Going for the Gold in the Bismarck Olympics | Video

Alexander Gorney | 8/3/2012

You`d have to travel thousands of miles to be a part of this year`s Olympics in London. But the City of Bismarck is giving you the chance to compete in a local Olympiad. Bismarck has 16 of the 26 Olympic based sporting events right here in town, and the Parks and Recreation District is giving out medals if you try some of them out. I took on the challenge, looking to go for the gold.

The torch is lit, starting of my version of the Bismarck Olympiad.

"Out of the 26 olympic events there are 16 events you can do right away in Bismarck," said Ranae Jochim with Bismarck Parks and Recreation.

Every Olympics starts with an opening ceremony, and the local crowd showed lots of support.

You need to get the right piece of paper from Parks and Recreation to compete.

"A lot of this stuff you can do for free in our parks. Basketball, track and field. Table tennis is offered at the memorial building for free," Jochim said.

So it was off to the Memorial Building. There I could do table tennis, handball and basketball. I was off to a good start at table tennis, rallying the ball back and forth trying to duplicate some of the world`s best. Handball required a little more running than I thought. And in basketball, I found a competitor that was just the right match for me.

Then it was off to the sand volleyball courts where I joined one family doing the Bismarck Olympics too.

"you get to see all the amazing athletes on TV and see what they get to do and try things you normally wouldn`t and get a taste of your own little olympics," said competitor Courtney Brackin.

I dusted off the sand and headed to Capitol Raquet. There I did some weightlifting, some tennis and some gymnastics.

Even though I did these events mostly on my own, the Brackins say it was a great family activity.

"It was a great opportunity for my wife and I to get out with our kids and do a bunch of activities and it`s been a lot of fun," said Bart Brackin.

Then It was off to the Parks and Recreation District to turn in my completed form. I was just moments from the gold. I can now say I am a Bismarck Olympic Champion.

You can print the olympics form out at home, just go to bisparks.org.

Do nine events and you get the gold, six for silver and three for bronze.

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