Many people find this time of year rather drab and ho-hum. Temperatures dip, snow and sleet threaten the area and we eagerly await the arrival of spring.
Good news, Kansas City: The 2010 Winter Olympics are taking place Feb. 12-28. What a great way to lift us out of our winter blues! More than two weeks of exhilarating sports, heartwarming stories and history-in-the-making competition will take place in Vancouver, British Columbia, and best of all, we don’t have to leave the comfort of our homes to enjoy it all.
Many parents watch the Olympics with their kids, but how many families have gone beyond merely viewing them on TV? Celebrate the Olympics by making them truly a family event. Here are a few ideas:
Fun with Facts
One of my favorite things about the Olympics is learning about the host city. Turn this into a family affair by gathering a few facts about Vancouver (average temperature, population, commerce, etc.) and writing them on a poster board. Go to www.Vancouver.com to learn more about the city, or check out books from the library. Have the kids draw the British Columbia flag and the Canadian flag on the poster board, and add information as you learn more throughout the Games.
Have you heard of Azerbaijan or Moldova? Most people haven’t, yet these nations are competing in the Winter Olympics. A fun way to learn about geography is to have family members select an unfamiliar country, find it on a map and recreate the flag using paper and markers. Go to www.Olympic.org for a list of countries and flags.
Getting Crafty
You probably know what the Olympic rings look like, but do you know what they symbolize? The five interlocking rings represent the continents of Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia and Europe. The rings are interlocked to show unity among the nations.
The five colors of the rings are blue, yellow, black, green and red. At least one of these colors appears in the flag of every nation.
Here is a simple Olympic rings craft your family can do: Cut the centers out of five paper plates, leaving only a 1-2 inch rim. Color each rim one color of the Olympic rings, and assemble with glue or tape. Or you can leave the rings separate and use them in a game of bean bag toss.
The Olympic torch is a widely recognized symbol of the Olympics with its origins going back to ancient Greece, when a fire was kept burning throughout the Games. Families can make their own Olympic torch at home by gluing red, yellow and orange cellophane or construction paper to the inside of a paper towel tube. Personalize the torch by decorating the cardboard tube with markers or stickers.
Since the 1968 Olympics, the Games have had a mascot, usually an animal native to the area or a human figure representing the cultural heritage. Why not make a family mascot? Gather materials like newspaper, cardboard, Styrofoam, paints, etc., and work together to create a mascot that represents the unique qualities of your family.
Family Games
Your family can have its own friendly competition during the Olympics. Here are a couple of ideas:
Family members can team up and choose a country to follow throughout the Games. Make a chart and put a sticker on it each time your team’s country medals. A complete listing of medalists can be found on many websites, including www.KansasCity.com.
Or how about having a snowflake cutting contest? Gather some paper, scissors and glitter and see who can create the fanciest snowflake in a predetermined amount of time.
Forget the dreary weather in Kansas City. Get on your comfy lounge pants, grab some hot cocoa and let the Games begin!
Fun Olympic Facts:
- More than 80 nations and 5,500 athletes are expected to participate in the 2010 Winter Olympics.
- About 2.3 million spectators will attend.
- 86 sports events will be showcased.
- The estimated cost of the 2010 Winter Olympics is $1.76 billion.
- Sochi, Russia, will host the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Tisha Foley and her family will be cheering for the USA from their home in Belton.