Create your own Olympic fun

With the Olympic Games beginning in a matter of days, Condor Properties explain how you can get in on the action without a ticket...

Let’s face it; the Olympic Games are about as student friendly as a weekly shop in M&S. Of course it’s a great coup for the country and a once in a lifetime opportunity for those who are attending, but if you couldn’t afford tickets then the Games may as well be held in Mogadishu.

Well, that’s not entirely true and to prove it Condor Properties have come up with some cracking ideas to help you bring the spirit of London 2012 into your lives this summer – assuming we get one.

Create your own Games

Who cares which team wins the synchronised swimming when you’ve got your own Olympics to contend with? At least that’s what some students at Cardiff University thought when they first conceived the idea of Man Olympics in 2008.

“We were bored, skint and looking for a laugh so we came up with this annual event called Man Olympics,” says Dan Alexander, a journalism student.

“The events include poker, penalty shootouts, pitch and putt golf, killer pool, quasar, darts, a Pro Evo tournament and a pint downing contents.”

Dan and his pals take a weekend in August to complete the events; the loser pays for a night out at the end and is called “princess” for the next 12 months.

“Our girlfriends were so inspired by the event they’ve started a Woman Olympics – one of the events is a race in high heels.”

Host an Olympic party

If that sounds too competitive, why not organise an Olympic party? You could make it fancy dress (a London theme perhaps) and have a few light events that can be done whilst knocking back heroic quantities of Pimms.

“The opening ceremony is a great excuse for a party, so I’m hosting a fancy dress, Olympic themed soiree,” says Isobel Allen, a student at Exeter University.

“They’ll be a few easygoing games like badminton, boules and croquet – the kind of things you can play with a drink in your hand basically.”

And if you follow party planner, Rose Petit’s advice, you’ll barely have to buy any supplies for the party.

“Assign each guest with a country competing in the Olympics and charge them with the task of bringing some food or drink associated with that country,” she says.

“It’s amazing how much enthusiasm this injects into your guests – and it will cut your costs too.”

An Olympic sweepstake

On separate pieces of paper write down all the nations competing in the Olympics, put the names in a hat and get your family and friends to pay a quid for a lucky dip. The person with the country that wins most medals gets all the money. Unlike the Olympics, there are no prices for second or third.