The Olympics: But Make It Brooklyn

If you have the post-Olympics blues, consider channeling those feelings into pride for your borough. Brooklyn nurtures unique talents, which we’ve seen represented at the Olympics from fencer Anne Cebula in the 2024 games to Charles Downing Lay, who medaled in the long-lost architectural design category in the 1930s for his work on Marine Park.

We’re sure that even more Olympic talent lies within our borough — especially if the games are structured a bit differently. From navigating urban obstacles to celebrating cultural icons, our reimagining of a Brooklyn Olympics fits the borough’s tenacious attitude. Who needs gold medals when you’ve got street cred and a slice of pizza waiting at the finish line?

Read on to discover our team’s vision of what could happen if we swapped traditional sports for challenges that capture the essence of our favorite borough, where local grit meets athletic prowess in the most unexpected ways.

1. The Great Bodega Dash: Show your bodega some love: race against time to visit multiple bodegas, scoring a bacon, egg, and cheese at each stop (or your ham and cheese on a roll and orange drink like JLO, IYKYK). Don’t forget to pet the cat!
2. Subway Showtime Spectacular: While this year’s Olympics had some…interesting takes on breakdancing (an artform created by our neighbors in The Bronx!), we know New Yorkers can bust moves like no other on the ultimate underground stage. Bonus points if you can make even the most jaded Brooklynite crack a smile (or at least remove one earbud).
3. Freestyle Along The Brooklyn Coast: While Paris spent years cleaning up the Seine for the 2024 games, we don’t recommend dipping in the Gowanus Canal even if you want a new superpower (jokes aside: it is not safe to swim the canal). Instead, explore the Atlantic Ocean by diving in with the Coney Island & Brighton Beach Open Water Swimmers!
4. Collect Brooklyn’s Culinary Olympic Rings: Small businesses and family-owned restaurants keep traditions alive across the borough. Visit your favorite spots to collect local iconic eats: pizza, pretzels, black and white cookies, halal cart specials, and bagels!
5. Relay to Rally Support: Find a local nonprofit to champion this GivingTuesday at bkgives.brooklyn.org. Get a group of your friends together and pass the baton to raise funds for critical work across Brooklyn!
6. Not So Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest: Create your own contest and channel your inner Joey Chestnut by getting a hot dog (or two, or three) from your local street vendor. Vegan hotdogs will be allowed, but antacids not included.
7. 5th Floor Grocery Lift: Test your strength by hauling paper bags full of groceries up a five floor walkup. Elevator? Never heard of her. Bonus points for helping your neighbors navigate their stroller up a flight!
8. Coney Island Boardwalk “Triathlon:” Brave the beach waters, bike down the boardwalk, and run to Luna Park to ride the Thunderbolt– all in record time.
9. Synchronized Marching For Justice: Whether you champion voting rights, support and services for our neighborhoods, environmental justice, and more, we all benefit when every Brooklynite has a voice in their community and feels empowered to champion collective action.