Throw a Fancy French Olympics Party

We are generally not into "fancy" around our woodshop, but the Paris 2024 Olympic Games seem like a good opportunity to branch out.

There are lots of ideas out there on how to throw a fun Olympics party at work or for children, but we thought some more elegant ideas for grown ups would be nice.

First. The invitations.

You could do an Olympic themed invitation or be sport specific. What are you going to watch? Fencing? Rowing? Cycling? Tailor your invitation.

Next. The menu.

Traditional French fare would be ideal. Some simple hors d'oeuvres you could try:

Gougères -- Petite cheese pastry puffs. Try the recipe at https://www.seriouseats.com/gougeres

Canapés -- These are little toasted bread slices with delicious toppings. We like the ideas at https://preppykitchen.com/easy-canape/

Olive Tapenade -- A spread or dip made with olives, capers, and anchovies. You can skip the anchovies if you want.  https://thegoodlifefrance.com/how-to-make-tapenade-at-home/

The Decor.

A Parisian theme with Eiffel Towers. A sport-specific theme of your choice. Or a theme featuring the various countries you and your friends or family members are cheering for. All these could be made a little classier with upscaled decor. Throw in a touch of gold to represent the medals.

And finally, Games and Prizes.

There's nothing wrong with minute-to-win-it games, but if you want something a little classier, try these competitions. You can DIY awards or order some online to match your theme. (We have a free medals SVG download on our Etsy shop.)

The Name Game: Tape various name of famous athletes on your guest's backs. Have them try to guess who is on their back by talking to others and asking yes/no questions. This is great if not all your guests know each other yet.

Something Sporty: If you're not just a watcher but a doer. Enjoy some real competition along with your watch party. Play darts or pool. Have a pushup competition. Play croquet or lawn darts.

Go for the Gold: It's a little pricier and more physical, but you could rent archery equipment or set up a badminton or volleyball net. (If you're more into watching and less into playing, there's always Scrabble. Extra points for sporty words.)

French Games: Be adventurous and try some traditional French games, like Escargot, a version of hopscotch. Find descriptions and instructions at https://www.fluentu.com/blog/french/traditional-french-games/

Medals are always great for prizes. You can make them standard 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, or personalize them for a laugh. Candy or a goody bag also make good prizes.

Last of all, root for your athletes together! These athletes are amazing no matter what country they are from. Enjoy your the next few days of watching!