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Unless you've been living in a cave somewhere, you know the 2010 Winter Olympics are almost upon us. You also know that this is the time when everything becomes OFFICIAL! Official this, official that...everything is the official whatever of the Olympics. So, why not host THE OFFICIAL PARTY OF THE 2010 Vancouver OLYMPICS? Put together a great theme party with some GAMES of your own...

Olympics Invitations

Send an invitation inviting everyone to your "Olympic Village" where there will be food, fun and entertainment.  When you have your guests RSVP have them indicate whether they want to be a judge, a referee, a participant or a spectator. That way, you'll know how many people are up for, say, pole vaulting!

Party411.com offers a wide variety of personalized Olympic themed invitations. Choose from a backstage pass, patriotic invitations, an olympic athlete and more!

Another style of our biggest selling invitations are ticket invitations.  You get to use your own wording, choose from seven colors and can order as few as 30.  So these are perfect for largest sporting event of the year….The 2010 Winter Games!

Ask your guests to wear a certain color t-shirt (or you can provide different color t-shirts or patches, etc., when they arrive), so that it's easy to divide into teams. Or if team sports aren't your thing, your Olympics could be on an individual basis. Whether people are watching or taking part, it's still a fun time.

Olympics Theme Party Decorations

Flags from around the world will work very well. They come about 6x8 on white vinyl rope (like the kind you see at used car lots). Hang them everywhere - over doors, around and through banisters, fences and railings. (Keep away from hot grills, though.) Hang plenty of patriotic flags garland to show your support for the home team!  You can also use USA cutouts on walls and windows.  The Olympic torch and Olympic rings are fantastic!

You will need a personalized banner on your front door (or wherever) that welcomes everyone to The Olympic Village. I usually go overboard, so once my guests have entered, I would have directional signage on poles (a coat tree works really well) telling them where to go: Olympic Park, etc. You may also want to point out which sport is being played at which location.

It’s important that everyone participate in the fun. A good way to make that happen is to “dress” your guests.  We like the glitter 2010 glasses.  We usually put a patriotic party kit out with some bracelets, beads, and pom poms, and let guests pick what they want to wear. The more gear they grab the more you see inhibitions disappear.

You know we love balloons.  Try decorating your Olympics party with balloons.  (Take a look at our Olympics Theme party for an oversized balloon display of the Olympic rings.)  Use a mixture of red, yellow, blue, green and black latex balloons to match the Olympic rings, or choose all red, white and blue patriotic balloons.  You can also stick with pale blues, silver and white for a winter feel.   

Since this is the Winter Olympics, set the scene to look like you're ready to hit the ski slopes. Start with a snow flurry scene setter that will cover the walls in snow.  Add snowflake danglers hanging from the ceiling. 

Olympic Games Party Menu and Table Decorations

Your table should set the mood. Use patriotic theme paper goods (unless you want an Olympic-sized clean-up when the party is over)... along with some festive glowing barware like red glowing margarita cups, blue glowing shot glasses , or red or blue glowing ice cubes (put them in clear glasses and pitchers!).  Your centerpieces are simple when you use a snowflake centerpiece kit that includes 2 18" foil cascade centerpieces, 3 foil 3-d centerpieces, 5 packs of 12' wire garland and 2 packs of Fabric confetti to scatter!

For your menu, create pavilions (better known as food stations) from countries around the world. Serve egg rolls from Canada; falafel sandwiches from Israel; stuffed shells from Italy; Greek salad from, um?, Greece (of course) and hamburgers and hot dogs to represent the good ol' USA.  Australian fare includes Aussie BBQ meats like Chook (that's Chicken.)

Since the Winter Olympics is in Vancouver, why not celebrate the Maple Leaf with maple theme desserts and candies. Yum!  You can find a wide assortment of recipes on line.  Here's a simple recipe from allrecipes.com for Pure Maple Candy:

Pure Maple Candy

Ingredients

• 2 cups pure maple syrup

• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions

1. In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring the maple syrup to a boil over medium-high heat stirring occasionally. Boil until syrup reaches 235 degrees F (110 degrees C) on a candy thermometer.

2. Remove from heat and cool to 175 degrees F (80 degrees C) without stirring, about 10 minutes.
3. Stir mixture rapidly with a wooden spoon for about 5 minutes until the color turns lighter and mixture becomes thick and creamy. Stir in chopped nuts, if desired.
4. Pour into molds. Set aside to cool. Once cool, unmold candy. Store in airtight containers up to 1 month.

And be sure to have plenty of beverages; all with personalized Olympics themed labels on the bottles. Don’t forget that you create the message so you can craft words that suit the occasion.  Be sure to order extras so your guests can take home a bottle of the “house beverage.”

Then, of course, you'll need signs for the food and bars that say...OFFICIAL BAR OF THE 2010  OLYMPICS, etc. Table tents for each dish...OFFICIAL SALAD OF THE 2010 OLYMPICS.

The "Games" - Olympics Theme Party Games and Activities

You may choose to watch the games on TV, after all, that's the point, right? In between, though, create your own activities; try your own mini Olympics.  Try an assortment of relay races if you've got the space.  Or, if you're ready to brave the cold, go outside and try some winter sports.  It doesn't have to be athletic - build a snowman, see who can throw a snowball the longest, etc.  You get the idea.

Give out gold Olympic medals, silver, bronze, or fun patriotic light up tiaras to the winners!

If you are celebrating someone's birthday, you may want to do things like passing the birthday torch, a birthday cake-eating race, a birthday hat heat, a birthday bash dash, etc. Use more generic games, if the party is just for fun... We have put together a fun selection of games for your Backyard Olympics Games.

Between the games, your guests will be standing in line to have their pictures taken with a sports theme photo opportunity.  Make your guests dreams come true as they are transformed into a muscle man! Or choose a patriotic theme photo op and let your guests be Uncle Sam cheering on Team USA!

And everyone can be both star and paparazzi thanks to personalized cameras.  They’ll be snapping away with these great disposable cameras that are customized just for you.  Be sure to get extras – they are perfect party favors.

Winter Olympic Party Favors

Send your guests home with a sweet reminder from your Olympics party.  If you have already given them a personalized house beverage your work may be done here.  If not, scrumptious milk or dark chocolate candy bar with a personalized Olympic Games wrapper is a delicious souvenir for a wonderful party. 

Or how about sending everyone home with a Proud To Be American CD?  It's got all your favorite patriotic songs, like God Bless America, America the Beautiful, Born in the USA and more. 

We hope you have a wonderful Olympics theme party.  We're sure that as your guests are leaving, they’ll be asking, when is your next event?!

Go for the gold, and cheer for your favorite team, and have fun! - from the Party Girl and the Party-ettes!

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