27 Office Olympics Games Ideas for Building Teams in 2025

Office Olympics are friendly competitions that transform everyday office spaces into arenas of laughter, creativity and collaboration. They bring a fun and exciting way to boost team spirit and break up the workday routine with exciting team-building activities. Whether it’s chair races, paper toss challenges or desk obstacle courses, Office Olympics encourage coworkers and supervisors to connect, unwind and spark conversation in a lighthearted environment. 

Are you wondering how to host your own Office Olympics? Have you contemplated what episode of The Office is the Olympics and how you can pull inspiration from it? This article explores the answers to these questions and teaches you how to organize successful Office Olympics ideas that strengthen workplace camaraderie and will leave everyone with lasting memories and plenty to talk about.

Jump to Section 

• What Were The Office Olympic Games?
• Office Olympics ideas and Office Olympics games
• How To Host Your Own Office Olympics?
• Office Olympics Games For Adults
• Indoor Office Olympics Games
• Outdoor Office Olympics Games
• Funny Office Olympics Games

What Were The Office Olympic Games?

The Office Olympics games is a concept from the popular U.S. TV series The Office. Essentially, it's a series of sometimes silly and always playful team-based competitions designed to bring fun and friendly rivalry into the workplace. Events borrowed inspiration from other Olympic-style games and typically included simple and cost-effective challenges like paperclip chain building, wastebasket basketball, chair races, typing speed contests and desk chair relays.

Each game is designed to be easily set up using common office supplies and spaces, helping employees to participate at any time of the day without disrupting their regular work. So an employee could join in during a lunch break or right after clocking out for the day. Some companies take an entire day off for their Office Olympic games, as a major perk at work. These optional activities encourage creativity, teamwork and a break from routine, making the workday fun while promoting camaraderie among coworkers.

Office Olympics ideas and Office Olympics games

What Episode Of The Office Is The Olympics?

The famous sitcom, The Office, features the Olympics in an episode called "Office Olympics," which is Season 2, Episode 3. It was written by Michael Schur and directed by Paul Feig and was officially first aired on October 4, 2005. During the half-hour episode, Michael Scott leaves the office to close on a new condo, and while he’s away, Jim Halpert organizes several fun, informal games for the staff to compete in.

The employees create their own Office Olympics ideas using waste paper baskets and paperclips, along with other office supplies. At the end, winners are awarded gold, silver and blue medals tied up with paper clips. Everyone laughs and has a great time when the workplace transforms into a playful competition zone. This episode highlights the team’s creativity in coming up with Office Olympic games, making it a fan favorite.

What Is The Mental Gymnastics Office Olympics?

A fun thing to incorporate into your Office Olympics ideas is Mental Gymnastics. But what is it? The Mental Gymnastics Office Olympics is a creative set of challenges that tests and sharpens employees' mental agility rather than focusing exclusively on physical skills. These games often include puzzles, brain teasers, memory tests, trivia contests and problem-solving activities designed to engage critical thinking.  

Everyone has to think quickly and make fast decisions. Unlike traditional physical Office Olympics games, Mental Gymnastics encourages teamwork through intellectual competition, helping to stimulate the mind while promoting collaboration and friendly rivalry among coworkers. This approach adds a unique and stimulating dimension to office games, making them fun and beneficial for brain health, and is an excellent option for any coworkers who might be less inclined to participate in physical activities.

How To Host Your Own Office Olympics?

Office Olympics Opening Ceremony Ideas

First, plan when you're going to host your event. You can host an Office Olympics party at any point, but it’s extra fun if it’s during a work Christmas party or holiday work party, so keep the timing in mind. Kick off your Office Olympics games with an exciting opening ceremony to get everyone energized and ready to have fun.

Consider having a "parade of teams" as one of your Office Olympics ideas, where each group creates a team name and cheers, complete with homemade flags, costumes or signs. Play upbeat music of the team's choice during your Office Olympics opening ceremony, and invite a manager or team leader to deliver a brief, motivating speech to their group using a megaphone. Adding small awards like medals or ribbons for participation can make the ceremony feel official and set a spirited, motivating tone for the Office Olympics games ahead. Include candle-making classes on a separate occasion so that teams can make their own mini Olympic torches.

