Office Olympics: Original Games that Put Minute to Win it to the Test

We all know the community events which transpire on July 4th, Memorial Day, or during the Christmas season. But what about those other "Hallmark Holidays" such as Secretary's Day, Groundhog Day, or Earth Day? Just because they are fairly new second cousins to the big boys; doesn't mean we should treat them with any less fanfare. What about those wild and crazy people who like to do double triathlons and mega-endurance events. They need a place to celebrate their uniqueness too! Besides - everybody's booked up on the major holidays.

And so began the brainstorming session which would turn up several skewed ideas for unique special events for American Military members in Europe. Little did we know that many years later some similar zany games would be on primetime TV with all of America acting silly and practicing to become participants on a game show with millions watching. So starts the journey into creating Office Olympics.

The first was the Earth Day Games - held during the week on the actual holiday. A letter from the commander authorized all participants the afternoon off work to join the festivities. A free half- day off would surely secure lots-o-teams! Teams of 3 people would "pay" an entry fee of one potted house plant to participate in such games as:

RAINMAKER RACE - the object is to fill a watering cup by "milking" water out of rubber surgical gloves with pinpoint holes in each finger filled with water and running the cup around a pylon obstacle course to water a plant at the other end. Fastest time wins points.

RECYCLE SACK HOP - In Germany; they have yellow trash bags for storing plastic trash. Using the traditional sack race rules; swap recycling sack for a burlap bag.

LAWNMOWER OBSTACLE COURSE RELAY - Using push mowers which are turned off for safety; relay team members push the mower around obstacles such as balls, waterring cans, stuffed dogs, lawn chair, and hose. Tag team relay until whole team completes course

DIRTY PLANTIN' - Team members line upone in front of the other with a trash can of dirt placed in front of player #1. Behind and between player #3 is an empty pot with a plant sitting next to it which must be potted. Player #1 scoops up dirt in their hands and passes it over their head (not sideways nor under their legs!) back to player #2. Player #2 does likewise to player #3 who puts dirt in the pot up to the fill line to plant the flower.

PUSH FOR THE PLANET - Incorporate a 72" earthball into soccer or volleyball.

RAKE/JAVELIN TOSS - Teams toss a rake similar to the javelin toss and the cumulative distance of the team is measured so longest distance wins.

Winning teams are awarded various prizes depending upon what type of sponsorship and donations you receive: lawnmowers, plants for their home/office (the entry fees!), pool passes, Outdoor Recreation gift certificates, bikes.....

Secretary's Day is another chance to pay tribute to the true managers of our departments with a special event on that day called Admin Antics. A letter was again distributed to all offices authorizing the afternoon off for all participating administrative personnel and their supervisors/support team. A personal invitation was sent to each office requesting the honor of their presence and the Professional Secretaries Association was given special marketing materials. The entry fee was a pot-luck lunch dish for all to enjoy lunch al fresco before the festivities began. A pot-luck helps keep the cost to a minimum for lunch. A little socializing and competitive cheering-on would help energize the players. Pre-race training was not necessary; just a good attitude and a healthy dose of humor.

The grueling events included:

TOSS YOUR BOSS - A life-sized mannequin (compliments of AAFES) held by the feet and swung in circles similar to a discuss thrower and then released onto the playing field. Longest distance wins points.

OFFICE CHAIR RELAYS - Racers sit facing forward in swivel office chairs on wheels holding a full cup of 'coffee' (water) in one hand. Racers remain facing forward and use their feed to propel them over the finish line. Points are awarded to the fastest and the most coffee left in the mug at the finish line.

RAT RACE STEEPLECHASE - Racers complete each obstacle before advancing to next event with points deducted for unsuccessful attempts. The race is run against the clock and includes the following events:

SWIVEL CHAIR - racers run from start line to their chair and must sit in chair and spin themselves 5 times around using their feet.

PRIORITY MAIL - racers pick up 5 envelopes addressed to 5 different people and must correctly alphabetize them and give to station judge to check for accuracy - envelopes must be in correct order before proceeding.

JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS, AND UNDER THE TABLE - racers jump over 1 bench, crawl under table, jump over next bench - penalty point assessed for touching or knocking over bench table/desk.

