Wednesday 29 July 2009

Monday's 3 YTG Launch Event

As well as launching all the new pins on Monday, LOCOG arranged a small event at the Museum of London where they handed over the 3 YTG pin into the museum's Olympic archive.



The photo shows Professor Jack Lohman, Director of the Museum of London (left) accepting a frame of London 2012 pins (including the 3YTG pin) from Mr Jack Chen, CEO of Honav (third from left). The lady in the middle is Anna, LOCOG Licensing Manager. I'm afraid I didn't get the name of the lady on the right, but I believe she is from Honav UK.

The exciting part is that the frame contained the skyline set of pins. It looks like they will be available to buy in due course, maybe as a set. I'm reading between the lines here, so don't take this as gospel. The pins were on general display so there's no speculation on whether they exist now. Remember where you read the rumour first!!

Here's a close up of the pins. Sorry for the poor image, the reflections were hard to work with!



The buildings are
  • Royal Naval College
  • Tower Bridge
  • St Paul's Cathedral
  • Big Ben
  • Houses of Parliament
  • Westminster Abbey
  • Buckingham Palace
  • Marble Arch
  • Albert Memorial
  • Kensington Palace
No dates available on when they may be sale or where.

I had a chance to talk to some LOCOG and Honav people. I must say they were all very friendly and supportive and we're keenly aware of the importance of pin collecting. There was a leaflet available, issued by LOCOG, all about pin collecting. I will scan a copy and add to the website. I don't think there's any copyright issues over doing that as the leaflet is free.

There's no hard and fast plans but someone from Honav did mention pin collecting events that they invited 'hard-core' collectors too in the past and it definitely sounded like they would be considering possible events for London 2012. Again it's me interpreting what was said, so no promises.

I did ask if there were any more pins coming out soon (as if 29 on one day wasn't enough) and it seems like there's more to come in the next few weeks. Once again, no dates, but Anna did mention the weather set on her blog (we've had that on the website's rumour list for a week or so) and also teapots. If you consider those sets and the skyline set and look at the gaps in the numbering sequence, I think there's more to come, and I don't think we're going to have to wait until the 2YTG to see them!

Monday 27 July 2009

New Pins Launched Today

London 2012 launched a number of new pins today along with the 3 YTG pin at the Museum of London.

In addition to the countdown pin, there were pins on the themes of London Markets, Music, Flowers, Punk and Guards.

I'm updating the website tonight and tomorrow, so please be patient while I get the pictures and inventory listings up there. I'll get it done as quickly as possible. I'll get the pictures done first, then the inventory.

Once the inventory is up to date, I'll update the blog with some information I found out today about sponsor pins and potential pin collecting events.

Also - the gold skyline set was there, and it looks like it will be available soon. I'll update the website (and the blog) with more details once the new pins are added.

Keep checking back all this week, they'll be more...

Tuesday 21 July 2009

3YTG Pin - Photo and Details

The 3 Year To Go Pin will be launched on Monday 27th July as expected and will be limited to 3,000 pieces (the 4YTG was limited to 5,000). The style of the pin follows on from last year's with a large '3' and a smaller 2012 logo, this time in orange whereas last year's was pink.
Not all of the 3,000 pieces will be available to the public as some will be given to British atheletes and officials.























As previously stated, the pin will be available from Runners Need and Crest of London from Monday.

Monday 20 July 2009

New EDF Pins

Some news from EDF. One reader sent me 2 photographs of EDF pins. One of the pins has been 'doing the rounds' on eBay and to be honest I was sceptical of its authenticity. The other appears genuine. Both pins have engraving on the back, but one is of better quality than the other.

Both pins were received from EDF in the UK.

EDF have confirmed that both pins are genuine (although I still feel that one of the photographs is of a copy, but that's only my opinion).
Take a look at the partner pins section of the inventory for details and pictures.

Thursday 16 July 2009

More 3 Year To Go Pin News

Following on from my previous post about the 3YTG pin, I've spoken to Runners Need and here's what I found out.

They WILL be selling the 3YTG pin at the RRP of £6.50. It's a limited edition (not able to state the edition size) but they will have a small allocation of pins. They will be available in store (Canary Wharf and Kings Cross shops only) and by mail order. They'll be displayed online, but not available to order online.
The pins should be available from Monday 27th July.
Their website is www.runnersneed.co.uk and you can contact the mail order department on 020 7278 9486.
The guys at Runners Need have been very helpful in supplying this information, so please support them by buying your pins there. If you want to mention your heard about them through the London2012Pins website, that would be good too!

Tuesday 14 July 2009

3 Year To Go Pin News

I contacted the 'Open Weekend' team in LOCOG today to ask about Open Weekend pins and 3 YTG pins (I can't claim credit for the idea, it came from a reader).

I found out that there are no Open Weekend pins going to be available (there weren't for last year's so no surprise there). They did say that there would be a 3 YTG pin available from Monday 27th July (the actual 3YTG date). They said that the pins would be available from Runners Need or Crest of London.

I then phoned Runners Need and they confirmed that they had heard of a 3 YTG pin (the person thought just one design), and that they thought they would be selling it, possible via their website.

I guess in that case we'll be looking at anything between £5.99 and £9.99. So keep a lookout on the Runners Need and Crest of London sites (both available from the links page on the www.london2012pins.com website.

Sunday 12 July 2009

Inventory Updates

I've updated the commemorative pins inventory with details about the pin back pattern, the information box detail and the backing card for each pin.

I've also added the 6 mini-pins to the 'unofficial' pages.

Saturday 11 July 2009

LOCOG Pins in 2007?

As you know I've emailed London 2012 a few times via their website asking for information. Over the last 2 days, I have had replies to my emails (looks like they got bunched up and answered by different people over the course of 2 days).

Anyway, the replies give the standard response that an online store will be open soon and that pins are available from Crest of London and Runners Needs.

BUT...

2 of the replies mention something along the lines of... ' the pins were made for staff only and to mark the brand launch on 4 June 2007'

Now I thought the first logo pins (in fact any non-bid pins) were not available until the Handover Party last August. So if that's the case, what are the pins made for LOCOG staff back in 2007?

Am I wrong? Were pins available before August 2008? Have I missed something?

What do you think?

Wednesday 1 July 2009

Pin 6 Confirmed

I can confirm that the suggestion that pin 6 and the white logo pin are the same is true. A member of LOCOG has confirmed that the pin exists and is number 6 but - and here's the best news - whilst it is not on sale now, it may be on retail sale sometime between now and 2012.

Obviously things can change, but for now it looks like it may be available one day.