Adventist Adventurer Awards and Answers/Olympics

Olympics
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Learn a little about the Olympic Games

Where and when were they first held? When will the next Games held?

The first opening ceremonies were held during the 1908 Olympic Games in London. The next Games will be held in Beijing 2022.

Opening Ceremony Procession Order

During the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, the procession of athletes is always led by the Greek team, followed by all the other teams in alphabetical order (in the language of the hosting country), except for the last team which is always the team of the hosting country.

Olympic Events:

- The events in the Summer Olympics include: archery, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, canoeing, cycling, diving, equestrian, fencing, football (soccer), gymnastics, handball, hockey, judo, kayaking, marathon, pentathlon, ping pong, rowing, sailing, shooting, swimming, taekwando, tennis, track and field (many running, jumping, and throwing events), triathlon, volleyball, water polo, weightlifting, and wrestling (freestyle and Greco-Roman).

- The events in the Winter Olympics include: ice hockey, figure skating, speed skating, snowboarding, luge, bobsleigh, skeleton (a type of sledding), curling, cross-country skiing, freestyle skiing, slalom, downhill (Alpine) skiing, ski jumping, Nordic combined (skiing plus ski jumping), and biathlon (skiing and shooting).

Make an Olympic Banner.

You will find a templete to create a Olympic banner at Enchanted Learning

The Official Olympic Flag Created by Pierre de Coubertin in 1914, the Olympic flag contains five interconnected rings on a white background. The five rings symbolize the five significant continents and are interconnected to symbolize the friendship to be gained from these international competitions. The rings, from left to right, are blue, yellow, black, green, and red. The colors were chosen because at least one of them appeared on the flag of every country in the world. The Olympic flag was first flown during the 1920 Olympic Games.

Make an Olympic Torch.

The Olympic Torch is a practice continued from the ancient Olympic Games. In Olympia (Greece), a flame was ignited by the sun and then kept burning until the closing of the Olympic Games. The flame first appeared in the modern Olympics at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam. The flame itself represents a number of things, including purity and the endeavor for perfection. In 1936, the chairman of the organizing committee for the 1936 Olympic Games, Carl Diem, suggested what is now the modern Olympic Torch relay. The Olympic flame is lit at the ancient site of Olympia by women wearing ancient-style robes and using a curved mirror and the sun. This flame begins its Olympic Torch Relay by touring Greece. The flame is normally taken to the country where the games will be held (usually by airplane). The flame is then carried around the country where the games are to be held, using a series of torches carried by people running, walking, riding horses and camels, scuba diving, and using other means of human conveyance. The last runner uses a torch to light the large Olympic torch which burns throughout the games. The flame is extinguished during the closing ceremony. A new Olympic torch is designed for each of the games.

- Play an Olympic game.

Here are just a few games, but any games that are suitable for a preschool birthday party can be implemented. These need to be conducted outdoors or a large and safe ventilated area.

Materials: balloons (1 per child), a few craft feathers (craft store), drinking straws, Easter plastic eggs and plastic spoons.

Game One: The Drinking Straw Race

Each racer holds a bent drinking straw between his or her nose and upper lip. Make a demonstration. The children curl their lip to hold it tight. See who can run to the finish line without losing the straw. Make sure it is a short distance.

Game 2: The Balloon Between the Knee Race

Inflate the balloon, but not too much so that it fits comfortably between the knees of the child. Have the children put the balloon between their knees and run or hop to the fish line.

Game 3: Hug-the-Balloon-Friend Relay

Place a balloon between two children's tummies. Have the children hug each other tight and move sideways to the finish line without dropping the balloon.

Game 4: Birdie Feather Race

Have the children take off one shoe and sock on one foot. Tuck a feather between two toes. The children will walk to finish line without losing the feather, if they do they go back to the start and try again. This can also be done with both feet (older children) and instruct them to walk like ducks.

Game 5: Backward Race

This is very easy for the youngest children. Just walk fast backwards trying not to bump into each other to the finish line.

Game 6: The Egg-A-Thon Race or Relay

Use plastic Easter eggs and plastic spoons. Children will try to walk fast holding the egg in the spoon on to the finish line. It can also be done as a relay and have one child in the middle of the race line waiting. The children transfer the egg to his relay partner's spoon and go!

Olympic Games Closing Activity

Make sure to have an ending ceremony holding the flag and sing one of the songs again.

It is important that the games be fun and competition is not the focus. Everyone is a winner for participating.

Make sure to have drinks and sunscreen while outdoors! Plan for fun healthy snacks depending on the season the activity is held.

Make an Olympic color chain.

Tissue Paper Olympic Rings Craft

This Olympic craft was designed by the FreeKidsCrafts team to help everyone get into the Olympic spirit. Great craft to teach color recognition and coordination.

- Supplies

Olympic rings pattern (click on printables)

Tissue Paper

Red, Black, Green, Blue, and Yellow

White Glue

Cardstock or Heavy paper

- Instructions

Click on printables and print out Olympic Rings pattern. Cut out around the outside of the rings leaving a small border before you glue the tissue paper. Do not cut out the inside of the rings or it will become too flimsy to work on. Cut tissue paper into 1"squares. Crumple each piece into a tight ball. Dip into white glue and place onto pattern. Continue crumpling and gluing down pieces until the entire pattern is filled

Memorize II Timothy 4:7.

II Timothy 4:7 (NIV)
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Who in the New Testament talks about running a race?

Paul

Discuss with your parent or teacher what I Corinthians 9:24-26 means.

I Corinthians 9:24-26 (NIV)

:²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

²⁵ Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

²⁶ Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.

In the Bible, Paul writes about athletes who train hard. The athletes don’t just want to be fit. They want to win! Use the five spiritual fitness steps to train yourself spiritually.

Here’s a spiritual fitness plan:

Read your Bible and think about what God says.
Spend time in prayer every day.
Pray for others who need special help.
Do at least one loving thing for someone each day.
Try to please God in everything you do.

External Resources (PDF)

Olympic Certificates

Olympic Medals

Coloring Page Olympic Flame

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