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!?)