Play the Games

After your opening ceremony, it’s time to start playing. You can have everyone play Office Olympic games at the same time, or for larger groups, break teams up into sections and get them to different stations to start playing. If games are both indoor and outdoor, have a map to help everyone know where to head next and what Office Olympic games await them. 

Wrapping Up and Celebrating

After the Office Olympics games are complete, gather everyone for a quick closing ceremony to celebrate the winners and recognize all of the participants. Share your thoughts on the Office Olympics ideas, ways to improve or fun ideas for next time. Talk about highlights and funny moments from the games, and offer small prizes or certificates to top performers or people with the best team spirit. This final touch helps build lasting memories and encourages enthusiasm for future Office Olympics games.

A fun idea is to hire a photographer to capture the day's happily chaotic moments and present them in a slideshow. You can ask one of those who choose not to participate to take the photos and even get them a photography lesson beforehand. 

Office Olympics Games For Adults

1. Paper Toss

Challenge each other to a paper toss! This game can be played in a few different ways. See who can throw the furthest, aim for a specific target, or even play a game of dodgeball. It's a great way to get out a little pent-up aggravation toward a coworker or your boss, and they won't be any the wiser for it. This can be one of the most suspenseful Office Olympics ideas, as teams either hit or miss the targets while the entire office watches in anticipation.

2. Desk Obstacle Course

Create an obstacle course made from desks, trash cans and multiple office supplies. Then, time each team member to see who can get through the fastest. This challenging Office Olympics game doubles as an interactive office idea because you can do a little desk reshuffling after the closing ceremony. Thinking outside the box, why not create the obstacle course before the opening ceremony? When employees arrive at the office, they must complete the obstacle course to enter the office for an unexpected surprise to kick off the spirit of the games. 

3. Typing Speed Test

Put those typing skills to the test in a competition of agility and dexterity, and possibly some bragging rights. See who has the fastest fingers in the office as employees challenge each other to see who can type the fastest. This is one of the easiest Office Olympics games to set up because you already have everything you need — computers, a desk and a chair. There are plenty of online typing speed tests online to use as official clock keepers, like Typing Test. For a touch of nostalgia, consider bringing in a retro typewriter and stopwatch to create a more tactile Office Olympics game, offering a break from the screens. 

4. Sticky Note Wall 

This isn't really a game, but more of an Office Olympics decoration idea to do before the opening ceremony or the day before the games. Create a wall of sticky notes as creative, easy doodles that can build team spirit. For larger offices with a bigger workforce, you'll probably want to divide the employees into teams. Each team can get creative and decorate the office with team logos, designs, drawings and words or phrases. This is particularly great for the more art-forward team members. You can leave all the sticky notes on the wall and add photos after the games to remind the team of the epic Office Olympics games.

5. Rubber Band Archery

Practice your archery skills with something you probably already have in the office, rubber bands. Set up a target and see who can hit the most bullseyes. For those in colder climates, channel the Winter Olympic Games and do your own version of the biathlon, which is skiing and shooting. Include rubber band archery as one of several events, like a sack race or water bottle flipping. Teams must complete one obstacle before moving on to the next.

6. Staple Shot Put 

Staple Shot Put is played like regular shot put, but with the stapler as your weapon. Shoot out staples from the stapler and see who can launch the furthest. Just be super careful with this Office Olympics idea to make sure nobody gets hurt. Shooting off into the distance where nobody is around is the best plan to avoid workers' compensation issues.

7. Chair Race

Everyone, grab your office chair and push it hard to roll it across the floor as fast as possible. The first one to the other end of the room or hall wins! This is a thrilling Office Olympics game done with something you almost definitely have all over the office, rolling chairs. Set it up by clearing space in the office or hallways of the building. You'll need to choose a "driver" and a "pusher" before speeding across the office.

