have been postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Tokyo, Japan June 13, 2021. Picture taken June 13, 2021. REUTERS/Issei Kato

TOKYO (Reuters) - At every Olympics, away from the hordes of cheering spectators and the athletes competing for medals, pin enthusiasts lay out dozens of badges on corkboards or soft cloth in hopes of making a trade.

The tradition of trading in the metal keepsakes that represent various sports, cities or competing countries has been around since the early 20th century when athletes and sports officials first swapped their lapel pins as a sign of friendship.