How to Celebrate the Olympics in 2022

The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics kick off on February 4, promising 2 weeks of exciting winter sporting competition and astonishing feats of athletic ability. And given the current situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s no better time to put your paws up and watch all the action unfold from the comfort of your couch.

If you’re planning a “staycation” this February so you can enjoy the “woofderful” spectacle that is the Winter Olympics, why not get the whole family involved (including the dog)? Get into your activewear, start chanting “U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!”, and check out these great games and family-friendly activities to help you enjoy the 2022 Winter Olympics.

The opening ceremony marks the official start of the Olympic Games. It’s usually quite a dramatic spectacle too, with music, singing, dancing, and colorful entertainment.

So when you’re ready to kick off your Winter Olympics “staycation”, get the whole family together to stage your own opening ceremony. You could have a karaoke contest, work on your dance moves, or parade around the room in your best sports gear.

Your dog can join in the fun too. Maybe you’d like to get them all dressed up in their best sweater, train them to perform some basic dance moves, or just let them jump around and have fun with the rest of the family.

Every time the Olympics are held, athletes from around the world converge on the host city’s Olympic village. This accommodation center houses them throughout the games and is always the topic of much media attention and speculation.

And if you’re settling in for a couple of weeks of sporting action, you can always build your own athletes’ village right there in your living room. When we say “village”, we of course mean “pillow fort” — so get the kids and your fur-baby together, grab all the pillows and blankets you can find, and start building!

When the Olympics are in a different time zone, staying up late to watch the best events is something of a tradition. But instead of settling in for a long night of viewing on the couch, it’s slumber party time!

Clear as much space in the living room as you can, drag everyone’s mattresses (especially your pet’s) into the space, and get cozy. You’ll need some tasty snacks too, so stock up on treats for all two- and four-legged members of the family. Then snuggle up and let the games begin!

Becoming an Olympian takes an incredible amount of skill and commitment. Athletes train day in, day out for years to reach the peak of their sport, and they push themselves to their limits to become the best they can be.

No one said your dog needs to have the same level of commitment, but this 2-week sporting feast gives you the “pawfect” chance to focus on training your dog. Maybe Fido needs to work on their basic obedience, for example, or perhaps you’d like to work on teaching them a few clever tricks? Teaching your dog to army crawl, back flip, broad jump, and do push-ups are just a handful of options to help you and your pup embrace the Olympic spirit.

If there’s ever a lull in the on-screen action, or if you just want to get yourself in the mood before the Olympics start, a family movie night will get your pup’s tail wagging. Tasty snacks, cuddling up to your pup on the couch, and watching some classic sporting films — sounds “pawsome”, right?

It probably goes without saying that Cool Runnings is the ideal film to get you pumped for the Winter Olympics, while Snow Dogs is one flick that should get two paws up from your dog.

When it’s cold outside (and on TV), sometimes the only way to keep the winter blues at bay is to indulge in a little bit of comfort food. Winter baking is something the whole family can enjoy together, and the treats you make don’t necessarily always have to be for human consumption.

If you’re in need of some inspiration, check out our 10 favorite dog treat recipes for 2022, and start preparing some delicious snacks to enjoy in front of the TV.

With so much sport to watch and a steady supply of comfort food on hand, a Winter Olympics viewing marathon may not be the best thing for your waistline. To combat that, use the sporting achievements you see on-screen to inspire you to improve your own fitness and wellbeing.

The great news is that there are plenty of ways for you to stay active. You could always take your pup for a walk or run, of course, but you can also boost your heart rate without leaving home. You could set up your own indoor exercise circuit with various stations around the house, play tug-of-war with your pup, or even treat them to a game of fetch or hide-and-seek.

You’re only limited by your imagination, so get off the couch and get moving.

Last but not least, set some Olympics-themed athletic challenges for your dog. Not only will this boost their physical fitness, but your dog will also love being given a job to do and be eager to impress you with their sporting prowess.

Because it’s Winter Olympics time, maybe your dog would like to channel their inner slalom skier and weave through poles, or pretend they’re a figure skater and try their paw at some doggy dancing. You could also build an indoor puppy obstacle course, set up a treasure hunt so your dog can track down some treats, or indulge in a good old-fashioned game of tug-of-war.

If you can dream up enough events, you could even put together your own doggy decathlon. Yes, we know the decathlon is a Summer Olympics sport rather than from the Winter Games, but we don’t think your dog will mind.

These are just a few ways you and your family can stay safe at home and enjoy the 2022 Winter Olympics together. Got any other “woofderful” ideas for involving your pup in the fun? Let us know in the comments below.