Contents
Key points
- Varied challenges: skill, thinking, creativity, and not just sport.
- Mixed teams of 6 to 10 people.
- Half a day, a host, a medal ceremony.
The principle
Corporate olympics bring together several teams that rotate around a series of short workshops. Each challenge earns points; the final ranking is announced at a medal ceremony, often before dinner. The format is popular because it combines good-natured competition, cooperation and laughter.
Sample challenges
| Category | Challenges |
|---|---|
| Skill | Pétanque, target throwing, blindfolded course guided by the team |
| Thinking | Riddles, quiz about the company or about Provence, group puzzle |
| Creativity | Tower building, team slogan and chant, staged photo |
| Cooperation | Relay, multi-person sack race, carrying water without spilling it |
| Local produce | Identifying herbes de Provence, blind tasting of juices or olive oils |
Organising inclusive corporate olympics
- Challenges where physical strength does not decide the result
- Teams mixed across departments and levels of seniority
- A role for everyone (captain, strategist, referee, photographer)
- Shade, water and breaks, especially in summer
- An indoor plan B in case of rain or wind
Where to hold corporate olympics in Provence
- In the grounds of an estate: lawns, a boules court and the shade of plane trees. See countryside retreat and château corporate retreat.
- On a beach or at a water sports centre, in spring or September. See seaside.
- In the Camargue, with challenges inspired by local traditions. See Camargue.
A typical schedule
| Time | Content |
|---|---|
| 2.30 pm | Forming the teams, team chant, rules |
| 3.00 pm | Rotations around 5 to 8 workshops of 15 minutes |
| 5.00 pm | Joint final challenge |
| 5.30 pm | Medal ceremony, aperitif |
To frame the rest of the project: how to organise team building. Describe your corporate retreat: the venues will tell you about their outdoor spaces.
Frequently asked questions
How long do corporate olympics last?
Usually half a day: 2 to 3 hours of challenges, then the medal ceremony. Any longer and fatigue outweighs the fun.
Do you need a host for corporate olympics?
It is preferable above 30 people: a host keeps time, explains the rules, manages the rotations and the atmosphere. For a small group, a team member can take this on with a well-prepared programme.
