The Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro kicked off on August 5, making this summer an ideal season for teambuilding companies and hotels to host Olympic-inspired teambuilding events for groups. From typical sporting activities to more unusual events such as equestrian racing on inflatable horses, here's a look at some of the latest teambuilding offerings inspired by the Olympics.
Vancouver-based corporate teambuilding event company Eventology recently partnered with Catalyst Global to launch a series of events that capture the Olympic spirit leading up to the Rio Games. Events include a high-tech treasure hunt, an international indigenous games competition, and the "Flat Out Afloat" event, which has teams build their own boat and then race to find sunken treasure. Events range from $60 to $90 (Canadian dollars) per person and are available throughout major cities in Canada.
Based in San Francisco, the Go Game offers Olympic-style lawn games with as many as 10 "challenge stations" for teams of 10 players. Along with classic lawn games, stations include building towers out of spaghetti and "Zorbing" in plastic Zorb balls. All events include referees played by actors. Games are $100 per person and are available internationally.
TeamBuilding Unlimited offers a series of wacky interactive teambuilding experiences, which include cricket baseball, a dress for business-theme suitcase race, cafeteria paper plate discus, and a water cooler bucket relay. The package, which is for groups of five to 300, offers between 12 and 20 games per session while providing team names and colors, and hosts opening and closing ceremonies. The series' cost is based on the location and size of the group and is available anywhere in the United States.
Wildly Different recently launched a series of Summer Olympics-inspired teambuilding activities for events. Themed challenges, which pit two people against each other, include an Olympic rings bean bag toss, beach volleyball, and an equestrian race with inflatable horses. Teambuilding packages—which include professionally designed signage, event leaders as emcees, and a gift basket prize—are $6,300 for as many as 200 event attendees and $7,800 for more than 200. Pricing is for the Orlando and the Central Florida area, but the event is offered worldwide.
Adventure Associates can customize its "Build a Boat" challenge to an Olympic theme. The activity invites participants to work together to build cardboard boats that float. After building the boat and choosing captains, two teams face off in a race. The challenge costs $3,600 for half a day, and is available throughout the United States.
A mix of basic athleticism and high-energy competition, the teambuilding tournament from Best Corporate Events splits groups into teams identified by colored bandanas. Activities in the program include sack races, a team anthem, and a ski challenge to win gold, silver, and bronze medals. The program can also be customized to have themes such as the Winter Olympics, cowboy games, or beach. The package price varies depending on the number of participants (a minimum of 30 is required) and is available in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean.
Corporate Games offers a number of Olympic-inspired events for teams including real sports such as javelin and archery and competitions including cross-country skiing and amoeba racing. The games can be customized to have opening and closing ceremonies and to have teams all compete in the same event at the same time, or rotate to event stations. Medals, an Olympic banner, and theme music are also available. Pricing depends on number of participants, location, length, and how the event is scripted. The events are available throughout the U.S. and the Caribbean.
The Kimpton Muse Hotel in New York recently launched a series of Olympic-theme games for hotel guests to win prizes and 50-percent off their first night stay. Guests can compete against the general manager in games including table tennis and mini-golf. The games are hosted every weekday through August 21.
