As the Beijing Games continues to draw the attention of billions of sports fans worldwide, so the Olympex has been a carnival for philatelists and collectors of Olympic mini-souvenirs.

People are attracted to the Olympics-related pins worn by a collector from the United States at a subway station in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 14, 2008. The ongoing Beijing Olympic Games has become a carnival not only for sports fans but also for enthusiastic pin collectors from across the world.

Themed Lighting the Passion, Sharing the Dream, the event encompasses hundreds of philatelic, numismatic and athletic art companies. It also houses temporary national postal offices from about 20 countries and the top sponsors of the Games. Also present are exhibits about future Olympic cities, Vancouver and London.

The Olympic cultural event provides "an opportunity for visitors to acquire knowledge and experience of the rich Olympic culture", said IOC president Jacques Rogge at the opening ceremony.

IOC collections are on display, highlighted by a huge postage stamp collection of former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch. The first Olympic stamps issued in Greece back on March 25, 1896 are also presented as well as special Olympic-themed stamps from the China Stamp Museum, including three 120-year-old large dragon stamps issued during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

A collector from the United States wears a hat decorated with various Olympics-related pins at a subway station in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 14, 2008. The ongoing Beijing Olympic Games has become a carnival not only for sports fans but also for enthusiastic pin collectors from across the world.