Hosting Your Own Summer Games
Venues from Atlanta’s 1996 Games offer Olympic-sized fun.
Treats and crafts perfect for cheering on Team USA
Enter to win tickets to see the 2016 U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team on Oct. 29
What better time to get active? Join in on the Games by hosting your own Olympics right at home – even better, the tips use household items like paper towel rolls, paper plates, markers and pool noodles – things many Atlantans already have at home. From the javelin throw to balloon tennis and Olympic bowling, these tips will make kids of all ages feel like they’re at the Olympics themselves.
Javelin Throw
You’ll need straws, multiple plastic bowls and pool noodles
Identify your point system by determining how many points each successful toss will earn (the further the toss, the higher the points should be)
To play inside: Line bowls up in a single file line, identify a line that contestants must stand behind, have contestants throw straws into bowls earning points for each successful toss. Of course make sure you’re in a play room or space that’s safe. This version may also be played outside.
To play outside: Identify a line that contestants must stand behind, give each contestant one or more pool noodles, have contestants take turns throwing pool noodles (one at a time), seeing who can throw the noodle the furthest
Balloon Tennis
You’ll need balloons, a basket and paddles (a fly swatter, ping pong paddle, etc.), one per contestant
Blow up balloons
Form two teams
Have team members hit balloons back and forth, keeping in the air as long as possible
As balloons fall to ground, place them in the basket
To make the game more difficult, use multiple balloons
Olympic bowling
You’ll need 10 empty clear plastic bottles, 10 glow sticks and a ball
Crack glow sticks to activate them and drop one each in the plastic bottles
Arrange plastic bottles in bowling pin arrangement
Have contestants roll ball toward bottles, keeping track of how many bottles each contestant knocks down
