1984 World Figure Skating Championships Pins: March Madness.

Last Updated on November 29, 2023 by Netropolitan Museum

Staged in Ottawa, the 1984 World Figure Skating Championships featured 10 different lapel pins

Canada’s capital of Ottawa hosted the 1984 World Figure Skating Championships in March of that year, and never was there a better event held for collectors of figure skating pins. All around the Ottawa Civic Centre, venue for the event, both large and small groups of collectors could be found huddled together negotiating and making trades in a unique brand of March Madness. Pin collecting and trading in the sport of figure skating was at its zenith—a magical time that, unfortunately, never occurred again. Let’s take a look back at the pins from that event, now nearly 40 years ago.

In all, ten pins commemorated the 1984 World Figure Skating Championships—five of them sold to the public at the event and another five that were produced for and given only to selected individuals such as competitors, officials, or those who served in some capacity at the event. Not considered or included are pins issued by any sponsor or service partner of the championships (for example, Canadian or U.S. television networks). Such pins were made by those organizations for their own marketing purposes and were not produced for or issued by the event organizing committee.

1984 World Championships: Logo Pins

In the gallery below are the five pins that were available to the public and sold at the event.

• First are the three main event logo pins, each in cloisonné: a large, rectangular version and two small, cutout versions done in reverse colors of one another. The pins feature an abstract maple leaf and skate blade design that would later become, for a period of time, the logo of the Canadian Figure Skating Association (CFSA, or today called Skate Canada). On each pin, the event is noted as either “World’s 84 Ottawa” or “1984 World’s Ottawa” in varying arrangements. The incorrect use of “World’s” as a possessive, rather than the plural it should be, is most unfortunate but common in Canada. The same error can be seen on the pins from the 1978 World Figure Skating Championships, also held in Ottawa.
• Next is a silver-color stickpin issued by the City of Ottawa that features the Shield of the Arms of the city at its center, superimposed over a skate blade. The city pin was not popular, and on the last day of the event, it was placed on sale for $1 Canadian (approximately 75 cents U.S. at the time). Even then, hardly anyone wanted the pin.
• Finally, there is a poorly designed and unattractive enamel pin that commemorates the compulsory figures event, held at a sports facility in the nearby city of Nepean. At least Nepean got the use of “Worlds” as a plural correct. This pin was only for sale at the Nepean location.

1984 World Championships: Special-Issue Pins

During the 1984 World Figure Skating Championships, it was many a collector’s mission to acquire all of the special-issue pins that were produced—five in number—but only a lucky few would walk away with them. Now you can see them all in the gallery below.

• The first of these pins, the most desirable, is similar to the main logo pin and is executed in cloisonné with a striking blue background and a raised maple leaf logo. This pin was given to competitors, officials, and distinguished guests.
• Next are two nearly identical pins that vary from the other pins, using the words “A Beautiful World’s” instead. Both are cloisonné, the difference between the two being in the maple leaf logo design: the second version shown features an additional outline around the leaf.
• An alternate version of the City of Ottawa pin, in gold, was also produced and is identical in design to the silver version sold at the championship.
• Last of the special-issue pins is that of the event organizing committee. Two tiers of “hanging” elements—the City of Ottawa Shield of the Arms and a skate boot and blade—make the pin unusual in both shape and design. It is marked “World’s 84” on the top bar and “Ottawa” on the city shield. This pin, a combination of metal and cloisonné, was the most difficult pin to acquire at the event and was likely produced in only a small quantity.

Figure Skating March Madness 1984

The 1984 World Championships were well-commemorated with lapel pins, perhaps the most of any world event during the past 40-plus years. Enjoy this week’s figure skating pins blog: 1984 World Figure Skating Championships: March Madness.

This blog was originally published at The Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins on June 6, 2020, and has been updated with new information and an additional event pin.

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