How to Turn the Olympics Opening Ceremony into a Drinking Game

By Amanda Gabriele

Updated on 2/8/2018 at 11:08 AM

evgenii mitroshin / Shutterstock
evgenii mitroshin / Shutterstock

The 2018 Winter Olympics are upon us, and we’re super excited to watch athletes from all over the world come together to compete in icy sporting competitions that magically combine strength and beauty and poetry and lycra (aka figure skating)—along with all of the other events. We’ll be tuning in as the athletes arrive in PyeongChang, South Korea, to fly their flags’ colors at the opening ceremony on February 9—but we don’t know how the committee will be able to top the mind-warping performances of the 2008 Beijing opening ceremony. So, to make things more interesting, we devised this handy drinking game to play during the opening ceremony. No matter whether the show is spectacular or lackluster, this game will keep you entertained and glued to the tube. Gather some pals and a beverage that best represents the country you’re rooting for, and get to cheering in 24 different languages.

Take a sip if:

  • A dancer is a step behind on choreography
  • An audience member is teary-eyed
  • They show the parents of an athlete
  • The announcers say the word “champion”
  • They show the Olympic mascot, Soohorang
  • An athlete holds up a finger to indicate their country is No. 1
  • A team from a country that never experiences snow enters the stadium
  • A commentator mentions Russian doping
  • An athlete takes a selfie
  • A team walks out in matching hats
  • The Olympic rings are formed using human bodies

Take two sips if:

  • An athlete sticks their tongue out for the camera
  • There’s a pyrotechnics display, including fireworks
  • You witness an impressive martial arts performance
  • A boisterous audience member is wrapped in an American flag
  • Someone carrying a large flag accidently hits themself in the face
  • A bunch of balloons are released
  • An athlete comes out carrying an actual video camera, filming the event
  • A child performer does something impressive

Take a shot when:

  • They sing the South Korean national anthem
  • There’s an aeronautics performance
  • The audience participates with a visual display

The Olympic torch is lit (except don’t actually light a shot on fire unless you are an experienced bartender and even then it’s probably not a great idea)

Finish your drink when:

The Tonga Flag Bearer makes his long-awaited return