MELBOURNE 2006 PIN COLLECTORS
A quick "How to Guide" for new collectors

A huge amount of effort goes into making a pin!

The Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games has Official and Unofficial sports. Pin collecting is know by many as the unofficial sport of any great sporting event, and yet again pin collectors have found new pins for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.

BUT.....What is it all about?

Hopefully we can give you an answer to understand just what a wonderful event pin collecting can be.

HAVE Fun with pins and enjoy collecting

Pin Collecting is more than just capturing the ownership of a little metal badge.

The magic of pins and the ability to create and develop Friendship and Harmony

Pin collecting brings together people and nations in an exchange of gifts - breaking down and cultural or language barriers and the joy of meeting and exchanging an item with someone you did not know a few minutes before.

Lots of pins but what to collect?

There are many categories for pin collecting. Here are a few that you may like as ideas to get you started -

Countdown
Mascot
Logo
Flags
Transport
Retail
Licensee
Special event / limited edition release
Pictograms
Sport specific
Torch Relay / Queens Baton relay
Sponsor
Media
NOC / CGA (National Olympic Committee and Commonwealth Games Association)
Athlete pins (also called NOC / CGA)
Internal (M2006 Issued and not for sale)

Some collectors who collect flag pins for example try and collect every single flag pin issued at the event.

What is your favorite and what are you going to collect?

DO'S

Be Polite - Wait your turn

Smile and enjoy yourself

Be Fair as you both want to be happy about the trade

Thank the other person when you have finished your trade or swap

DONT'S

Don't Interrupt another trade - its not a nice thing to do

Don't rush a trade

Don't beg for a pin

Don't ask for a pin without offering the opportunity for a trade in return

Remember

Always treat others the way that you would want to be treated and respect the athletes when asking for pins