by Katie Julius
The Olympic Games are officially underway! This weekend was filled with competitions in a number of different sports and disciplines, which continue through August 11 (the Paralympics will be held August 28 – September 8). From some of the more popular sports like swimming, artistic gymnastics, and beach volleyball to some of the more obscure sports such as trampoline, fencing, and handball, athletes will vie to take home one of the 329 gold medals in 32 sports up for grabs in Paris this year.
So, now that we’ve learned a little about the history of the Olympics and this year’s host country, it’s time to get off the couch and get active as we explore the sports of the Olympic Games.
To start, we need to find out which sports athletes participate in during the Games. Each host city is given some leeway to determine which competitions will be held. For example, you won’t find baseball or softball at the Games this summer, but both will return for the Games in Los Angeles. To see a list of each sport with competitions being held in Paris (many of which have multiple disciplines and/or events), check out Olympics.com. You can use the drop down menus to filter your search if you want to see which sports have held competitions in the past or which will be coming in the future.
You can have each family member choose a sport to learn more about or select several as a family to explore together.
History & Rules
From the page linked above, you can click on any of the sports to learn more about them. If there is a competition in that sport at the Paris Games, it has information about the schedule, events, medals, and more. For each sport listed (past, current, and future), there are details about the history of the sport, a brief overview of the rules, and the history of the sport in the Olympics when applicable.
You can dive in further by visiting your library or searching for resources on the Internet. Each sport has a governing body that oversees the rules and competitions, so that’s a great place to get more information as well.
Athletes
Select an athlete (past or present) who plays the chosen sport and write an age-appropriate biography. Your kids could even do a “living history” presentation and dress up as that person and share what they’ve learned. If they’re competing in Paris, find out when they’re competing and tune in to watch.
Watch the Competition
I’m sure many of you parents can remember the anticipation of women’s gymnastics team finals with Kerri Strug in Atlanta in 1996 or the excitement of swimming as Michael Phelps captured his record 8 gold medals in Beijing in 2008. By watching together with your family, you are creating similar memories with this new generation of athletes. There are competitions broadcast around the clock on a number of platforms (television, cable, streaming). Just check out the schedule for the sport(s) you are interested in viewing. [Editor’s Note: We’ve been watching competitions across a number of sports the last few days and have not encountered the disturbing and inappropriate content that was on display during the Opening Ceremony. However, we still encourage families to use their discretion.]
Try It Out
While watching others compete can be a thrilling experience, nothing can beat participating in the sport yourself. This might be easier for some sports than others. Soccer, basketball, or even synchronized swimming is something you can try out on your own. It requires minimal equipment and the venues are plentiful. Others may require taking a class or signing up to participate in a season, but if it’s something you are committed to trying, you may end up with the next Olympic superstar on your hands! Many youth sports organizations have reported increased enrollment and interest in the sport as a result of the influence of the Olympic Games.
You Decide
Not every single sport in existence is represented at the Olympics (even when you combine summer and winter sports). Is there a sport that used to be part of the Games that you think still should be? Is there a sport that has never been part of the Olympics that you think should be added? Write a persuasive essay justifying your reasoning. Alternatively, write and give a persuasive speech (include visuals, too) and then have your family vote on whether they think it should be included or not. You can even create the pictogram for the event based on your favorite city’s design.
The motto of the modern Olympic Games is “Citius, Altius, Fortius – Communiter” (Latin for “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together”). While the event’s purpose is competition, the spirit of the Games is to bring the world together to celebrate not only sport, but sportsmanship and community. We hope you and your family have enjoyed learning alongside us this summer and pray that as you prepare to start the school year, you will be blessed and encouraged.