Keep the Olympic spirit alive and host your own Summer Games—right in your backyard! Transform your lawn into an Olympic arena with items you can find right in your home. If your yard doesn’t make for the best location, take your competition to a local park or a nearby field.

Set your Olympics vibe:

Set up your arena. If you have enough room, use your backyard as the competition space. Remove obstacles like branches or toys and designate a space like a patio or deck as the judges’ stand. Then, create a podium to celebrate the winners at your medal ceremony. 

Make it festive! Decorate your arena with patriotic flags, colorful banners, and flowy streamers. Get creative with cardboard, string, paper, and other crafty items you have at home. Create a starting line with rope or chalk, and measure and mark distances for events like the long jump and javelin throw. 

Set up a fan section. Make room for the cheering section filled with noisemakers, snacks, and drinks. And don’t forget to display your homemade medals—you can make these using cardboard, aluminum foil, or other recycled materials. Ask your guests to bring their own chairs or blankets so they can cheer on the competitors.

Don’t forget the music! Set the stage with the Olympics theme song and other upbeat music perfect for a day of friendly competition. During your opening ceremony, blast the national anthem and use a flashlight wrapped in paper as a symbolic homemade torch! 

Set up your DIY events:

Long jump - Use rope, chalk, or tape to mark a starting line and see who can jump the farthest. Use measuring tape or marked rope to track distances. As athletes prepare for their jump, fans can cheer them on while the judges hold up their scorecards.

Discus throw - Since you probably don’t have a real discus, use a Frisbee or a heavy plastic plate to outthrow the competition.

Javelin throw - Use colorful pool noodles to see who can throw their “javelin” the farthest, or aim for a target like a hula hoop or cone.  

Relay races - Celebrate teamwork by dividing the competitors for classic relay races like the 40-yard dash or another running race. Have fun and use your imagination with silly events like the egg-on-a-spoon race, three-legged race, wheelbarrow races, or a refreshing water balloon toss.  

Hurdles - Construct hurdles of different heights with household items like cardboard boxes, cushions, or pool noodles. 

Gymnastics - Transform a sturdy beam or wooden plank into a balance beam and add obstacles like stacked pillows or rolled-up towels to make it more challenging and fun! Let the athletes choose their favorite music for a floor routine, or have a surprise dance-off!

Target practice - Bean bags, water balloons, or squirt guns are perfect for aiming at any target you choose. Set up plastic bottles and cans or draw a target on a piece of cardboard to see who can get closest to the bullseye. 

During your closing ceremony, award the winners with homemade medals or fun prizes. You can even present silly awards for “best dressed” or “most spirited.” 

You’ll want to remember this super fun time, so be sure to take plenty of pictures and videos of the competitions and the awards ceremony. Whether the athletes are fierce competitors or more laid-back, use your imagination and, most importantly, have fun!

Let us know what Olympic-inspired activities your family is doing this summer!

Email us or give us a shout on our socials. We’re all ears👂!  And if you enjoyed this article, sign up for our weekly newsletter below, with tips, tricks, and trends coming to your inbox every Sunday morning.