PORT ANGELES — Community groups will get a little wacky to raise funds for United Way of Clallam County tonight.
The public is invited to attend The Outrageous Olympics, which will have 11 teams from throughout Clallam County competing in various “bizarre and fantastic” games.
The games will be from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Roosevelt Elementary School gymnasium, 106 Monroe Road, said Port Angeles Fire Chief Dan McKeen.
The games raise money for United Way through team entry fees and through the “12th Man” competition, when audience members give money in support of their favorite teams, said organizer and game referee Laura O’Neal.
Money is collected throughout the games — and the referees can be swayed by dollar-waving audience members, O’Neal said.
Bribery allowed
“People can certainly bribe us,” she said.
A new addition to the games will be a hula hoop game.
“It will be a completely new way to use a hula hoop,” O’Neal said. “It will be very interesting to see.”
Balloon popping, texting and construction out of unusual materials will be among the other games.
Last year’s event raised about $4,000.
“There are a lot of teams really excited,” McKeen said. “One team even has a coach — so they are getting serious.”
Make it a family outing
O’Neal said the games are a great outing for families.
“This is something that they can come to every year, and as we grow, they can really see how it expands and changes,” she said.
“It is a great event for everyone to enjoy getting together.
“Parts like the bribing can get really fun to watch and participate in.”
Event sponsors
Sponsors for the event this year are Port Book and News, Captain T’s, Sarah O’Neal Photography, Adventures Through Kayaking, Kevin Van De Wege — who is a state representative of the 24th District, which covers Clallam, Jefferson and a portion of Grays Harbor counties — Peninsula Bottling Co. Inc., PenPrint Inc., Olympic Medical Center, US Bank, Red Lion Hotel, Deer Park and Lincoln theaters, Hansen’s Trophies, The Buzz/Itty Bitty Buzz, Bella Italia, Sergio’s Hacienda, Frugals, Star Video, Harbinger Winery, Domino’s Pizza, Sandy Hershelman Designs, Chestnut Cottage, Toby Roberts and the Port Angeles Safeway on Lincoln Street.
Sponsors pay for the food and costs of the event, allowing all of the entry fees and money raised at the event in the 12th Man competition to go directly to United Way.
The teams also had fun coming up with creative names for themselves.
Last year, the champions were the City Slickers.
The team won a room packed with treats at the Red Lion Hotel on the Fourth of July.
This year’s teams include the City Slickers (city of Port Angeles), Evil First Step Sister (First Step Family Services), Roughriders (Port Angeles High School), Pirate Bounty (Peninsula College), Clallam County Crew, PA Pickle Ballers, Iditarod Old Dogs (Port Angeles Senior Center), Un-Tied Way (United Way), Code Blue (Clallam County Fire District No. 2 and Port Angeles Fire Department), The POE Team (Pacific Office Equipment) and another team from the Port Angeles Senior Center that was not yet named.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladaily news.com.