Backyard Olympics

Going for the Gold (and Fun) at Home!

By Carol Band

“The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win, but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered, but to have fought well.”

– The Olympic motto (1908)

Even though your young ones won’t be competing in the 2008 Olympics in China, a backyard Olympics can be just the ticket to fun on a long summer day. Call your friends, gather your neighbors and let the games begin!

Preparing for the Games

• Design a poster or mascot. Assemble or create flags from many nations. Have older children research a country that they choose to represent.

• Create scorecards for observers that have arrows. Judges can point them up, down or sideways. Remind judges that they will also be scored during their own performances.