KidsGames Ceremony Supplement page 0

MORE THAN GOLD KIDSGAMES III

Opening & Closing

Ceremonies Supplement
KIDSGAMES CEREMONY SUPPLEMENT MANUAL 2004 - 2005
KidsGames is a registered trademark
The material in this book or on this disk may be freely copied, translated and adapted
to local needs by those churches, organizations and individuals who have registered
with KidsGames.
Please do this via the KidsGames website at:
www.kidsgames.com
This Manual is the result of collaborative work by the KidsGames Ceremonies
Workgroup, a part of the International Sports Coalition Partnership and
the KidsGames Facilitation Team produced in 2003.
KidsGames in the years 2004-2005, 2008-2009 and 2012-2013 are part of the
More Than Gold partnership worldwide. KidsGames in 2006-2007 and
2010-2011 are part of The Ultimate Goal partnership.

KidsGames Ceremony Supplement page 1

Index of this Manual

Introduction............................................................................................................................... 3
Planning your Ceremony Program............................................................................................ 4
Involving the Creativity of Children........................................................................................ 4
Building to a Climax............................................................................................................... 4
Creating the right atmosphere............................................................................................... 6
What to do when the Weather is bad........................................................................................ 6
Roles of the MC........................................................................................................................ 8
Some points for the MC to remember...................................................................................8
Crowd Interaction Activities................................................................................................... 8
Creative Section Tips................................................................................................................ 8
General Logistics Checklist..................................................................................................... 10
Creative Ideas List.................................................................................................................. 12
Pick a Theme...................................................................................................................... 12
Other Theme ideas.............................................................................................................. 12
Pre- Event Considerations.................................................................................................. 13
Central Field entertainment.................................................................................................13
BIG and "Way Out Ideas" for Creative Opening and Closing ceremonies...........................13
Sport Demonstrations.......................................................................................................... 14
Team Leaders at a Ceremony.............................................................................................14
Why have a Parade Instead of a Ceremony?.........................................................................15
Sharing your creativity............................................................................................................ 17

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4b Ceremony Supplement
More information about Opening and Closing Ceremonies

Introduction
There are so many good ideas emerging from KidsGames Ceremonies that we couldnt fit
everything into one manual!
This Ceremony Supplement contains many of those ideas. Read the main Ceremony
Manual first, then this Ceremony Supplement will help with additional ideas.
Many of the sections in this manual have been gathered from actual Ceremonies, and are
there to stimulate thoughts and ideas. No matter how many manuals are written, it will
never take away from the need for you to be creative and inject your own ideas and
energy into your Ceremony.
To help with reading this Ceremony Supplement, it has been broken into three main
sections:

Before the Ceremony

During the Ceremony

Great Ideas that just didnt fit anywhere else!

To begin with you will find information related to the planning stages of your KidsGames
event. However there are some ideas that you will need to have in place before the actual
event, so although this Supplement may have some great ideas for you to use on the day,
it is also full of other ideas that require a little bit of planning!

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Before the Ceremony

Planning your Ceremony Program
Involving the Creativity of Children
The KEY PRINCIPLE behind KidsGames is CHILD INVOLVEMENT. This is not
something we just put on for children to passively watch. It is a time to equip and
empower children to use their gifts and abilities.
In regard to the Ceremonies, you can begin by giving children an opportunity to be
involved in the development and performance of the Creative sections.
Some KidsGames give children the choice to be involved in the competitive sports or in
the creative sections. Others want the children to be free to do both. Find a suitable time
either within your KidsGames daily program for the children to rehearse and create the
Creative sections of the Ceremony or set aside a time outside the KidsGames program.
The KidsGames Paul and Joseph Scripts are based around the idea of doing a series of
3-minute Creative Sections in a Closing Ceremony. These could be divided amongst all
the groups involved. Each group is given an opportunity to focus on doing one 3-minute
section well.
Having said that, everything in this manual is flexible, but whatever you choose to do,
remember that the children will learn and remember more from what they actually do than
what they see or hear.

Building to a Climax
The Ceremony explains about "Hype" and "Climax". To help illustrate that further,
following is a story of two fictional Ceremonies. Once this principle is understood clearly,
you will end up with a much more engaging Ceremony Program.
The principles behind building towards a climax can be seen in the following two
examples, one where it didnt build to a climax and the other where it did.
A Fictional Closing Ceremony
This made-up Ceremony is 3 hours long. The organizers read all the wonderful material
written in this manual (and managed to make some sense of it!). They planned lots of
good activities and kept everything short. They decided that to make it easier to run, they
would have all the sporting finals first and then finish with all the creative sections from
Joseph.
The first section was energetic as the sports were played. They had cheerleaders,
mascots and a well-run sporting program. They even built up the program so that
towards the end of the sports finals they brought on the World Water Bucket
Championship. They then had the awards ceremony and the sporting section was
complete. Now they had all that over and finished they could move onto the creative
gospel sections.

