When it comes to parties, no one knows more about the who’s, what’s and why’s than celebration guru Penny Warner, author of more than a dozen books, including The Best Party Book, Slumber Parties, Kids’ Outdoor Parties and Baby Birthday Parties. We asked Penny to share her thoughts on parties to celebrate the 2006 Olympic Winter Games. With her ideas, your TV and a roomful of family and friends, you can host an Olympic party good enough to win a gold medal. What should we keep in mind when planning a party for families and multiple age groups?

Be sure to have a variety of activities for all ages, so no one feels left out and the kids don’t become bored.

Should we plan some outdoor activities in honor of the winter theme?

It’s fun to play in the snow, as long as it’s not coming down hard and it’s not slippery and dangerous. Plan an outdoor game, such as tag football, to warm up the players and burn off some of the energy, but have a back-up plan for indoors in case you can’t go outside.

What decorations do you suggest?

•    Make an invitation that looks like an Olympic torch. Write “Let the Games Begin” on the outside, with party details inside.

•    Ask guests to come dressed as their favorite Olympian or in an outfit from one of the Olympic sports. Then have other guests try to guess what or who they represent. Or ask everyone to wear red, white and blue for a patriotic look.

•    Welcome the guests with a large sign on the front door that reads, “Olympic Village.” Label props in the party room, such as “Official Buffet Table of the 2006 Olympics” and “Official Sofa of the 2006 Olympics.”

•    Decorate the party room in red, white and blue, or use the colors of the Olympics rings: blue, yellow, black, green and red. Set up seating in rows like bleachers, and then place sports equipment around the room. Hang up banners with USA team names, posters of Olympic stars, and dangle five large rings (cut from poster board and spray painted) from the ceiling.

•    Decorate the table with score sheets, sports-related paper products, and red, white and blue placemats, plates, cups and napkins. Make a centerpiece of international flags.

What activities can we plan?

•    Have a trivia contest with questions and stats from previous Olympic games. Award ribbons, medals or trophies to the three guests who provide the most correct answers.

•    Play “Name that Flag.” Create a poster or computer printout picturing the flags of the world. Cover up the flag’s country of origin and have guests guess. Whoever names the most flags correctly wins.

•    Host your own mini-Olympics – outdoors or in – with silly sports, such as an obstacle course, headstands and balance beam.

•    Have relay races with lit torches (candles), cups of water or balls balanced on your heads.

Cathy Ashby is the editor of Carolina Parent magazine.

SIDEBAR:

What to Eat?

    Add a dash of Olympic spirit to your menu by inviting guests to bring their favorite Italian foods to a potluck in honor of the host of the 2006 Winter Games: Torino, Italy. Or, make sugar cookies decorated with gold icing to represent the gold medals that your favorite athletes will win. Or, cook up one of these recipes from U.S. hopefuls:

Jenny Potter, USA Women’s National Hockey Team

My daughter, Madison (Maddy), likes spaghetti and meatballs. Here is the recipe I use for the meatballs.

Spaghetti and Meatballs

2 eggs, well beaten

1.5 pounds ground beef

1 clove garlic

3 tablespoons parsley

1.5 teaspoons salt

1/3 cup parmesan cheese

Mix ingredients together and then roll into meatballs. Then, cook them in the oven at 425F or in an electric frying pan. When the meat is cooked, add spaghetti sauce and heat. Serve over cooked spaghetti noodles. (Makes 4 servings.)

Katie Orscher, USA Pairs Figure Skating

I’m excited to go to Italy to represent the U.S. and compete in the Olympics, but also to expand my knowledge of the country — specifically their cuisine. I hope to visit the markets in the towns to see how Italian people shop for produce. The different seasonings and spices interest me especially in trying to concoct different recipes for a cookbook I am writing. I like cooking with seafood, but I decided to use chicken for this dish:

Katie’s “Kacciatore”

2 tablespoons olive oil

3 garlic cloves, minced

2 heaping tablespoons of basil

2 cups tomatoes, chopped

2 4½ oz cans of sliced black olives

½ cup onion, chopped

2 chicken breasts

¼ cup artichoke hearts

¼ cup capers

4 cups spinach, fresh, raw

2 cups mushrooms, sliced, fresh, raw

1 box (1 lb) pasta (preferably whole wheat)

3 tablespoons pesto

In a medium saucepan, simmer garlic in 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add onion, olives and tomatoes. Simmer until cooked through (about five minutes). Set aside. Meanwhile, boil water for pasta. Follow pasta instructions on box. In a large saucepan, cook chicken in 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat until meat is tender. Reduce heat to medium, add artichokes and capers, and cook for two minutes. Add mushrooms and spinach; cook for five minutes, covered. Add tomato mixture to chicken mixture, then add basil and mix well. When the pasta is cooked, add the pesto and mix well. Serve chicken mixture over the pasta.