Monday, February 8, 2010

Go For The Gold!

The 2010 Olympics are upon us and WG2 can vouch for me when I say I am obsessed with anything involving Olympics. I have organized my fair share of Beer Olympics with hope that it may one day become big enough to make it to NBC. (Keep you fingers crossed). Being a fan of The Office and The Olympics, I could not resist posting this photo from the beloved episode of "The Office" when Jim organizes events to help the employees bond on a day when the boss is away. Luckily when Michael Scott returns he is not angry, but rather rewarded with a gold medal crafted from the foil seal on a yogurt cup.


Anyway, I took it upon myself to do some internet searching and found that MANY offices have created their own Office Olympics! Unfortunately teachers are not allowed to leave the children to participate in said events, but we do have In Service and Training days where it wouldn't hurt to incorporate some sportsmanship.


Enough talking, here are some of the best Office Olympic Events I found...


Chair Rowing-Seated competitors must push off with both feet. Bonus points for faking a rowing motion with hands. Coxswain optional.

Target Shooting-Contestants throw Sharpies at paper target from a fixed distance. Must leave a mark (on target, not contestant) to score.

Coffee Mug Marathon-Athletes carrying coffee cups filled to the brim must circle the floor at least six times. Winners are judged by a combination of fastest time and least amount spilled. (Bonus points for using piping-hot coffee.)

Shot Put-Employees attempt to heave a stapler the longest distance using traditional shot-putting techniques. (Event is best held in a parking lot or a padded room.)

Paper Sculling-Individuals or teams construct a boat out of office paper and blow it across a tub of water in head-to-head competition. Sinking is an automatic DQ.

Office Ping-Pong-Clear a conference table and set a line of books across the middle to make a net. Opponents use either a book or a bare hand to compete. Ping-Pong or other bouncy ball required. Hard hats optional.

Hurdles-Competitors race down a hallway, leaping over reams of paper (low difficulty), boxes (medium difficulty), or office chairs (high difficulty/rather stupid).

Book Balance Beam-Athletes prance across a narrow, stacked row of books at least 2 feet high and 8 feet long. Routines are evaluated, rated and, of course, mocked by a panel of judges.

I love the comments we get when we end posts with a question, so I have to ask...does your place of work participate in sports/olympic-like events? (Would it be inappropriate to suggest 'child-hurling' at my school's next training day!?)

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, I wish our office would have these events! I have thought about doing it for my staff in my department. That would be such fun!

Melanie's Randomness said...

I work with 5 men. I really should discuss this post with them. =)

Monica said...

Oh.My.Gosh. The olympics are my fav. (especially winter!) and this post is awesome! I so want to test out these office olympics events. How fun would that be? I work with a bunch of creatives and marketers, so this would probably fly if we can make time for it. How fun! Thanks for sharing.

Unknown said...

We'll have to bring up starting an office pentathlon at our next staff meeting with all this events!
Here's something those behind a computer would excel at: a words per minute typing contest.
Maybe a little athleticism in the office would keep us from secretly watching YouTube and checking our blogs and Twitter pages!

H@ppy Monday :)

Anonymous said...

I love this idea. Though in my "office" there wouldn't be much competition since my offic is just me. Hmmm...Solo Olympics just doesn't have quite the same ring.

Style and You! said...

hey thanks for friending me on 20's B! your blog is cool-IM following you now so follow me. http://justcherishtoday@blogspot. com I hope you have a happy Monday!

Girl About Business said...

I absolutely love the olympics! They are the best thing to watch on TV. I wanted to be Dominique Dawes when I was younger, so much that I made my mom enroll me into gymnastics classes (which I loved BTW, and at 22 still practice the moves I learned at 7).

Office olympics may be a little far-fetched for our uptight office, but seems like fun stuff!

JTS said...

While my company participates in several morale boosting and usually charitable events, my department in particular discourages such things. But this post is great. Enjoy the Olympics.

Amy said...

I love the Olympics. When I was little I'd watch the equestrian events in the summer and then running around the yard pretending I was an Olympic horse. Not the rider...the horse.

We don't do anything fun like that at work but I think it would be a blast!

Marcia said...

No, no office games where I work. My colleagues will all roll-eye at the idea. About two years ago at the head office (building next to where I work) golf games were held in honour of the KLM Open which is held annually. That was fun.

Jenny Girl said...

Unfortunately I work in a no-fun zone. No fun or hilararity will occur in this place of business!
Maybe the next time he is on vacation though....

Monster Librarian said...

WG,

The Farm I work at actually does do Winter Olympics (except every year), to break up the February dulldrum feelings.

Each different work team comes up with events which range from woodsplitting and two person wood sawing to getting a cow into the barn the fastest to the Kitchen's yearly chili cookoff.

They are really fun and usually provide us with lots of laughs, and are something everyone looks forward to each year. I am in charge of the Opening Ceremonies and can say this year will be running the "olympic torches" around the pond to light the olympic bonfire in togas. Yes, we take it that seriously!!