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For some reason the children in the seats were restless. They sat and watched the first
few sections, but then started to wriggle. Their leaders told them to be quiet and sit still. It
was embarrassing having the audience chatting amongst themselves, especially when
the creative children had put so much work into this part of the Ceremony.
Sound familiar? It may be not be something you have done, but I am sure that many have
experienced times like that. I certainly have.
What did they do wrong? It should have worked?
The organizers didnt understand about climax and its counterpart suspense. Any story,
drama, sporting match has both a climax and suspense. The best matches are the ones
that the result is not certain until the last second. It keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The scores are near level and in the last minute your team gets the ball - time is running
out - the clock is counting down the seconds - the emotion builds just before the whistle
someone shoots time stands still for what seems like forever then whoosh! The ball
goes in and your team wins the match. The exhilaration! The emotions are let out the
game is over.
Once the game is over or the suspense is released, there is no getting it back. Its
effectively over for another day. In our fictional Ceremony they committed the awful error
of trying to have two climaxes. One in the middle and one at the end. This will rarely work
in our setting. Let me talk through what happened.
The Ceremony built over the sporting finals. There was great involvement and cheering.
They even had the crowd involved in the Water Bucket Game. The biggest mistake of all
was to build all of this and then have the awards presentation. This was a major climax. It
effectively told the children that everything was over because they not only knew who had
won, the medals were distributed and the sports were finished. They were unlikely to ever
get full attention again from the children that day.
What made it worse was that the creative sections were passive and any noise or
movement in the audience was scolded. In contrary, cheering yelling and laughing was
encouraged in the sporting sections. What message was being conveyed to the children?
The Bible message is not nearly as exciting as the sports and in fact because Im being
talked to nastily by the leaders; I dont even have a good feeling about this.
A Fictional Closing Ceremony Somewhere else
Across the ocean from our first fictional scenario is another KidsGames Closing
Ceremony. It is also a few hours long. They have taken an entirely different approach.
They looked at the Joseph story and the Jesus story and realized that both end with
rewards and parties. After the struggles of Joseph and the sacrifices of Jesus, great
rejoicing is seen in the Scriptures.
They begin to connect this climax with the Sporting climax of an Award ceremony. They
realize that if they can parallel the sports and games and the story of Joseph and Jesus
they might just be able to build to a climax of both at the same point.
What they do is simple and clever. They manage to spread the Creative Sections in
between the sports and even give the MC a short script to tie some of the actions in the
sports with the creative stories. Both the sports and the creative sections build to the point
where everyone is wondering who is going to win. What will happen to Josephs
brothers? What happened when Jesus died? Whos going to win the Water Bucket
Championship and Team sports?
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Just before the announcement of the sports winners, the Joseph and Jesus story
concludes and ends with a bright and exciting dance piece that celebrates the good news
of what Jesus has done. This leads straight into the announcement of winners and the
awarding of medals. The MC even mentions the great reward in heaven for all who are
friends of Jesus. The Award ceremony finishes, the MC thanks everybody and the
Ceremony concludes. Perfect climax.
In this case there was one climax and the suspense was held until the very end. What
made it even better was the integration between the sports and the creative. Everything
was shown to be important.

Creating the right atmosphere

Part of a great Ceremony is the creating of a fun and electric atmosphere for the children.
Following are just some ideas of ways others have created great atmosphere:

Some Ceremonies treat the children like top class athletes as they experience
entering the venue for an Opening or Closing.

All children required to wear identity cards around their necks creating the idea that
this is an important event (which of course it is!). Create an entrance where
credentials are checked for identity card. If funds permit, include childs photo on
tag/badge. Without identity card no one allowed into Games village. (Make
exceptions but do so in a serious manner.) The children should also wear their
identity cards when granted entrance to the daily programs in their church or local
setting.

To help with the fun, KidsGames has some mascots that you can build or use on
posters Waxy the blue waterbucket, Shoes, the lions Zaoom and Zaba and other
mascots.

Decoration of your hall (called theming), music played in the background (called
atmosphere) or making your leaders into characters (like security officials,
referees, coaches or television hosts) can all enhance a KidsGames. Other ideas
include:

Create media area where children interview, photograph and video participants.

Create media name tag/badge for children/adults working in press tent.

Set up display area for childrens opening ceremony flags, banners and art.

Have KidsGames mascots Zaba and Zaoom (see information/kit on Opening and
Closing Ceremonies) welcome or send home the children.

Build a simple medal award stand similar to those used at major sports events.

Create teams in your group representing different countries and even have a
Games Village with each country having a part of the hall they have to decorate.

