Girls collect plush toys after a performance by ice dancers Annabelle Morozov and Andrei Bagin during the free dance event at the 2022 Russian Figure Skating Championships, at Yubileyny Arena, on DECEMBER 24, 2021. Photo: VCG

Have you ever noticed that at the end of a figure skating competition there are always stuffed animals thrown in the rink? This is a way for fans to show their appreciation to their favorite skaters. 

The audience is allowed to throw stuffed animals into the rink after a figure skater's routine. There will be more stuffed animals if a skater completes a great routine with high scores.  

In Olympic Games, such stuffed animals are normally the Games' mascot, but can also be a particular cartoon character that is liked by an athlete. Such cute souvenirs will normally be picked up by "sweepers," also called "pixies"- a group of children responsible for picking the stuffed animals up for athletes after their performances. 

Most of the stuffed animals usually end up as donations. Jason Brown, a US figure skater, was one of the figure skaters who donates his stuffed animal gifts to charities. He did so in 2014 to Ronald McDonald House charities in the US. 

The tradition of fans throwing plush is not exclusive to winter sports such as figure skating. Fans of hockey would also throw them to the court not for players, but for charity. Sometimes, hockey teams will organize events such as the "Teddy Bear Toss" in the US, to encourage fans to donate more stuffed animals.