As a kid, I hated the summer Olympics. We had five television channels, and every single one of them showed the Olympics for three weeks straight. No Smurfs. No Looney Tunes. No Mr. Roger's Neighborhood. Just a bunch of boring adults doing boring things like running and swimming. I did those things every day and didn't understand why it was such a big deal to watch other people doing it.
Now that I'm a little older (ok...much older), I look forward to the summer Olympics. That time when the world comes together to share in the spirit of competition and camaraderie in the universal language of sport. It never ceases to amaze me how many countries I didn't know existed (Bhutan? Mauritania? Kyrgyzstan?). I get a lump in my throat every time I see an American athlete standing on the awards podium, hand over heart, singing our National Anthem. The Olympics are pretty dang cool.
To celebrate the start of the Summer Games, my department is participating in its own version of the Olympics. Yes, we may lack the physical prowess of professional athletes but, is that going to stop us? No. Each team within Marketing has to come up with a country name and color and create a flag to represent that "country." We will parade down the Headquarters hallway and out into the blazing August heat to compete on several events...(confidential as to prevent an unfair advantage...we're very competitive around here). One event, however, will stand above the rest and determine the champion of the 2008 Marketing Olympics...the Ribbon Dance. Each team must coordinate a two-minute synchronized ribbon dance to music and perform it in front of the judges.
I personally have never danced with a ribbon and I have a feeling my Coworkers are lacking in this skill as well but I think we will be inspired by the performances. At the very least we'll laugh and make fun of each other...all in the spirit of competition and camaraderie of course.
