Hosting a themed sports party

Celebrate the 2024 summer of sport with a themed party

As you might imagine, we love any excuse for a themed party, and the 2024 summer of sport gives us a chance to really bring out our best ideas. From the upcoming European Championships to the Paris Olympics and even Wimbledon, there’s no excuse not to be able to throw an incredible shindig for your family and friends. 

You might be looking for ideas to host a relaxed corporate gathering, or perhaps you want to find ways to celebrate a sports theme birthday party. 
So, to give you some inspiration and advice, here are some of our top tips for hosting a sports-themed party inspired by these iconic events:

The European Championships is a great excuse for a summer party

When are the Euros 2024: 14 June – 14 July 2024

Where are the 2024 Euros taking place: Germany

The question on everyone’s lips this year is whether the boys can match the incredible achievements of the Lionesses and bring home the UEFA European Championship Trophy.

Hopes are definitely high for Gareth Southgate’s team. After all, we did reach the final in 2021, losing to Italy in a heartbreaking penalty shootout. But having seen the success of the women’s team, there’s no reason to believe that the men’s team can’t take it that one step further and finally succeed. 

It goes without saying that we’ll all be singing “It’s Coming Home” all summer long – so while that will definitely be the start of your Euros 2024 celebration, here are a few more ideas to get your creative juices flowing. 

Dress code

Obviously, your guests will likely be decked out in their preferred football kit. But you could ramp up the fun by encouraging guests to dress up as different nationalities – perhaps by creating a random draw with a prize for the best costume!

Decorations

You can deck out your party venue with a series of flags and bunting, as well as balloons or cardboard cutouts of your favourite players. Whether you’re choosing to host an event in the local community centre or your living room, the great news is that shops like ASDA, The Range or B&M will be packed full of Euros-related décor. You won’t need to spend a fortune, and you can really transform your venue into something special.

Entertainment

If you’re looking for some special entertainment, then look no further. We regularly work alongside partners such as The Entertainment Fixers to transform your events into something beyond your imaginations. 

If you’re planning on a Euros 24 party, then we can bring that vision to life. We can bring in traditional German folk dancers or organise a competitive penalty shoot out contest in your back garden. We can even bring in a European themed photo booth, with a mix of iconic landmarks or the Henri Delaunay Cup – the official name of the trophy that will be handed to the winners of the Men’s 2024 European Championships

Music

Top of the playlist will always be “Its Coming Home” by Baddiel and Skinner. But why not add a few more football-related songs to your party playlist? Choose between World in Motion, Eat My Goal, and Vindaloo…the options are endless. 

Ok, so they may not be the greatest songs you’ve ever listened to, but we guarantee your guests will all be singing along and having a great time!

To get you started, we’ve created our very own Football Inspired playlist! 

Food

Why not *match* your food to the game that you’re watching? Dodgy puns aside, this could give you some great opportunity to try different cuisines. Think Spanish tapas, Italian bruschetta, and German sausages.

Cheering on Team GB and hoping we bring home the Gold

When are the Olympic Games 2024: 26 July – 11 August 2024

When are the Paralympic Games 2024:  28 August to 8 September 2024

Where are the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games taking place: Paris

Twelve years on, we’re truly seeing the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Seeing how successful Team GB has become and how we’re continuing to bring home so many medals on the world stage is truly inspiring. 

So, why not join us with a 2024 Paris Summer Olympics Party Theme. 

Dress code

The breadth of sporting events taking place during the Games gives immediate inspiration for any dress code. Why not go all-out with a fancy-dress party, where all the guests have to come as a different sport? Or, like the Euro’s themed party, your guests could take inspiration from the 206 other countries participating in the Olympics. 

Decorations

Your choice of decorations can be globally inspired. As well as the Olympic rings, why not hang a series of flags from competing nations or search for a cardboard cutout of a winner’s podium?

Music

We love the idea of creating a global playlist. Why not pick one artist for each country – you’ll find some great songs that really showcase the theme of the Olympics. 

Here are a few of our top tips:

Great Britain – Sam Ryder

Albania – Dua Lipa

Australia – Kylie Minogue

Sweden – ABBA

France – David Guetta

New Zealand – Lorde

Jamaica – Bob Marley

Mexico – Renee

Argentina – Carlos Gardel

South Korea – BTS

United States of America – Beyonce

Of course, Spotify playlists are great – especially if you have an excellent speaker system. But if you’re looking for some more life to add to your party, why not consider inviting a live band to play? We have some great contacts and recommendations for excellent local bands, so why not give us a call for some suggestions?

