February 2018 is your chance to “go for the gold” as a party-thrower extraordinaire. When the world’s greatest skiers, bobsledders, and skaters gather in PyeongChang, South Korea, for the 2018 Winter Olympics, take this quadrennial opportunity to gather family and friends together for a party of Olympian proportions. From food to fun, here are some tips for throwing a party that lands you atop the winner’s podium.

Food with International Flair

Focus on food that not only tastes great but also looks like it came straight from the Olympic Village.

• Recreate the Olympic rings in multi-colored icing on cakes or cupcakes.
• Make pizza with the pepperoni arranged in the five interlocking rings.
• Serve treats in waffle or sugar cones to resemble the Olympic torch.
• Highlight the theme of international fellowship by serving cuisine from a variety of cultures—i.e., American-style hot dogs, Italian meatballs, Chinese egg rolls, and, in honor of the host country, Korean barbecue.
• Put miniature flags on your serving platters to identify the food’s country of origin.

 

Decorate Like a Champion

Check party supply stores and websites for various Olympic-themed party decorations. Feeling creative? You can make your own decorations.

• Make Olympic torches using paper towel tubes, gold paint, and orange and yellow tissue paper.
• Create the Olympic rings from hula-hoops covered in the appropriate-colored fabrics.
• Use interlocking balloons to represent the Olympic rings, filling them with helium so they float above your food or beverage tables.

 

Let the Games Begin

Watching great athletes compete on your big-screen TV will certainly be a highlight of your party, but guests will have even more fun if you plan some Olympic-style games. Here are just a few ideas that will allow partygoers to indulge their inner Olympic champion:

• Olympic ring toss: Throw colored rings onto wooden pegs of varying point values. Whoever scores the most points takes the gold.
• Sock skating: For this competition, you’ll need to clear a spacious area with a hardwood, laminate, or tile floor. Competitors will take off their shoes and race, two at a time, to the finish line. Have the two players with the fastest times skate to a final showdown to claim Olympic gold.
• Air or table hockey: Recreate the Miracle on Ice with a round-robin hockey tournament. Give the gold medal to the winning player or team.
• Tabletop curling: Make your own miniature curling sheet, covering it with laminate or clear contact paper. Use coins to act as your “stones.” The top team will be the winner.

 

To wrap up your part of Olympic proportions, host a closing ceremony in which the winners receive their gold medals attached to red, white, and blue lanyards. Make the ceremony more authentic by playing the national anthem or Olympic theme song. And, once the competition comes to a close, heating your muscles in your Jacuzzi® Hot Tub will be the best part of the day.  In reality, everybody wins by participating in a party with great food, great company, and Olympic-inspired activities they won’t soon forget.