Go for the gold this summer with a Summer Olympics party! Set up
plenty of fun challenges, test the players' skills, and award them with
medals, ribbons and trophies. Let the games begin!
Invitations
Buy or make award ribbons. Write the party details in permanent
marker on the back of the ribbon, attach a gold seal and mail to the
guests.
Costumes
Ask the "contenders" to come dressed in comfortable athletic outfits,
such as sweats or shorts and tank tops depending on the weather.
Have the adults dress as referees in black-and-white striped T-shirts
and black or white shorts. Give the refs whistles to wear around their
necks.
Decorations
Use a Balloon Time Helium Balloon Kit to fill the yard with red, white
and blue helium balloons tied to trees, fences, chairs and tables.
Attach medals and prize ribbons to the fences and trees, along with
athlete or Olympic posters and banners. Buy or make a collection of
flags from participating countries and hang them around the yard.
Cover the table with a red, white and blue tablecloth. Buy small
trophies (available at the local party store) to set at each place setting,
and use a large trophy as a centerpiece. Make placemats from flags of
different countries. Play American anthems in the background.
Games
Begin with the Mini-Olympics.
Create a series of challenging
Olympic events, such as a relay race, high jump, weight-lifting contest
and discus throw. Or divide the group into two or three teams and let
them design the challenges for one another.
Organize a Decathlon.
Have the players perform 10 different sports
during the party - 10 times - such as running the length of the yard 10
times, jumping rope 10 times, hitting 10 baseballs, swimming 10 laps,
shooting 10 baskets, catching a Frisbee 10 times or hitting a golf ball
into a hole 10 times.
Host the Silly Olympics.
Include such silly stunts as pie eating,
wheelbarrow racing, egg-and-spoon racing, Frisbee throwing, hulahoop
passing or balloon tossing.
Conquer the Balance Board.
Set out a long, narrow board, just a
foot off the ground, and have the players try to walk from one end to
the other without falling off. Then make it more challenging by having
them walk sideways, backwards or with their eyes closed.
Escape the Snakes.
Set up a number of sprinkles in between a
starting line and a finish line. Sprinkle a bunch of water balloons
throughout the area. Have the players try to run from one end to the
other without getting sprayed. Make it more challenging by having
them pop a balloon along the way. Choose one of the gang to control
the faucet, turning it on and off at random.
Perform Body Tricks.
Have the contestants perform a number of
body tricks, such as hopping on one foot ten times, walking 10 steps
backwards without looking, crawling like a crab, skipping backwards,
jumping over a hurdle, throwing a ball up in the air while turning
around and catch it or popping a balloon by sitting on it.
Backyard Gymnastics.
Set out a pad or mattress and have players
do stunts on the pad, such as somersaults, rolls, cartwheels, kneewalks,
headstands and handstands.
Obstacle Course.
Set up a series of obstacles and have the players
run through them. Include such things as crawling through a tunnel,
climbing over a table, wiggling under a chair or any of the stunts
mentioned earlier.
Activities
Make a Flag.
Give the guests blank squares of white fabric,
approximately two feet by one foot, stapled to a small stick, to form a
flag. Set out markers and let the kids design and color their own
national flags.
Refreshments
- Serve hero sandwiches the players can cut to size. Give them fruit
bars, granola bars or other healthy snacks.
- Make finger snacks to eat on the go, such as finger sandwiches,
cheese and crackers, cut-up fruits and nuts.
- Give them power bars to keep them going. Let them wash the snacks
down with sports drinks.
- As a treat, offer chocolate gold coin medals. Make a round cake, frost
it yellow and decorate it to look like a giant gold medal.
Favors
Send the contestants home with ribbons, trophies, helium balloons,
posters of Olympic winners, gold coin medals, Frisbees, balls, hulahoops
or other sporting equipment.
Penny Warner has more than 25 years of experience as an author
and party planner. She has published more than 50 books, including 16
specific to parties. Additionally, Warner writes a weekly newspaper
column on family life, penned a column for Sesame Street Parents
magazine and has appeared on several regional and national TV morning
programs. Her latest book, HOW TO HOST A KILLER PARTY, debuted in
February 2010 from NAL/Penguin.
Balloon Time is the leading brand of consumer helium balloon kits
in North America. Balloon Time kits feature a helium-filled tank, latex
or foil balloons and ribbon, and are available at national retail
chains, party goods and grocery stores nationwide.