Pin swapping connects participants at Dakar Youth Olympics
Athletes and collectors are exchanging keepsakes, while one company is using giveaways to build a social media following in Senegal.
Athletes, volunteers and collectors attending the Dakar Youth Olympic Games are swapping pins throughout the venues and on trains, making the small souvenirs a way to meet fellow participants. Exchanges take place at locations including the stadium, press center and Olympic Village.
For Kenyan 3x3 basketball player Vivian Mora Ratembo, a collection spanning several countries reflects the effort involved in talking to people. She said obtaining pins from other nations encourages interaction, while wearing a country's pin can express pride in national identity.
Senegalese content creators Diaw Ketchup and Biggy said they wanted to preserve their collections as personal mementos of the Games. They hope the keepsakes will help them share those experiences with their grandchildren in the future.
The activity has also drawn commercial interest. A company preparing to enter Senegal's market is offering free pins at a stand to draw social media followers and encourage visitors to post about its brand.
