If you aren’t available to cross the pond this year for the 2012 Summer Olympics hosted in London then why not throw yourself a fabulous viewing party? Get your guests involved with some fun games, food…and cocktails of course!

Tips

Let the Games Begin!

Send your friends their Olympic Ticket invitations. This will be an active party so everyone should wear their best gym attire. Tell your guests to get in the spirit and bring signs to cheer on their team!

Athlete Registration!

As guests arrive, make sure they register at the Athlete Registration booth and receive their bib number. This can be a simple piece of paper donning the classic colors red, yellow, blue, green and black. No need for names on the bib, just numbers, this will make registration much smoother.

Get in the Game!

Grab your whistle and let the games begin! Set up several game stations to let your friend’s compete. No need for a large swimming pool or a gymnastics room. Use traditional party games such as hula hoping contest, limbo and even horseshoes would be a great game for the backyard Olympics!

Refuel!

With so much competition going on, make sure there is a refuel station for the athletes! Serve up some popcorn in a cone to represent the Olympic torch.

Re-hydrate!

Obviously water will be needed for this event but as the games come to an end serve up an “Olympic Ring” Cocktail. Garnish a Martini with red, yellow, blue and green lifesavers for a sweet treat!

Viewing Room!

During your Backyard Olympics bash, play the actual games on your TV for guests to keep track with what is going on in London.

Random Olympic FACTS & FIGURES   

• The very first Games are generally agreed to have taken place in 776 BC, at Olympia in ancient Greece
• London first hosted the Olympic Games in 1908, after the original choice of Rome had to be abandoned due to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 1906.
• The oldest ever medallist was Oscar Swahn (Sweden) in 1920, who was 72 when he won a Silver medal in shooting.
• Tessa Sanderson made the most appearances at the Olympics by a British woman, competing six times between 1976 and 1996.
• The official Olympic motto is “Citius, Altius, Fortius”, a Latin phrase that means “Swifter, Higher, Stronger”

Photo by imprintables.blogspot.com