backyard olympics
Last year, the Olympic games were rescheduledfor obvious, global pandemic-related reasons. But this year, it looks like many of the elite Olympic athleteswe all know and love are heading to Tokyo to give it their all (and heed many safety precautions). And with all the high-stakes athletic feats set to occur overseas, why not plan out some of your own—at home?
Whether you’re a track and field, gymnastics, or opening and closing ceremony enthusiast, we have ideas for the whole family to recreate the excitement of the Summer Olympics in your own backyard.
Like many great athletes before you, you can be on Team USA—apparel-wise, that is. A simple tee bearing the Team USA logo plus that of the classic interlocking rings is well suited for any endeavor, whether it’s participating in your household’s games or staying inside and watching TV.
The Top 5 Backyard Games For Summer
You don’t need much to make one happen—just some space, which can be in a backyard, a public park, an empty high school track, or a quiet neighborhood street, and something to pass between racers. But you can make it look and feel more official with some batons. This one, from Cannon sports, is made of a lightweight aluminum and comes in a wide range of fun colors including blue, gold, red, and purple, so both kids and adults will be happy to pick them up and pass them around.
If you aren't much for sweating it out on the court or field, you may want to turn to athletic-focused video games. Start your Summer Games collection with video games centered around Olympic favorites, including baseball (MLB The Show 20) and soccer (FIFA 20). Or go for a specifically Olympics-themed option, such as the official Tokyo 2020 game or one where Mario and Sonic take on Tokyo.
Ping pong is a great game for people of all ages—but table tennisreaches a whole other level of competitiveness at the Olympics.
Backyard Summer Olympics! Gross Motor Games & Activities
Recruit your family for a friendly game—or start your training for 2024—with this Prince table tennis set. It has a storage area on the leg so you can stash the paddles and balls neatly, and one side of the surface folds up 90 degrees, so you can bat the balls around on your own if no one else is on your level.
Skateboarding is making its Olympic debutthis year. If you didn't qualify, you can work on your wheelies and ollies to gear up for the next Olympics.
One good beginner option is this Meketec penny board. It’s small and compact for portability, but has a sturdy deck and smooth, ball-bearing-equipped wheels to keep you rolling around with ease.
Outdoor Fun With Eight New Backyard Games Stamps
For some, the main draw of the Olympics is not just the feats of endurance put forth by the athletes—it's how they got there in the first place. Luckily, there are many books and movies centered around the Olympics, for your heart-string-tugging pleasure.
, Laura Hillenbrand’s non-fiction account of former Olympic runner Louis Zamperini, who was a prisoner of war in World War II, was adapted to the big screen in 2014 and is available to rent on Amazon Prime. Foxcatcher, the story of two elite wrestling brothers taken in by a bizarre, murderous multi-millionaire was made into a movie in 2014, too.
—a story about two athletes at the 1924 Olympics who bridge their differences through running that won Best Picture at the 1982 Academy Awards—is a must-see. (It doesn’t hurt that it features that iconic score).
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