The Pacific Pin Club, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Olympex kicks off in Beijing

Olympexpo - the biggest exhibition of pins, stamps, coins memorabilia and art objects related to the Olympic Games ever – has opened its doors in the Beijing Exhibition Centre yesterday.

This event jointly sponsored by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Organizing Committee (BOCOG), the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) and China Post Group is a premium cultural event of the Beijing Games.

Record number of exhibitors

"Olympex is already a success with a record number of exhibitors – a truly new dimension in the cultural artistic exposure of the IOC" said IOC President Jacques Rogge before the ribbon cutting.

He was also joined by Juan Antonio Samaranch, IOC Honorary President, Zhenliang He IOC member and Chairman of the IOC's Commission for Culture and Olympic Education and by Liu Andong, President of the China Post Group.

Stamp, coins, pins

Exihibitors include Olympic philatelists, postal administrations, mints, dealers and Olympic sponsors from the world. The exhibition also displays several items from the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, such as the works of the winners of the IOC's latest "Sport and Art" contest.

Rogge, Samaranch and He were among the participants of the first guided tour where they admired the extensive China Post stand, unveiled a 100kg gold coin at the Royal Canadian Mint stand as well as Coca Cola's first Pin of the Day for the Games.

Special events

In the coming days Olympex will offer many special events:

- 09 August: media day
- 11 August: youth day
- 13 August: philately day
- 15 August: culture day
- 17 August: volunteer day

Learn more on www.2008expo.org and join in Olympexpo!

Beijing Exhibition Hall
135 Xizhimenwai Street
Xicheng District
Beijing, China

What is the Pacific Pin Club?

The Pacific Pin Club is Western Canada's premiere organization for lapel pin collectors and traders. Founded in 1986, the Club is entering its 25th year of generating awareness and interest in pin collecting and promoting the hobby in British Columbia, across Canada and around the World.

Last updated: 01 January 2009