3 Ways to Get Your Loved One Excited About the Olympic Games

Getting Excited about the Olympic Games

The 2016 Summer Olympic Games officially began on Friday, August 5^th. I expected the opening ceremonies would be a grandiose spectacle, as they usually are. There were fireworks, dancers, singers, bike riders carrying signs for each country, children carrying plants, pageantry and the parade of athletes. Then the work began. Swimming, diving, gymnastics, running, jumping, shooting (guns and hoops), tossing (volleyballs, basketballs, etc), biking, fencing and so much more!

If you’re like me, you generally have a couple favorite sports you like to watch. The swimmers including Katie and Michael. The USA women gymnasts trouncing the competition. Some viewers can’t get enough of the Olympics; they position themselves to watch as much of the 19 day spectacle as they can. With 36 athletes from Illinois competing in the Summer Olympics, there is reason to be excited for athletes with local ties. Keep an eye out for Morolake Akinosun of Itasca, in a track and field relay event. Both Pam and Theresa worked with her mother, Foluke, at Manor Care!  Go Morolake! Woo-Hoo. U – S – A !!

How will you watch some of the 6,755 hours of programming for the Olympic Games? The NBC platforms will cover the Olympic Games live during the day, as well as during primetime and late night. With so much coverage, here are 3 ways to get your loved one excited about these events:

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  Member Ray works on his short game

  Watch their favorite sporting event with them. When they were younger, did they swim, run, or play tennis or golf? Whatever summer sport they like, you may find it at the Olympic Games. Watch it live with them or record it and watch it later.

• Learn about local athletes online. There are 36 athletes from Illinois competing in the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. You can easily search to find the names and sports those athletes are competing in or click here. If you are not in the Chicago area, you can do the same in order to see who is competing from your neck of the woods. Let your loved one know the background of some of these athletes; many local news outlets have interviewed them, so there is likely a story somewhere. That will make the events even more personal as you watch these athletes compete.
• Host an Olympic Games viewing party or take your loved one to a viewing event. Whether you do something in house or out, let your loved one be part of the celebration we will all feel over the next few weeks. Many local sports bars and other venues will be showing coverage of the Olympic Games. When the USA athletes win, the crowd around you will cheer and your loved one will really be involved!

This is a Gold Medal Hug!

While we rarely watch TV at Naperville Senior Center, we may have the Olympic Games available, especially late afternoon. If you are in the neighborhood after 3pm, join us as we cheer on Team USA! Our Members are all Olympians! They go for the gold every day by socializing, verbalizing, improvising, evangelizing, visualizing, exercising, having fun, and a host of other activities to provide mental and physical stimulation.

Call to action: learn more about how NSC can provide a respite for you and a great social environment for your loved one, contact our Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, Theresa, at 630.857.3017. You can also schedule a tour to see what we have to offer and understand the Naperville Senior Center experience, “Home Away From Home.”