Last Updated on July 28, 2021 by Netropolitan Museum
1981 World Junior Championships at The Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins
The sixth World Junior Figure Skating Championship ever to be contested took place in London, Ontario, Canada in the spring of 1981. The occasion was also the first time the event had been held outside Europe, with four of the first five events having been held in the same location: Megeve, France.
For the championship in London, two handsome lapel pins were issued, one a regular event pin available to the general public and a second, “reverse” design, made for competitors and officials. Each of the all-enamel pins—in a white, blue, and red palette—is on a gold-color base metal. The main event pin features a white center and blue border while the competitor/official version reverses that configuration, with the center in blue and border area in white. The two pins are otherwise identical.
For the event in London, two handsome lapel pins were issued, one a regular event pin … and a second, “reverse” design, made for competitors and officials.
Along the circumference of the pin in all-capital letters is the event name, “World Junior Figure Skating Championships,” and in the center of the pin is a globe motif with latitude and longitude lines. A stylized figure skater and the year of the event, “1981,” add both visual interest and information. Note that the lower legs of the skater perhaps more resemble the modified figure skates of an acrobatic ice circus performer. At the bottom right of the pin in partial cut-out style is the much-beloved symbol of Canada, the maple leaf, in an obligatory red. Layered over the maple leaf is the event location, also in all-capital letters: “London Canada.”
At approximately 1-1/2″ x 1-5/8″ (3.8 cm x 4.1 cm), the 1981 pin is among the largest ever issued for a World Junior Championship. The Netropolitan has also covered other early World Junior Championship events, found here: Repeat Performance. 1976, 1977.; Three for Three. 1978.; and It’s a Zirbelnuss. 1979.
Enjoy London (the One in Canada). 1981.
1981 World Junior Championships Pin Gallery
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