Collecting memories and medals

Zhu Hua, his wife, helped him turn space in their home into a showroom in March 2004, rearranging the room, displaying the collection - and keeping it all neat and clean.

She takes a backseat when Chen shows his visitors around, quietly standing by with a camera in hand. She loves to take photos for her husband while he talks to his visitors.

"He looks happy then," Zhu says.

Increasing numbers have come to visit Chen after his story was published by a local community newspaper.

Sometimes he gets more than 10 visitors at the same time.

The showroom attracts not just visitors from various parts of China, but also foreign enthusiasts.

Tom Lewis from Britain dropped in after he got to know about Chen's showroom and collection from the Internet in 2007.

"He was on a business trip to Shanghai and he showed great interest in the emblems," Chen says.

Chen hopes more people can see his treasures. He has taken part in 35 exhibitions on sports, including two World Olympic Collectors Fair in 2007 and 2010 in Beijing.

He has never taken any money from the organizers although he had to pay for his train tickets.

"Every souvenir has a story," Chen says. "I hope people can know more about the history and culture of the various games through my collection, especially the Olympic Games."

But his wife worries that it may be getting too much for him.

Whenever the old man travels to an exhibition, he takes all his medals and emblems with him, because he thinks they may be damaged by careless couriers.

"It's too heavy for him," Zhu says.

As his collection grows, Chen has run out of space, and he needs a larger showroom.

He has already sold off some of his precious emblems and coins to other collectors, but he still has many lying in drawers waiting to be displayed.

Guo Guanyuan, an official of Kang Jian community's publicity department, says that the local residential committee is planning to help him by offering a space over the community sports hall.

"Chen is a constant reminder of the good old days of the different Games. We hope to help him nurture the culture of sports," Guo says.

Contact the writers at sundayed@chinadaily.com.cn.