Food

This is your chance to really go all out with world food choices. Your menu can feature any range of delicacies, from sushi to samosas, from pizzas to pasties. The great news is that thanks to the wide range of choices available from the local supermarkets, it will be easier than ever to find a big mix of snacks or main meal choices. 

Alternatively, why not stick with French food to honour the Paris link? Croissants, Pain au Chocolates, and Crepes are great snack foods. Or you could offer crusty baguettes or a cheese board featuring a section of French Brie, Comte, or Roquefort. You could even go with a baked camembert, or a traditional French quiche Lorraine.

Festival food is a winner

You won’t find fine dining at your local festival or pop concert…Instead, you’ll be inundated with a wide variety of food trucks, with options ranging from burgers and chips to Vietnamese, Italian, Indian, Caribbean, or Turkish delicacies. 

You can bring the joy of the food truck tastes straight to our party venue by setting up a variety of food stations offering classic festival fare:

– Burger Bar – We know how much we Brits love any excuse to bring out the BBQ. Why not have a wide range of toppings available, from the classic bacon and cheese to avocado or pulled jackfruit? The choice will add the festival flair without adding too much work or cost to your budget. 

– Veggie Delights – Don’t forget vegetarian and vegan options! Falafel wraps, veggie burgers and halloumi skewers are crowd-pleasers and easy to manage. Similarly, you could create a big batch of vegetable chilli – add some nachos and a cheese/cheese alternative topping, and you’ll have a quick and easy nacho recipe. 

– Sweet Treats – No festival is complete without sweet treats. You could offer mini doughnuts, break out the candy floss machine or bake some homemade cupcakes. The options are endless.

Get the Pimm’s and Strawberries ready for Wimbledon

If you’re looking for something a little more sophisticated, then why not get your Tennis whites out and throw a Wimbledon-themed party? 

Wimbledon has long been known for its tradition of Pimm’s and Strawberries and Cream, so your party planning is almost done for you!

Dress code

Wimbledon is notorious for its strict dress code for players (white only – absolutely no cream or off-white). But there’s also an unofficial dress code for guests visiting the All-England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club.

Most guests will cover their shoulders, with women often opting for pretty sundresses or jumpsuits with no logos. Men usually wear Panama hats to hide the shade – and for guests in the Royal Box, a suit and tie is compulsory. So, why not take the opportunity to really dress to impress?

Music

The great news is that Spotify has already curated the official Wimbledon playlist, so you don’t need to worry about what music to play!

Games

There are plenty of tennis themed games you can play – why not turn your garden into a mini tennis court, complete with mini matches or skills games? All you need is some racquets and a  few balls and your guests can have an amazing time. 

We can even help you set up a costume contest where your guests can come dressed as their favourite tennis legend, making the most of their best tennis whites or doing their best impression of their favourite tennis players.  After all, what’s more iconic than John McEnroe’s famous “you cannot be serious” rant?

Food

Finger foods and other small delicacies are perfect for a Wimbledon-themed party.

Your menu of choice will almost certainly include cucumber sandwiches, miniature pastries and scones with jam and clotted cream. Now we won’t even start the debate over whether it should be the cream or the jam first!  

You’ll also need to have ample portions of strawberries and clotted cream, along with the 

quintessential British summer drink – Pimm’s! For non-drinkers, the cucumber-flavour sparkling water from Dash is a great alternative!

Inspired Occasions can help you create a summer of sports celebration

The exciting thing about hosting a 2024 summer of sport-themed party is that it can be as big or small as you wish. 

We’d love to help you create a community or corporate event that exceeds your expectations. Whether you need something low-key to mark an anniversary or birthday or you want to host a summer social event to celebrate your employees, please give us a call. 

Here at Inspired Occasions, we can provide additional support for your organising team, negotiate deals with suppliers and help you create an overarching theme that your guests will love! From organising fun games and entertainment to securing the perfect menu, we can do it all.

To find out how we can help you, please drop us an email, and we’ll call you right back!

Alternatively, if you need any inspiration, why not head over to our Instagram or Facebook page.