Can’t make it to the Summer Olympics in China?

Host your own Summer Olympics in your backyard!

Whether you are celebrating with your family, or with a crowd of friends and neighbors, we’ve created Olympic events for everyone to have fun with!

• http://www.escapadedirect.com/discus.html – Discus Throwing requires athletes to throw a lens-shaped disc as far as they can. The disc used in the Olympics is generally made from a heavy metal with a rubber, plastic, or wood border. Click here to see our variation of the Discus Throwing event.
  
• http://www.escapadedirect.com/hurdles.html – Olympic hurdles events are run on a track, with 10 hurdles set up along the track. The hurdles vary in height, and are set at different heights for men and women. Athletes run within their own track, jumping the hurdles to the finish line. Click here to see our variation of the Hurdles event.
  
• http://www.escapadedirect.com/shotput.html – Shot Put is an Olympic throwing event, however, the athletes “put” the shot, they don’t throw it. The Olympic shot is made of iron or brass. Click here to see our variation of the Shot Put event.
  
• http://www.escapadedirect.com/sprint.html – Sprint races in the Olympics are fast-paced, explosive races run outdoors on a track. Athletes must exert great speed as they race to the finish line. Click here to see our variation of the Sprint event.
  
• http://www.escapadedirect.com/diving.html – In the Olympic Diving competition, athletes perform a series of dives and are awarded points for each dive, based on the
  dive’s difficulty and the types of maneuvers attempted. Click here to see our variation of the Diving event.
  
• http://www.escapadedirect.com/swimming.html – Sychronized Swimming in the Olympics is a combination of swimming, gymnastics, and ballet. Click here to see our variation of the Synchronized Swimming event.
  
• http://www.escapadedirect.com/waterpolo.html – Water Polo is a team Olympic event that combines swimming, soccer, rugby, basketball, ice hockey, and wrestling! Click here to see our variation of the Water Polo event.
  
• http://www.escapadedirect.com/artistic.html – Artistic Gymnastics is an Olympic event where athletes perform a short gymnastic routine using various apparatus. Click here to see our variation of the Artistic Gymnastic event.
  
• http://www.escapadedirect.com/balancebeam.html – The Balance Beam gymnastics event in the Olympics is a combination of dance elements and a dismount. Athletes exhibit their flexibility, rhythm, balance, and elegance. Click here to see our variation of the Balance Beam Gymnastic event.
  
• http://www.escapadedirect.com/floorexercises.html – The Gymnastic Floor Exercises in the Olympics include tumbling and acrobatic elements, combined with strength,
  balance, flexibility, and choreographic combinations. Click here to see our variation of the Floor Exercises event.
  
• http://www.escapadedirect.com/rhythmic.html – Rhythmic Gymnastics in the Olympics is a combination of athletics and ballet. Athletes perform to music using an apparatus of their choice. Click here to see our variation of the Rhythmic Gymnastics event.
  
• http://www.escapadedirect.com/rowing.html – Rowing is an Olympic water sport of speed and endurance. It involves rowing in narrow boats. Click here to see our variation of the Rowing event.
  
• http://www.escapadedirect.com/shooting.html – Shooting is an Olympic event of precision and accuracy, shooting a rifle or pistol. Click here to see our variation of the Shooting event.
  
• http://www.escapadedirect.com/volleyball.html – Volleyball and Beach Volleyball are team Olympic sports. Click here to see our variation of the Volleyball event.
  
• http://www.escapadedirect.com/weightlifting.html – Weightlifting in the Olympics is a strength sport event. The goal of weightlifting is to lift heavy weights attached to steel bars. Click here to see our variation of the Weightlifting event.
  

In addition to fun events to get your family active, we have created FREE printables and puzzles that you can download and use.

• Olympic Picture Puzzle – http://www.escapadedirect.com/printandplay.html – The symbols shown are used to identify the sports of the Summer Olympics. Identify each symbol and write the sport it represents beneath the symbol. A list of all sport events and solution is provided.
  
• Olympic Awards – http://www.escapadedirect.com/helpfulforms.html – Use this certificate and medal to award the participants of your Backyard Olympics!
  
• Olympic Research Form – http://www.escapadedirect.com/helpfulforms.html – Use this fill-in-the-blank research activity to learn more about your favorite Olympic sport. Research the origin of the sport, where the sport is popular, the rules of the sport, and any interesting facts about the sport.
  
• Olympic Symbols Puzzle – http://www.escapadedirect.com/printandplay.html – The symbols shown are used to identify the sports of the Summer Olympics. Identify each symbol and write the sport it represents beneath the symbol. A list of all sport events and solution is provided.
  
• Olympic Picture It™ Puzzles – http://www.escapadedirect.com/pictureit.html – Fifteen different Picture It™ puzzles of the Summer Olympic events.
  

Have a fabulous Olympics!