The 17th IOC World Olympic Collectors Fair and the 30th Olympin Festival has been taking place in conjunction with the 32nd National Sports Collectors Convention in Rosemont near Chicago and I was lucky enough to go.

This event was the first time that the prestigious World Olympic Collectors Fair was held in North America. Not only that but in conjunction with the 2011 National Sports Collectors Convention, the World Olympic Collectors Fair included Olympic pins, mascots, posters, prize medals, commemorative medals, stamps, coins, programmes, tickets, uniforms, Games-used equipment, and much more. There was something for everyone from beginner to advanced collector.

I, however, was there for the pins.

It is easy to see why pin collecting is so exciting. I didn't believe I would get sucked into it so quickly. I went straight to the Olympin table on my arrival and was swept away by Olympin member Pam Litz, who happily started my collection and traded for our limited edition insidethegames One Year To Go pins. I thank her for that opportunity, without it I would never have understood what it is about pin trading that is so exciting. She was so passionate and fanatical about that, it was hard not to be sucked in. Our transaction complete, I was on my way to becoming a pinhead.

I moved from table to table, collecting people and pins. The willing to help me out on my journey into collecting astounded me, each of the traders bringing new information and new pins into my experience. Armed with my starter pins, I've ended my journey today with some great pins.

Speaking with the "Pin Doctor" Janet Grissom about the pins I asked her what gets people excited, what that "top pin" is. At the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, the Lime Jell-O pin proved highly popular. Everybody wants that "top pin" and it's hard to know what will or won't be popular in London 2012. Her suggestion for Olympic pin collecting is to keep an eye - and ear - out for what people are asking for. The one that is mentioned the most is likely to be the most popular of the Games.

Having thought about pins and the passion that everyone in Chicago had, it's a little disappointing to know that I only got excited about pins in these past few days. The London 2012 pins are beautiful, some of the concepts are great, but it's true that everyone doesn't have the same enthusiasm in Britain yet for the London 2012 pins that they did for the Winter Games in Salt Lake City, 2002 or Vancouver, 2010. I'm unsure why this is, but it is evident. The Olympin members assured me that pin collecting will hit our UK shores with a bang and will be as fantastic as in every other Games. I hope that the United States and China are prepared to bring pin-trading to the UK and that we embrace it.


Here are some of the best tips on trading from the Olympin members to make sure you make the most of the opportunity that London 2012 will offer:

1.  The underground stations nearest the Olympic Village will be the hub for trading outside the Olympic Park itself.

2.  Decide what you want to trade. There are lots of different types for pins; media, mascots, sponsor, National Olympic Committee (NOC) pins etc, so stick to one and use other pins to trade for the ones you want.

3.  The NOC pins are the hardest ones to get. The Olympin members have worked for years to get their NOC collections going. A good tip is to speak to athletes, ask for autographs etc. They are likely to give you an NOC pin just for taking the time to speak to them.

4.  If you want to trade with Americans, (and we're not sure why this is the case) Canadian pins are a very popular trader. So keep an eye out for them.

5.  Don't look professional. You'll be more likely to get a great trade and have a better experience doing so if you're just wearing your pins. Buy a hat and put them all on there to display!

6.  Don't be pressured into a trade you don't want to do. If you need more information on any pin don't be afraid to ask. Pinheads will tell you as much as they can about any pin and are always happy to help.

7.  Keep an eye out for people selling cheap pins. Buy as many as you can as these make great trades. They are also great for people starting out in pin collecting.

8.  Finally, have lots of fun with it. You will get sucked in by it, believe me, and it is incredibly fun when you do a great trade.

I look forward to experiencing the pin craze in London 2012 with all these people again.

And guess what, I got that Lime Jell-O pin!

Rebecca Fisher is a marketing assistant for insidethegames. Check out our pin and collecting website insidegamescollecting , join our forum and Facebook group to chat and trade online