Summer Olympics Party

The Olympic Movement is all about "building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport." That's a party theme right there.

Set up backyard games or take the gang to a local park and get sporty with baseball, volleyball, swimming, or tennis.

Run a foot race like the ancient Greeks, or try a relay race and hand off (replica) Olympic torches.

Have a potluck and ask your guests to bring dishes that reflect their ethnic or cultural heritages.

Decorate with flags of many countries or showcase your national pride.

Build a better world by having an eco-friendly party: use recyclable or reusable party goods.

Challenge your friends to a trivia game. Visit the official website of the Olympic Movement to discover:

• When the Olympic flame was first lit in modern times (Amsterdam 1928)
• Where the Games were first televised (London 1948)
• Who currently holds the women's Olympic record for the 100-meter backstroke (Natalie Coughlin, U.S.A., Athens 2004)

Dig a little deeper and find out who is the oldest athlete to win Olympic gold, which country has the highest medal count, and what those Olympic mascots are all about.

Create an Olympic Q&A game and award the first, second, and third place winners with medals (fashion your own or find them at a party store).

Get your Olympic Games groove on with dinner and a movie:

• Chariots of Fire
• Tokyo Olympiad
• Miracle
• Cool Runnings

Five interlaced rings make up the famous symbol of the Olympic Games. The official Olympic Charter tells us these rings represent "the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games."

Proclaim your Olympic spirit and decorate a sheet cake with Olympic rings in blue, black, red, yellow, and green--or whip up a thematic fruit pizza.

Take your taste buds for a global adventure and connect with the world's largest community of home cooks.

Are you going to watch? What's your favorite Olympic event? Take the survey today!