8. Paper Chain Challenge 

Want one of the most fun, competitive and easy Office Olympic ideas? All you need is a stack of paper clips and the will to win. Get teams to make paper chains from individual paper clips. Either the first person to make a certain number of links wins, or the person with the most at the end of a timer wins. You can make the chains from different colored paper clips, paper clips of different lengths or different widths, or use anything else you can link as part of the challenge. These chains double as silly and fun DIY decor once everyone is done, like the chains that can hold the medals.

Indoor Office Olympics Games

9. Typing Blindfold

Level up the type test from earlier by incorporating a blindfold. Test to see who's the absolute best typist in the office by covering their eyes. For an added touch, create a trophy or a pin with a typewriter. Whoever wins gets to display the trophy or wear the pin proudly throughout the year until the next Office Olympics. 

10. Post-It Note Flick 

Flick packs of Post-It Notes either at a target or as far as you can across the room. You can also create mini goal posts for teams to flick their mini papers over. Create a point system for added competitive fun, and keep a tally of points using, of course, Post-It Notes. This is one of the simplest yet exciting Office Olympics games because you can make it into a team sport like football. It’s easy to set up and clean, doesn’t take long to play and is incredibly engaging. What more could you ask for?

11. Ping-Pong Ball Balance

Who has the best balancing skills in the office? Find out with a ping pong paddle balancing competition. Ask participants to balance their balls on top of rackets while walking around an obstacle course. If you don’t have a ping pong table at the office, you can use clipboards and paper balls or rubber band balls instead. The possibilities are limitless, so get creative with this Office Olympics idea. 

12. Phone Book Curling

This one is for all the swole gym sharks in the office. Grab the office phone book, or any ream of paper or heavy office equipment, and have a curling or squatting competition. See who in the office is the strongest of them all! This is an engaging Office Olympics game for active employees who want to show off their muscles.

13. Water Bottle Bowling

Challenge participants to a game of bowling with a twist. Use empty water bottles as bowling pins and whatever you have lying around as a ball, like a rubber band ball or tennis balls from home. See who has the best aim as they roll their way to victory in this skillful Office Olympics game. 

14. Rubber Band Jump Rope

There's a certain nostalgia to jump rope that evokes some wonderful feelings of freedom and fun — something in contrast to feelings of being stuck in the office. Bring back those feelings by tying rubber bands together to form a jump rope. Then, see who can jump the longest or the fastest. The last one standing wins the game. This is a fun test of physical endurance for more active employees. Up the challenge by making the rope creation part of the challenge. Extra points go to the teams with the most creative ways of setting up the jump rope.

15. Pencil Javelin

While many of these games are fun activities, try using some actual Olympic sports as inspiration. Gather pencils, pens or anything long and thin and use them as mini javelins. See who can throw them the furthest, and give extra points for accuracy and direction that the "javelin" lands. 

16. Trash Can Basketball Relay

Basketball has been an Olympic sport since the 1936 Berlin Olympics. It's also one of America's favorite pastimes. So grab some crumpled-up paper or other random trash and shoot some hoops into the trash can for this Office Olympics idea. The makeshift balls don't need to actually bounce, but make sure you set up the house rules beforehand so everyone knows how to play properly. This Office Olympics game may become a lunch break ritual.

17. Rubber Band Target Shoot

Similar to the paper throw competition, fling some rubber bands and try to hit a target on the wall. Remember to set up the rules so you can keep an accurate score. Try some different-sized rubber bands to see how that impacts gameplay. This is a relatively simple Office Olympics game that requires minimal items but a lot of skill. 

Outdoor Office Olympics Games

18. Water Balloon Toss

This game is one of the most classic outdoor team-building activities. It's probably better if your company has a parking lot or outdoor area, and is best suited for hotter times of the year. Bring back the nostalgia of long childhood summers by filling balloons with water and letting game players toss them at each other. Let participants cool off and get some fresh air, make sure to let them know in advance to bring a change of clothes.

