We’ve waited four years for our favorite global athletic events! It’s time to cheer and chant, be enthralled and inspired, and enjoy every adrenaline inducing moment of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games! Why not enjoy the athletic events in style and with your loved ones by hosting an unforgettable watch party?
Guest List and Invitations
First things first, give your guests time to respond and prepare. The Olympics opening ceremony is Friday, August 5 and closing ceremony on Sunday, August 21st. Check the schedule to party plan for your favorite athletic event and/or ceremony. Invite enough guests to have a team of your own gathered, but make sure you enough seating for guests to see the TV and participate. Send invitations via Paperless Post, Evite or email with details, including attire like sports jerseys, and directions.
Decorations
Now’s the fun part. Decorate with the U.S. Flag, international flags, and athletic equipment. Highlight world cultures with global décor. Decorate with a Brazilian flag of blue, green and yellow to pay respect to Brazil while also cheering for your home country pride. Whether you bake red, white and blue cookies, provide soccer balls and swimming goggles, set the scene for your watch party with patriotic colors and décor.
Interact with the Games
As you watch the events and keep track of your favorite athletes. Make scorecards for your guests to judge athletes like professionals on a scale of 1-10. Make the party about more than just watching the Olympics. Get involved!
Create Your Own Olympics
What will you do during commercial breaks? It’s the perfect time to design and host games that children and adults can play. For example, Athlete Bingo, rubber band archery, candy toss into cups and tug-of-war are fun ideas for the Commercial Break Games. Make gold, silver and bronze medals for the winners too.
Patriotic Snacks
If things are getting too competitive, on the screen and during your commercial break, indulge in some snacks. Be creative with your menu. From red, white and blue fruit plates, sangria, popsicles, patriotic punch and American cheesecake, the options are endless. Give a nod to the host country Brazil with some themed cookies as seen below.
Music
Make a playlist for your party. Choose some inspirational music, the national anthem, Brazilian samba and funk. Play the tunes as background music to allow for conversation and set the stage.
Party Favors
Make sure your guests leave happy, enthused and excited about the Olympics Games! Party favors such as ice cream cone snack torches filled with popcorn or Cheetos, patriotic candies and cold water bottles make the perfect personalized touch your guests appreciate.
Let the Games Begin!
Sharon Schweitzer, J.D., is a cross-cultural consultant, an international protocol expert and the founder of Protocol & Etiquette Worldwide. She is accredited in intercultural management, is the resident etiquette expert for CBS Austin’s We Are Austin, regularly quoted by BBC Capital, Investor’s Business Daily, Fortune, Inc., The New York Times, and numerous other media. She is the best-selling, international award-winning author of Access to Asia: Your Multicultural Business Guide, named to Kirkus Review’s Best Books of 2015.