Organize your own Olympic Games

Every two years, we celebrate the best athletes in the world competing in the Olympics. During those two-plus weeks, we root for our fellow Americans, urging them to be the fastest and strongest. And then it’s all over. 

This time around, keep the spirit alive with your own Olympics Games — before or after the official ones. Turn your yard (or local park) into an arena for all types of events and races. Just pop up a shade canopy and chairs for the judges and fans, set up Bluetooth speakers for your inspirational playlist and welcome the athletes to your Neighborhood Olympics. 

While there are 329 events in 32 sports for the 2024 Summer Olympics, we’re limiting our suggestions to seven categories. But feel free to add more if you’re feeling extra competitive this season.

Track and field

You can’t hold an Olympics without track and field; the events have been around since the very first Games. But that doesn’t mean you can’t modify them a bit. If you’ll have several competitors of different ages, separate them into age groups and have them rotate between events.

Races

Fastest may take the day at the official games, but you can make yours more evenly matched. Line up the potato sacks to test their hopping skills, or tape competitors together to make it a team sport.

Create hurdles of any height using pool noodles.

Hurdles

Use pool noodles to create soft hurdles. Push two pencils into the grass a couple of feet apart, then place one end of each noodle onto them; it should stand up in a perfect arch. Cut the foam to make your hurdles any size you need. Runners can race over, under or around them.

Javelin

Instead of putting pointed poles in the hands of 8-year-olds, give them pool noodles. Use hula hoops as targets, designating a value to each. Athletes can throw their noodle as close as possible; whoever earns the most points wins.

Throwing

Discus is the official sport, but who wants to throw out their back tossing a heavy metal plate? Try something tougher to get some distance with, say a Wiffle ball. Contestants can try to toss one into different baskets worth varying point totals. Or, toss bean bags instead in a game of cornhole.

Long jump

Draw a giant hopscotch game, large enough that it will take a serious leap to skip the space with the marker. Awards given for the first to finish and the most graceful jump.

Pentathlon

Compete in all the day’s track and field events to win the coveted “best of all the games” award.

Use ATVs for an iron horse equestrian event.

Equestrian

Without a horse, equestrian events may seem a no-go. We disagree. Put on your cowboy hat and get out your ATV for some motorized rodeoing. In a parking lot, riders can weave their way around some barrels or other similar obstacles. Place flags or something similar to pick up along the way. To keep everyone safe, discourage speeding and instead offer medals for categories such as “slowest ride,” “roundest circle,” “best decorated ride” and “best whoop!” Remember helmets for every rider.

At the pool

If you don’t have your own Olympic-sized swimming pool, no worries. Revise the events to work with an above-ground pool, or even a kiddie pool if you have young children. Make the games more playful than skillful to give non-swimmers a chance to participate.

• Butterfly: Who floats most gracefully?

• Backstroke: Walk or skip backwards across the pool with your eyes closed.

• Freestyle: Cross the pool as quickly as possible using different steps — running, jumping, skipping, swimming.

• Medley: Swimmers run/bounce around the pool, passing a pool noodle as a baton.

• Diving: How many dive toys can you collect in one breath? In a shallow pool, the fastest to find them while blindfolded takes the medal.

• Jumping: Categories such as best cannonball, smallest splash and silliest jump

• Artistic swimming: Divide into teams, crank up the speakers and try to stay in sync for a pool performance.

Modify the dive events so any pool will work.

Shop pools on KSL Classifieds →

Watercrafting

Without an ocean nearby, it’s tough to hold a surfing and sailing competition. But you can make up other events at one of Utah’s reservoirs or large lakes.

• Boating: Who can hang on to the towable the longest?

• Personal watercraft: Who can complete an obstacle course with the most finesse?

• Kayak/canoe: Who can row in the straightest line?

• Paddleboard: Who can do a yoga routine without falling off?

While you’re at the lake or reservoir, get in your beach volleyball event. You can set up a standard net, or get everyone involved with a nine square or four square tournament. Medals could go to the person who keeps square one the longest, the best spike, highest jump or greatest save.

Shop water sports equipment on KSL Classifieds →

Cycling

Design events based on the age and ability of your bikers. Use sidewalk chalk to draw a route for small (tri)cyclers, or designate a path for them to ride, i.e. around the block two times. Include some obstacles to take the place of jumps for BMX style racing. Everyone can ride a bicycle, but who can balance in place the longest without tipping over? 

Find bikes for the whole family on KSL Classifieds →

Backyard games

Hold an archery tournament.

Archery

For the older kids, set up some targets and bows for an archery event. Be sure to have plenty of space for this one. You can be creative with the scoring: closest to the edge, closest set of arrows, etc.

Badminton

For a game anyone can play, set up badminton. Much less running than tennis or pickleball, but still surprisingly challenging.

Basketball, 3x3

Organize a 3x3 basketball competition to celebrate the event introduced in the 2020 Tokyo Games. Bonus: It’s easier to find three players than five. Set up the hoop and gather your teams. For younger — or less agile — players, classic games such as H-O-R-S-E and Around the World will be just as fun. Granny shots are encouraged.

Search basketball equipment on KSL Classifieds →

Breaking

New for 2024, breaking (aka break dancing). Get your boombox blasting and your DJ rapping as your contestants show off their stylized footwork. Set up a dance floor to encourage head and back spinning.

Gymnastics are a staple at the Summer Games.

Gymnastics

Set up a tumbling mat for a gymnastics meet. We’re guessing the younger kids will easily take the gold on this one. Have every participant try a forward roll, a cartwheel, a roundoff (remember those?) and a handstand. See who can do the widest splits, if you dare. If you have a trampoline, include a bouncing routine. Who can stick their landing?

Indoor games

Take a break from the sun and heat and head indoors for some events.

Bodybuilders come in all sizes.

Weight lifting

Weight lifting? Anyone can do that. How about weight shifting? Use a variety of weights so everyone can participate. For younger kids, have them race to roll a dumbbell or plate from point A to point B. Bigger kids and adults could carry a weight or swing a kettlebell to knock down barriers in an obstacle course.

Find weights on KSL Classifieds →

Hold events competitors of all ages can try.

Table tennis

Put your coordination to the test with a table tennis event. If the participants regularly play, you can use the usual rules. If you have smaller kids, try games such as Round the World. Make it a bit harder for the adults by requiring each person say a different country on their turn. Give medals for the longest rally or best save.

Shop paddles and tables on KSL Classifieds →

Gaming

If you have no yard at all? Consider hosting an all-indoors Olympics with board, video or online games.

A closing ceremony could include a parade of athletes and winner speeches.

Closing ceremonies

Before you call it a day, gather for the most important part: the closing ceremonies. Turn on some music, hand out some glow sticks and have the athletes walk in a procession. Then gather on the lawn or in your living room for the medal ceremony, victory speeches and maybe national anthem-themed karaoke. And when everyone goes to bed with a smile on their face, you'll know you’ve won gold. 

Find the supplies you need to host your own Olympic Games on KSL Classifieds.