Backyard Olympics

Featured Recipes

• Olympic Champion Cake 9 x 13 inch sheet cake with a "track" and finish line drawn on top of cake. Draw small flags (with names of guests) on paper. Fold and glue onto skewers to surround edge of cake.
• Red, White and Blueberry Shortcake

Snack Ideas

• Flag Sugar Cookies Decorate cookies with various colorful flag designs from around the world.
• Fruit Bars: Energize your athletes with this fast and easy snack.
• Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels Satisfy all the starving artists at the party with these delicious treats.

Decorating Ideas

Olympic Rings
Cut out five Olympic rings from cardboard and paint them the Olympic colors of blue, yellow, black, green and red. Decorate around them with balloons.

Heavy Medal
Construct large cardboard medals (see below), then hang them around the house using different-colored ribbons.

Carry the Torch
Buy a patio tiki torch, spray paint it gold and set it up in a safe place in the yard. Or create several smaller fake torches using aluminum foil for the torch and yellow or orange construction paper for the flames.

Step Up
Build a winner's platform using cardboard boxes, cover with wrapping paper then label the boxes 1, 2 and 3 with numbers cut from construction paper. Decorate the platform with red, white and blue streamers.

Activities

Medal Maker
Cut discs from cardboard, then let the kids cover them with foil, tape wide blue or red ribbons to the backs and decorate with gold glitter and shiny star stickers.

What's Your Number?
Have the kids create competition number tags using white paper and markers, then let them tape them to each other's backs. Encourage creativity with names like "Fastfoot Freddy" or "Jumping Jennifer".

Mini Straw Hats
Purchase mini straw hats from a craft store along with a garland of small silk flowers, beads and ribbons. Pull off the small flowers from the garland and have the guests glue them on along with beads and ribbons to decorate their own mini straw hat.

Game Suggestions

Over, Under, Around
Create an obstacle course using objects from around the house, such as tires or hula hoops, a broomstick balanced on chairs, a row of chairs to crawl under, a 2"x4" beam set on bricks or a wading pool to jump over.

The Farther the Better
Have a discus throw using a frisbee, or a javelin throw using a baton. Lay a tarp or a few plastic tablecloths on the grass, spread a layer of sand over it and hold a long jump contest.

Bang! You Win
Print "gold", "silver" and "bronze" on three pieces of paper and insert them into separate colored balloons. Put blank papers in other balloons, then have a balloon popping contest. Whoever pops the balloons containing the "medals" wins.

Tricycle-athon
Split up guests into three teams. For each team set up a potato sack, a play ball and a tricycle. The teams then have to relay against each other as they jump in the potato sack, run with the ball between their knees then hop onto the tricycle back to the next team player. The fastest team wins!

Party Favors

• Fill a clear plastic goodie bag with chocolate gold coins, a sweatband and a plastic stopwatch. Tie with red, white and blue ribbons.
• Let the kids take home the medals they made earlier.

Not all activities or party ideas are recommended for all ages. For the safety of all in attendance, no party should be held without adult supervision.

Party Accessories

Click on any item below to download the themed accessory. You can then print and use them to help make your event a success!

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