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BY AMANDA PERSICO apcrsico@yrmg.com ow do you and your family plan to watch the Olympics? With the 2010 Winter Games taking place in Vancouver, it’s the perfect time to celebrate all that is Canada, from Nanaimo bars to hockey. Why not throw a party, gather- ing fgiends and family around the TV lo: a night of international competition with Canadian flare? 7‘Canadians don't tend to be as patriotic as Americans,” says Rich- mond Hill's Lisa Lewis, an event planner with Live It Up Events. “This is a beautiful way to cel- ebrate Canada and a great excuse to have a party in the winter when it's cold." Get your party off to a great start with the right invitations. “The invitations set the theme and tone for the party," Ms Lewis says. “You want people to be psyched before they get there. You want the party to start fast (and) if your guests get into it before they arrive, you're guaranteed success." One way to spice up the invite is to send personalized game tickets to your party event. Be sure to fol- low ticket invites with teasers and reminders via e-mail, similar to an Olympic countdown, Ms Lewis said. Stick to a simple theme and use a general Olympic theme as a backdrop. V You can focus your party around a particular sport, such as hockey or skating or the opening or closing ceremonies. “Pick one or two things and stick with it," Ms Leu'ris said. “Oth- erwise it becomes confusing and overwhelming for guests. If guests are doing too many things, it splits up your party-7’ With a hockey theme, you can host a game of table hockey during commercial breaks and decorate using mini hockey sticks and choc- olate pucks. If figure skating is more your sport, bring out old skates for decoration. Make the event interactive, allowing guests to become judges with their own set of scorecards. When it comes to feeding your guests, Abovo Decorating and Events owner Rita Lagree suggests bringing in internedonal flavours. one Way to achieve an inter- national menu is to ask guests to bring their pwn traditional dish_es.‘ “Set up food stations instead of a buffet." Ms Lagree, of Newmar- ket, says. “You want to keep people moving and networking around the party. Sitting. they become sta- tionary. If you have great food and atrnlrfnphere. the rest takes care of itse ." Let’s get the Olympic party started Foodstaflonscanbesetupby WE’VE HAD SUPER BOWL, GREY CUP AID SURVIVOR PARTIES. LET'S CELEBRATE WINTER GAMES country or by course, such as an appetizer station featuring hors d'oeuvres from China and Germany, the main course from Canada and desserts from France or Italy. Yofi can also add flare to your Olympic party by having your guests rise to the occasion and can-y Aan Olympic tomp.‘ “There Wasâ€"so much hype around the torch.” Ms [agree says. “The fact that it went through almost every town. peo- ple are feeling closer to it. People are looking for something to be proud of and he happy apout." One way of brin the torch to life is to paint 0] tiki lamps in white, gold, silver or bronze and light them in the front yard. When guests leave, they can h the torches. Plan activities to keep your cats engaged and interested, met event lanner and Vaughan real ent Karen Kramer "It's important to create a bal- ance of party events who create a comfortable environment for guests," she says. “You don’t want to go over the top and put people off. The Olympic spirit is about coming together to cheer on the nation." Organize small competitions between guests such as playing a winter sports video game; The guest whose country receives the most medals or pointsduflngapardcularevent wlmapdu,suchasagoldmedal Assigh guests to {pacific coun- STAFF PHOTO/STEVE SOMEWILLE made from chocolate or a silver- sparkled cocktail. “Create you own little chal- lenges and use the Olympic sport to set the atmosphere.” Ms Kramer says. Don’t let the end of the party be the end of the fun. Send est: home with memora le favours, such as small Cum chocolate medals or decorum cowbell clankers. “You don't have to spend a ton of money," Ms Kramer says. D Fauxfigmeskatingâ€"seewhidw ofyompanyguestshasdnbest 3, jumpsandtwidsindoorsonyourliv- g - ingroomfloot. ° DIndoahockeyorcudingâ€"if spacealbws,aeateanindomgame ofhockeyusingasockballand D Flag orOlyrnpic rings stir sticks: colour different country flags and the Olympic rings (blue. yellow, bladr, green and red) design on white Papetarttheflagsoutand tape them to straws. D Score cards: print out number zero through nine on white paper (large enough to see at a distance), 'cut out number leaving a small white border and paste on blaclr construction paper. Give a set of score cards to eadt party guest judge and score events from your living room. b Medalszattadr coloured ribbon to chocolate gold coins. Make silver medals by re-wrapping chocolate coins in tin foil and use bronze- coloured gift wrap for bronze med- als. b ludry Lonnie floating candles: inalargeglassbowl.dropafew loonies and fill with water.Place tea light candles or flameless candles ontop. >0lympicringszpainthula-hoops intheOlympiccoloursandhang v Men vs.women mini Olympics > Oiyrnpic trivia v Olympic Games charades PARTY GAMES DECORATIONS