This is an example of the limited-edition pin sets that commemorate the three mascots of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, 'Syd', 'Millie' and 'Ollie'. Designed by TrofÂ? Australia, its 47 pins represent the mascots participating in Olympic events. The collection is set against an orange and green mount, depicting an athletics track, and is presented in a wooden frame. Inscribed on the mount is the title of the pin set, and the limited edition number: "Limited Edition Number 271, Sydney 2000 Sports Mascot Framed Set, TM?SOCOG 1996, Proudly produced by TrofÂ? Australia". The set, which retailed for AUD$395, reflects the pin-trading that flourished prior to and during Olympic competition.

The production of Olympic pins commenced in Athens in 1896 when cardboard pins identified athletes, reporters and sporting officials. Sixteen years later, the Stockholm Olympics featured the first series of souvenir pins, initiating the trade of official pins at the 1924 Paris Games.

Public and commercial interest in Olympic pins continued to develop, and by the 1930s, newspapers and mail catalogues traded in official pins, and sponsors released exclusive series. In the three years from 1933 to 1936, more than one million Olympic pins sold worldwide.

The recent phenomenon of pin trading did not commence until 1980 however, with the Lake Placid Winter Games. Four years later, at the Los Angeles Olympics, the pin trading tent attracted around 10,000 people a day, and demonstrated the need for an official body to monitor the production, quality and distribution of Olympic pins. In 1988, the Olympic Pin Trading Centre opened at the Calgary Winter Games. The Sydney 2000 Olympics featured an unprecedented 3, 500 official pin designs.

The Olympic mascots were designed by Matthew Hatton for SOCOG in 1997. The sports mascot pins were designed by the Australian division of the Swedish company, TrofÂ?.

The enamelled metal pins were made for TrofÂ? Australia for sale prior to and during the Sydney Olympic Games.

This is a non-purchased example of the Olympic Sports Mascot pin set that retailed for AUD$395 prior to and during Olympic competition.

Owned by the Olympic Coordination Authority/Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, and donated to the Powerhouse Museum.

Pins in frame, Olympic Games, Sydney, 2000 mascots, Syd, Millie and Olly, enamelled metal/wood/glass/paper, made by TrofÂ? Australia circa 1996.

A collection of 47 limited edition Olympic Sports Mascot pins mounted in a wooden frame. The pins are displayed against an orange and green mount representing an athletics field. Two additional pins, featuring the logos of the Sydney Olympics, are attached to the top of the mount. The lower half of the mount is inscribed, "Limited Edition Number 271, Sydney 2000 Sports Mascot Framed Set, TM?SOCOG 1996, Proudly produced by TrofÂ? Australia". The back of the frame features a sticker, "SOCOG official licensed merchandise", and an adhesive price tag ("$395") and barcode.

Made: 2000

2001/84/320

2000

405 mm

25 mm