STAPLE PULL - racers pick up a piece of paper having 25 staples each and must take out all staples with staple tweezers provided before proceeding.

GETTING THE RUN AROUND - racers must run around each of the 3 station judges and completely circle each judge and shake their hand prior to moving to the next judge.

HIT THE BOSS EYE - racers run to the paintball target shoot, lay on the ground, put on goggles and shoot for the bull's eye in the target. Players get more points for shots closer to the center - 5 shots total (a face can be drawn on the target)

IN-BOX TOSS - racers run to the pile of 5 hanging file folders and toss them into the giant "In" box. More points are scored for each folder in the box.

CIRCULAR FILE - racers have 5 sheets of paper they most ball up individually and throw into the trash can - each ball is more points.

DISC DRIVE - racers run to the tee box and tee up a floppy disc and hit it with a driver (#1 wood golf club) past a designated point. Racers must keep hitting disc with golf club to move it forward until the end point.

PHONE FINISH - racers all run towards 1 phone to answer it. The first racer to lift the handset off the cradle stops the clock and wins that heet. Players with the top 3 scores will race against each other in a final round.

Winners receive a variety of prized depending upon donations and funds: a bouquet of flowers each week for 2 months, a pen/pencil set, restaurant gift certificates, day-timer notebooks, leather-bound office ware......

The Ididasport (read: I did a sport) Challenge is very loosely based ont he premise of the extreme games. There are teams of 4 comprised of at least 1 female. The events are made up of half skill/stamina and half chance, so it is not necessarily the survival of the fittest. The object is fun, frolic, wild and crazy adventures and camaraderie amongst the teams for a weekend. Teams travel to a central camping spot and the games start out in the evening with a MOUNTAIN BIKE POLO game using croquet mallets and a soccer ball.

PAINTBALL PASSAGES - an orienteering course combined with a painball guns. Teams work their way through their course which crosses other teams paths. The object is to get to all your stamp points without getting shot and to shoot as many opposing team players along the way. Points are given for the most check-point stamps and teams with the most players unscathed by paint.

MOUNTAIN BIKE POKER - bikers race along a single tack in the forest and each pick a card at each of 5 check points. The winner has the fastest time combined with the highest scoring poker hand.

CUP-O-WATER CLIMBING - teams have a designated climber scale the climbing tower holding a full cup of water. Pints are given for fastest time to the top and the most water left in cup upon returning to the ground.

CANOE GUNWALING RELAY - 2 racers stand on the gunwales on each end of a canoe and bounce up and down to move the canoe through the water. Ther other 2 in the team take over and bounce their way back .

UP A CREEK WITHOUT A PADDLE - teams of 4 with 1 canoe must move through water without paddles to cross the finish line in the shortest time and with all persons remaining in the boat.

The teams with the most points at the end of the games win a trophy and also a trip for the team to backpack in the Swiss Alps for the weekend. Other prizes pending funding include: paintball guns, bikes, climbing gear....

With this line-up of event; there was sure to be some excitement and energy in the community! At least they would have something to talk about and laugh at over at the copy machine; or so we thought. We had such a good time planning these events, they were destined to be hits.

The last laugh was on us. It seemed these events were either before their time, or a wee bit too liberal for the folks on a military base in Heidelberg, Germany. Even with a half-day off from work and no entry fees, we couldn't lure them to our insanity. We had zero (zippo!) inquiries, not even a bite for the Earth Day and Ididasport games. There were only 4 entrants in the Admin Antics/Office Olypmics: our secretary, her sisters, and the commander's secretary.

They just don't know what they missed. It could have been a roaring good time, but without full community support, command interest, and visibility; our vision was not fully shared by the powers necessary to make it happen - only rubber stamped by the chain-of-command in fading ink. Maybe some day others will succumb to the wild and crazy insanity we call recreation and leisure. Perhaps these ideas will spark some enthusiasm in your community, or just maybe your citizens are more up for a roaring wacky time of it all on one of those "other " holidays.

Little did I know that we were nearly 20 years ahead of our time. Now that the popular TV show Minute to Win It is giving away tens of thousands of dollars in prizes with commercial sponsors in a prime time slot, perhaps these wacky field games and Office Olympics has a shot at being embraced by corporations and the military alike. Who knows, you may see these original games on TV next week.