T-minus three days until the Olympics opening ceremony in Paris. Nothing makes my patriotic heart beat more than these 19 days of adrenaline-inducing competitions. Gymnastics, surfing, diving, soccer, track and field, BMX, you name it, I will be glued to the TV like an iPad kid. While we all can’t be professional athletes, there are definitely ways to feel like you’re on the podium with your gold medal, such as hosting an Olympics watch party. A party full of fun games, themed treats, and international cuisine to cheer on Team USA.
Theme
So, what’s your theme? Will it be focused on a certain sport? Team U.S.A.? Or just all around the Olympics? If you want to focus around a singular sport, take a look at the official schedule.
Assigning each guest a country to represent can add depth to the party as it can expand the food and drink menu and make the games more competitive. They can even dress up in the country’s colors.
Decorations
Decor can make or break a party, especially one like this. Decorate your space to be a quasi Paris with paper chain Olympic rings. Hang a foreign flag garland and/or fill your house with the good ol’ red, white, and blue (reusing Fourth of July decor is a good idea to save money), perhaps an American flag if you’re really feeling it.
Food & Drinks
Make it a potluck! Have everyone bring small plates of dishes from different countries and include little notes about the significance of the meal to its home culture. This is a great way to appreciate the cultures of the many participating nations and to try something new. You can do this as well with drinks. It would be good to have at least one drink dedicated to France, the 2024 Olympics host, such as champagne.
Activities
Of course, you need tournament style games for a party on such an occasion. Transport yourself back to elementary school with field day-styled games such as burlap sack races, tug of war, egg-and-spoon races, or capture the flag.
Have participants wear the colors of their representing country or their favorite athlete. At the end of each game, award the top three with gold, silver, and bronze medals. You can choose to be classic and play the selected country’s national anthem or the winner’s song of choice.
Streaming
When and where you are watching the Olympics will determine how you should stream the event. If your party is during the day, streaming inside is your best bet. If it’s a cool night, grab your laptop, a projector and white sheet to watch it outside! Grab some pillows and blankets for extra comfort.
You can watch the Olympics on NBC, Peacock, E!, USA Network, CNBC, and NBCOlympics.com