Pinning down the perfect memento

Badge exchange centers around the Games are helping participants create new memories and build friendships

There is one spot in the Hangzhou Asian Games Village that Japanese rugby sevens player Marin Kajiki and her teammate Wakaba Hara visit each day, and always find something new.

That's the pin trading center along the riverbank.

A fan of Kung Fu Panda, Hara has already got three panda-pattern pins after arriving at the Asian Games Village, collected on three consecutive days. "They are so cute," she said.

Kajiki said she brought 10 Team Japan pins, but she has almost run out, as she uses them to exchange so often.

Unlike the typical practice of exchanging pins between individuals, the trading center features an intelligent interactive device that allows athletes to exchange pins exclusively with it.

Liang Yu, a staff member at the center, explained that this lotus-shaped machine has a display plate for showcasing the pins available, and participants can choose any pin they want in exchange for one of their own.

The lotus flower also offers pins that athletes can acquire by participating in low-carbon activities within the village. Additionally, according to Liang, alongside the machine, there is also an area for face-to-face pin exchanges.

"Our primary focus here is to create a dedicated space for athletes to engage in pin exchanges," Liang said."Because the Hangzhou 19th Asian Games also promote a theme of green technology, we hope to facilitate pin exchange through an automated process."

"We have also introduced a low-carbon account system. By accumulating low-carbon points through the completion of various green and eco-friendly tasks, participants can earn points and, in turn, exchange them for a series of our pins," Liang said.

The glass wall at the center is adorned with messages and signatures in various languages. Liang explained that they invited athletes to add their wishes for the Asian Games, their respective teams, or sign their names in their native languages. This is also a way to acquire a pin.

Many athletes frequent the pin trading center, and some faces have become quite familiar due to their regular visits. This is particularly noticeable after dinner, when the place transforms into a hub for athletes to gather and forge new friendships.

For those who may find it challenging to strike up conversations with strangers, the pin exchange device offers a friendly avenue for them to initiate interactions.

"Some people may not find certain pins appealing, while others may see them as attractive. Using the device to exchange pins can offer people the opportunity to obtain the ones they truly prefer," explained Liang.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach visited the pin trading center on Sept 23.

Bach not only tried out the intelligent pin exchange device, but also engaged in the exchange of a West Lake pin with a staff member dressed like Bai Suzhen (the protagonist from Hangzhou-based Chinese fairy tale, The White Snake) on the spot.

He got a pin of Lianlian, one of the Asian Games' mascots from the device. When staff members explained to him that it means good luck, he replied: "I wish all the athletes good luck".

As well as the Athletes' Village, there are also pin trading spots in the villages for the technical officials and media, as well as in the Main Media Centre. The Olympic Council of Asia also host two badge exchange events on Friday and Sunday at the MMC.

One volunteer at the MMC spends her downtime looking for Asian Games pins to swap with her pins from the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Her pins are from her sister, who gave her a dozen so that she could experience the pin exchange culture at the Games.

Liu Ruiya, a staff member from Hangzhou Culture Radio and Television Group, has brought more than 100 pins to the MMC to exchange with other members of the media.

"They are part of my and my friend's collections. We have several hundred, most of them are from the previous Olympic Games," Liu said.