View source for Chinese Superfan Spends Thousands On Olympic Souvenir Obsession

Olympic superfan Zhang Wenquan has a massive collection of Olympic souvenirs at his home in Beijing<br>  <br>Crammed on every available surface in Zhang Wenquan's crowded Beijing home is Olympic memorabilia -- from mascots and torches to flags, banners, clothes and cuddly toys.<br> <br>The Chinese superfan scours the internet for [https://www.news24.com/news24/search?query=rare%20souvenirs rare souvenirs] and snaps selfies several times a week by the countdown clock to the 2022 Winter Games in the capital.<br> <br>Beijing will become the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics when the event kicks off in February -- a dream come true for the construction firm worker.<br> <br>Zhang's interest was first piqued when he became glued to the 2000 Sydney Olympics as a high-school student.<br> <br>"I saw China win many gold medals and felt inspired," the 35-year-old told AFP.<br>          Zhang's interest was first piqued when he became glued to the 2000 Sydney Olympics as a [https://www.houzz.com/photos/query/high-school high-school] student<br>  <br>When the Games came to Beijing in 2008, he worked as an official volunteer -- a life-changing experience that sparked his passion for collecting souvenirs.<br> <br>Wearing a 2022 Winter Olympics scarf and sweatshirt emblazoned with its mascot -- plus a headband reading "Come on, Winter Olympics!" -- Zhang shows off the array of merchandise covering his home.<br> <br>The house is so full of piles of boxes that he has been forced to sleep elsewhere.<br> <br>He estimates spending at least 400,000 yuan ($62,800) on 5,000 souvenirs so far.<br> <br>Zhang scours eBay daily for new listings, with the most expensive find being a $1,900 torch from the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.<br> <br>He has row upon row of the mascot "Bing Dwen Dwen" for the coming Winter Games -- a panda wearing a shell made of ice -- in various colours and sizes.<br>          Zhang scours eBay daily for new listings of Olympic souvenirs<br>  <br>He also receives donations of merchandise from Olympic volunteers.<br> <br>"Some of these people I've never even met but they still send things to me, so I feel extremely moved," he said.<br> <br>His collection is now being displayed in local schools and universities in the run-up to the Games.<br> <br>He proudly showed off to AFP one of his favourites, a first-edition mascot for the 1972 Munich Games that was later redesigned.<br> <br>"I hear that there are only 10 of the original, so it is extremely rare," he said, carefully turning the small brown dachshund figurine over in his hands.<br> <br>- Chinese pride -<br> <br>In 2008, Zhang helped with scoring at Beijing's Wukesong Baseball Stadium -- a photo from the time shows a scrawny, bespectacled young man in a sky-blue Olympic jersey proudly holding a baseball bat aloft in an empty arena.<br>          Zhang's collection is being displayed in local schools and universities in the run-up to the Beijing Winter Games<br>  <br>In his cluttered house, a framed certificate of participation hangs on the wall.<br> <br>The mega-fan said he often skipped meals during the Games to collect the food and drink tokens given to volunteers rather than exchanging them for supplies -- despite catching a cold.<br> <br>"I suffered not a small amount back then!" he chuckled.<br> <br>But Zhang was intoxicated by the atmosphere in 2008 at a time of extraordinary national pride.<br> <br>China won 48 gold medals and displayed its growing strength as a global power.<br>          Zhang is already making plans to go to Paris for the 2024 Games<br>  <br>Zhang was not successful in the competitive selection process to be a 2022 volunteer but hopes to obtain tickets for the opening and closing ceremonies -- as well as his favourite sport, figure skating.<br> <br>He currently makes frequent trips to Beijing's Olympic sites.<br> <br>His face lights up when he recounts waiting outside the capital's "Bird's Nest" stadium during a dress rehearsal for February's Games, watching rays of light beam into the night sky.<br> <br>"The stadium was lit up spectacularly, it was several hundred times more beautiful than the 2008 Beijing Olympics," he said.<br> <br>And  [http://repairakpp.ru/index.php/component/k2/item/1 Advanced search ebay.com.au] Zhang is already making plans to go to Paris for the 2024 Games.<br> <br>"I really want to collect the Paris 2024 torch and mascot. Although they haven't been released yet, I'm ready and waiting."<br><br><br>adverts.addToArray("pos":"inread_player")Advertisement