After the Olympics: The games go on!

The youth hostels Duisburg-Sportpark and Bad Münstereifel offer weekend programmes for family, friends and sports groups, where they can make the most of the momentum of this year's Olympic Games and really work off their energy. We spoke to Ute Arabin from the Programme partner Transparency NRW talked about the programmes.

The „Team Olympics“ takes to the starting line

The Duisburg-Sportpark youth hostel, which has its own sports field and sports hall, is perfect for this programme. The Team Olympics„ programme“ starts on Friday evening with a group dinner, during which the participants get in the mood for the weekend. On Saturday morning, a trainer from the programme provider Transparenz NRW joins the group and discusses the last important details with the group leader. For example, any physical limitations that need to be taken into account are asked about. „It's important to us to design the programme as individually as possible,“ explains Ute Arabin. „The condition of the participants also plays a role in this, so that we can tailor the sporting challenges for the weekend accordingly. The weather also determines whether the activities take place outdoors or indoors. Our sports programme offers a wide range of options whatever the weather.“ Different talents are called upon during the sporting weekend and all participants should have fun exercising. Before the competitions can start, each team needs a suitable name. As in the real Olympics, the teams can also be assigned to specific nations. And they can also get creative: For example, the team members paint their own team flag and invent a „team shout“ to cheer each other on. When the tea lights symbolising the Olympic flame are lit, the games can begin.

Stick together, have fun and win gold!

At the start, there is a mini-team training session so that the team members can practise working together and coordinate with each other, as team spirit is one of the basic requirements for the upcoming competitions. The teams then compete against each other in various disciplines. These include, for example, climbing through the Olympic hoops in small groups without touching the hoop. A bridge held by human hands must also be crossed. Despite all the competition, the main focus is on enjoying the sport and fair play. Ingenuity is also required in some exercises, for example when the team has to skilfully bring various objects to a target.

At the end of the day, the winning group is honoured with the gold medal. „The athletes celebrate each other's successes exuberantly,“ reports Ute Arabin. „But of course there is applause for all the teams, not just the gold winners. Bronze and silver are just as important, because every achievement counts and is celebrated. Just as it should be in the Olympic spirit.“

After so much sporting team spirit and competition, the day ends with a cosy barbecue. If you still feel like exercising, you can use the water playground in the nearby Wedau sports park. The joint breakfast on Sunday morning rounds off the Olympic weekend so that all participants can return to their everyday lives motivated and invigorated by the team spirit.

Scottish traditions in the Eifel Highlands

Team spirit is also important for the „Roderter Highland Games“ against the idyllic backdrop of the Eifel mountain landscape. The speciality: Those who compete here have to take on Scottish clans - and will have a lot of fun in the process. The Eselsberg in the Rodert district also offers a wonderful view of the valley and the historic old town of Bad Münstereifel. The youth hostel is located right on the edge of the forest, the sports field surrounded by trees offers plenty of shade in summer and the large meadow behind the sports field invites you to enjoy extensive activities, but also to linger in a cosy atmosphere. An ideal place for a sporty weekend outdoors.

After arriving in Bad Münstereifel, it's soon time to change clothes and slip into the role of a real Scottish clan member. At the „Roderter Highland Games“, several Scottish „families“ compete against each other. Each clan will of course be given a real Scottish name, kilts and matching hats. The trainers from Transparency NRW. And then it's „Let the games begin!“. Scottish traditions, games and fun: that's what this extraordinary sports weekend will be all about. For example, in a classic discipline of the „Roderter Highland Games“, the rubber pig toss. The rubber pigs have to be thrown as far back as possible through the straddled legs of the participants - a challenge that also exercises the laugh muscles.

„Tossing the caber“, the classic tree trunk toss, or the rubber boot toss are also among the sporting disciplines on the programme. All activities require the clan members to work together. Skill and strength are also required. All the results of the individual teams are recorded on the scorecard. And in the evening, the results are presented and the successes celebrated in style.

However, special sporting skills are not a must. „The Roderter Highland Games can also be completed by less athletic people,“ explains Ute Arabin. „This weekend programme focuses on the joy of fun movements and storytelling. The aim is to fully immerse yourself in Scottish traditions.“ In keeping with Scottish tradition, the games always take place outside, as bad weather conditions in no way diminish the good humour of almost true Scotsmen and Scotswomen.

Both programmes are suitable for adults and children aged 8 and over. Further information and many more group programmes with a sports focus can be found at www.jh-gruppenreisen.de.