SANYA, April 29 (Xinhua) — In the Athletes’ Village and competition venues of the Asian Beach Games, athletes are connecting beyond the court, with pin trading emerging as the most common way to interact in Sanya.
“I have already exchanged more than 30 pins, from the Philippines, Malaysia, Qatar and many others,” said windsurfing athlete Wong Tsz Ying of Hong Kong, China. “The atmosphere here is very good. It feels like the Asian Games.”
What began as simple souvenir trading has gradually turned into a shared ritual. Athletes, media and volunteers compare collections, look for pins they don’t have, and even start conversations that might not have happened because of language barriers.
Volunteer Lei Xiaoting said the pin trading quickly became one of the most memorable parts of her experience of the Games. “I’ve already exchanged more than 20 pins,” she said. “Some athletes from the Philippines really liked our panda pins. When I gave them away, I felt very happy. One athlete from Hong Kong, China has collected pins from 43 delegations, just two more to get all of them.”
“Compared with other voluntary services, I can clearly feel that the atmosphere here is much more cheerful and enjoyable. Most of the participants are young athletes, full of energy and vitality, even though we don’t speak the same language,” she added.
For many athletes, these small items carry meaning beyond their size.
Chinese athlete Li Jialun smiled as he showed his accreditation lanyard filled with pins from athletes representing 20 countries and regions, noting that he often shakes hands during the pin trading, and that every pin represents a memory of a new friend.
Even without a shared language, a small pin can bring people closer very quickly. Beach handball player Tsang Ching Man of Hong Kong, China said, “Pin is like a bridge. It helps us cross the language gap and become friends.”
3×3 basketball athlete Chang Chun-Sheng of Chinese Taipei also highlighted that his experience in Sanya has gone far beyond competition.
“I am very grateful for this opportunity. It is not every time you get to stand on such a big stage. I approach every match with gratitude and a learning mindset,” he said. “The opening ceremony was very impressive. When we entered the stadium, the cheers from the crowd really struck me.”
“I spend time playing table tennis, billiards and mahjong in the Athletes’ Village, while interacting with athletes from other teams,” he added. “Pin trading is also very interesting and special. It’s a good way to communicate with others. It’s not something you have the chance to do at every event.”
For Mongolian beach volleyball player Shijir-Erdene Bat-Enkh, the Games are also about cultural discovery. “I’d like to meet more friends, share training experience and learn about different cultures. This will be a very special memory for me.”
Photographer Mohammad Alsalamin, who works for the Olympic Council of Asia, said the pins will carry his personal memories for a long time.
“These pins remind me of the people I met here and the stories we shared,” he said. “We all represent Asia, and we are also showing the good side of the world.” ■
