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We have all been inspired by the Olympics and Paralympics, so let's put our Michael Knight and SOCOG hats on and organise the worlds best Backyard Olympics. It will be a great day for all ages so invite your friends over and let the games begin.

The Backyard Olympics

Invitation

Send an official letter congratulating each person on their selection in the Backyard Olympics. Invite them to your Olympic Village for food, fun and some serious competition. Let them choose whether they want to be an official or competitor. If they are competing ask them to wear a certain color shirt so it is easy to separate the teams.

Preparation

A little preparation is required to stage the best ever backyard olympics. International flags and balloons should be placed all around the house. You will need signs and plenty of them. Place a 'Welcome to the Olympic Village' sign at the front door. Signpost all the olympic venues. Don't forget to label the official olympic sponsors such as the OFFICIAL OLYMPIC ESKY and the pet dog (or wombat if you have one) can be the OFFICIAL OLYMPIC MASCOT. 

A podium will be required and this can be as simple or as fancy as you like. My suggestion, milk crates. Don't forget the Olympic Cauldron. A 44 gallon drum would look pretty classy just between you and me. Medals will also be needed. Either make them yourself, get some novelty gifts, or print out some official, but humorous, certificates for the winners.

Make some flags out of old sheets for the various teams, give each team a name and choose some team anthems. However, you could let the teams prepare this on the day for their first bonding session.

Other than the Olympic preparations don't forget the basics such as catering for food and drinks. This could be nothing more complicated than cooking up a BBQ, making a few salads and preparing some nibblies. A large esky to hold the athletes refreshment is essential. Another catering idea for the Backyard Olympics is to ask everyone to bring an international dish, which will add to the Olympic feel.

If you require a marquee, decorations, caterers, a BBQ, kegs, or extra tables and chairs for your olympics, try our Party Supplies page.

The Games

When everybody arrives, split them into teams (some T-Shirt swapping may be required) and introduce each team to their team name, flag and anthem. Don't forget to light the Olympic flame in true Australian fashion. Perhaps a sacrificial newspaper burning ceremony or a spectacular display of sparklers.

Then it's time for the real action. You can make the games as fun or as serious as you like, and naturally some people will take it more seriously than other. Here are a few of our suggestions.

* Marksman - Use a gun with a suction cap projectile. A steady hand is a must. Random drugs tests may be required if performance enhancing or inhibiting drugs are suspected. 

*15 metre Dog Paddle - Should be an olympic event, but never mind it qualifies for the Backyard Olympics if you have a pool.

* 30 metre lilo race - Bring out that most sturdy form of water craft; the ever faithful lilo. The competitors must sit on the lilo, paddle one lap, pick up a passenger and paddle back.

* Cross Dress Relay - Each team has a pile of similar clothes in front of them. The first competitor must dress up in all the clothes from the pile, then remove them all. When he or she has finished the next competitor repeats the process. The team that dresses and undresses the quickest, wins.

* Team Bocce - Great backyard sport, ideal for the Backyard Olympics. Play first to 11, the winner of each end choses the length and terrain of the next end.

* World Championship Chess - This may get serious as the backyard chessmasters strut their stuff.

* Discus (Frisbee) - Out to the local park for this event. The event is a simple case of who can throw the frisbee the furthest. Each competitor should get three attempts.

* Longest Kick - While we're at the park bring out the football for the longest kick event. A great Aussie tradition and no doubt a very proud winner will have a tear in his eye when presented with a gold medal for the longest kick at the Backyard Olympics.

* Tug of War - The ultimate test of strength as each team battles for supremacy, or loses graciously by letting go of the rope and watching the other team take a tumble.

* Ironman Event - The ultimate endurance event and a great way to finish competition. An obstacle course needs to be set up and one player from each team competes. The event starts by completing a lap of the obstacle course, followed by eating a raw egg, another lap of the course, eat three Sayos or Weetbix, another lap of the course, a schooner of beer must be drunk (not spilt), and one final lap of the course. The ironman can certainly be considered the blue ribbon Backyard Olympic event.

No doubt there are many more events you can think of. The fun is only limited by your imagination. Don't forget the medal ceremonies complete with team flags and anthem.

The Backyard Olympics are now officially over so its time for the after olympics party (when does it stop??). Turn on the music, sit down with a couple of cleansing ales and listen to all the gloating and hard luck stories. Don't forget to extinguish the olympic flame before retiring for the night. I am sure some of the boys may be able to assist with this traditional ceremony.

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