19. Slow-Motion Walk 

For this Office Olympics idea, team members can channel their best Ace Ventura and walk in slow motion. Create an obstacle course and have them walk a straight line, spin in circles, or even walk backwards. For an extra challenge, put on blindfolds while they play. This is for the more patient employees who are always stone-faced in meetings and will prove their endurance.

20. Sack Race

For offices with a coffee station, collect the coffee bean burlap sacks or gather large mail bags and use them for the racing vehicles. This Office Olympics game will take the team back to their elementary school field days. It’s a silly, fun and nostalgic challenge and is a great change of pace from their routine. You can play this game indoors, down the office halls, or outdoors if you have the space. Maybe try this one before a big office breakfast or lunch so participants are rewarded with some fuel after the race.

21. Paper Plate Discus

Ultimate frisbee players in the office, assemble! Grab some paper plates from the break room and set up a discus challenge. Similar to golf, you can set up areas around the office that act as holes. Participants must try to fling their discs as close to those areas as possible. Give points for accuracy and style. This Office Olympics idea is a good option if you're on a budget. 

22. Swivel Shot Put

Grab your chair again for another fun spin on an actual Olympic sport. Split into teams of two, then spin a person in a swivel chair 5–10 times. This should get them nice and dizzy. While still dizzy, they must throw a soft object like a beanbag or a stress ball as far or as accurately as possible.

Funny Office Olympics Games

23. The Great Desk Swap

Have each of your team members swap desks for the day for this easy yet fun Office Olympics idea. Enjoy the change of pace and get the players to do tasks that the other person usually does, like an HR swap with Finance. They'll need to complete challenges in a certain amount of time before moving on to the next game. It's a great change of routine and a way to enhance empathy throughout the office. Who knows, maybe some people will like the organization method of another's desk and rework their setup to work better for them.

24. Paper Shredding Speed Test

If there's plenty of trash around the office, this is the Office Olympics game for you. Provide participants with a stack of identical papers to recycle. Using one shared shredder (or one per team), they must shred all sheets as fast as possible. For the rules, teams have only 1–2 sheets at a time (depending on shredder rating) and jams add 10 seconds to the time. For added competition, add an accuracy metric where each sheet of paper has a point value written on it (e.g., 1–5 points). Participants must then decide which pages to shred within a 60-second limit. Shredded points count, but they lose points for dropped papers or mistakes.

25. Elevator Button Marathon

This game works best if your office has two or more elevators. Split into teams, press all the buttons on the elevator and see who can get from the top floor to the bottom floor the fastest. Another way to play is by assigning random cards with floor numbers on them, and see which team can get to their floor the fastest. Be sure to plan your favorite elevator muzak to play during the games to really get everyone in the mood for this fun event.

26. Bubble Wrap Pop-Off

Who doesn’t enjoy the satisfying pops of bubble wrap? Why not turn that enjoyment into a game? Give each team member a sheet of bubble wrap and see who can pop it the fastest. Extra points go to those who can pop the bubbles with the most creativity (like with a stapler or folding the bubble wrap and popping multiple bubbles at a time). This satisfying Office Olympics game is super fun, easy to play and competitive!

27. CEO Look-Alike Contest

More of a theme than Office Olympics game ideas, have everyone come into the office dressed like the CEO for the day. You can have everyone dress the same, or each person can pick a theme like "CEO on vacation" and "CEO in a meeting with the board." This is even funnier if you keep it under wraps, so don't let the CEO know what you are planning until the day of the Office Olympics. Award prizes for the best-dressed participants. This is one of the most hilarious Office Olympics ideas and great if you want to snap a few photos for the memory books. 

So, there you have it, the best Office Olympics games to use for your next work party or event. These games can lead to increased productivity, more engaged workers and they can be a ton of fun for the entire office. Some of these games are based on classic Olympic games, while others are of our own making. Regardless, they all should be creative and engaging if planned and executed correctly. Planning a few will ensure that everyone is having a blast while practicing teamwork and leadership skills. Which Office Olympics ideas are your favorites? Do you plan to implement our game ideas, or do you have any fun ideas of your own you’d like to try?

For even more fun ideas for the office to enhance camaraderie, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!