What to do when the Weather is bad

Some cities have faced bad weather. Some have even had to cancel prior to a Ceremony
or on the day. In some cases there is no alternative because of the budget or venues you
have available. Whatever you do, think through wet weather plans.
Some issues you could consider:

Have a wet weather reserve venue if possible. This may mean several smaller
venues if no large indoor venue is available or is too expensive.
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Ensure you have a good network of communication between all organizers and
contributors so that if a decision needs to be made it can be easily passed through.

Send in the story of what happened when your weather turned bad, and what you
came up with to solve it, to the KidsGames "Hall of Fame" at the
www.kidsgames.com website. You might win a Gold, Silver and Bronze award for
the best idea!

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During the Ceremony

Roles of the MC
The MC or Compere maintains the flow of the program.
As such, it falls onto them to set the mood of the audience. Choose an enthusiastic and
energetic MC, this is crucial in creating the Hype for the Ceremonies. (see Hype and
Climax document)
To keep proceedings flowing smoothly the MC must know in detail what is happening next
at every point.

Some points for the MC to remember

Keep the program flowing quickly from item to item

Make sure there is always something for the audience to do.

An MC who is enthusiastic and can create crowd involvement is going to inspire and
enthuse the kids. Here are some ways to create crowd involvement:

Crowd Interaction Activities

Large beach balls can be released into a large crowd of children as an ending to a
Ceremony.

Mexican waves.

Crowd sound effects this is an activity where parts of a crowd are given a sound
and movement to do together. It can be used to tell a story, just for fun or as part of
a song.

In a place with seat numbers a seat number can be called out and the child on
that seat selected to do some activity or receive a prize.

Interview a couple of the children at the end of each round to comment on how they
felt their team worked

The most import role for the MC is to keep THE SHOW ON THE ROAD that is to keep
the program moving, do this along with creating the Hype and you are halfway there to
having a very successful opening / closing ceremony.

Creative Section Tips

Some thoughts from one Creative Ceremony organizer:

Pray by yourself, with your team and with the kids.

Dont make the program your God. Be flexible and allow the kids to do their stuff
it may not be the way you would do it but in the end it will be the best.
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Approach the creative section preparation with a basic frame work but let the kids
put it together.

Your first session together will involve you giving the kids an idea of the story and
fleshing out the main points and themes.

Find the key of the story and decide together how you will represent that be it a
direct representation i.e. set in Bible times, or a modern day application of the key.

Music can be a powerful tool. Choose music that appeals to the kids not
necessarily your choice

THINK BIG! In the setting of the Closing Ceremony, remember that it will be out in
the open, so all movement should be exaggerated. Small actions will be lost.

If doing a drama, it will be difficult to have individual microphones set up on the oval,
so you either have a narrator who can stand to one side with a microphone, or have
the dialogue taped during your KidsGames week.

Remember you can use props and these can be created by the artistic kids. Paint
and cardboard (big!) can be used to create a great visual impact.

Costumes need not be complicated. Source from the kids themselves and think
simplicity. Practically, there wont be much time for costume changes. A hat, a
cloak or some simple addition to what the kids are already wearing will be very
effective.

Our God is a Creative God, and we are made in His image, as are the kids who will
be coming to KidsGames. Trust in that creativity and be confident.

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Great ideas that just didnt fit anywhere else

General Logistics Checklist
You will not need to do all these elements that are following, but it might give you some
pointers of aspects you do need to think about:

Budgeting

Administration and local permits

Name Tags/T-shirts?

Printing of various materials for event i.e. files/flyers/ etc

Roles of Organizers

Technical needs - power and sound

Communications - if in a large venue

Volunteers

Ushers

Parents/ushers to assist younger children to the toilet or other needs

T-shirts

Name-tags

First Aid

Clean-up Crew

Bins (supplied by management of venue)

Wet Weather contingency

Hot weather issues

Items Kids have to bring - drink, food?

Liability and Insurance

Food and Beverage - for children?

Food and Beverage - for volunteers?

Logistics for the children

Seating for the children

Toilet Facilities

Transport
Transport Leader
Buses?
Parking?
Signage and Logos
Concerns for disabled kids
Movement of people

Organized leadership plans

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Child Safety

Walking Bus for children who live closer to venue i.e. gather at various central
meeting points and walk together to venue. Leaders needed to supervise.

Consider setting easy access for kids in wheel-chairs

Facilities for the Disabled:

Seating
Access to join KidsGames
Assistance from volunteers
Transport
Security
Volunteers
Name-tags
To be positioned at venue/parking area/etc

Identification
Tickets
T-Shirts
Name-tags

Program
Events
Program order
Master of Ceremony (MC)
Special presentations
Special effects
Time
Suitable for kids
Equipment
For various games
Decoration
Common Theme right through
Colors
VIPs
Mayor, etc
Sponsors
Invitations to VIPs
Appreciation gifts to VIPs and people from community who contributed to
helping e.g.. Journalists, parents, TV Hosts, medical doctors etc
Atmosphere
Music
Create hype
Look and Feel (coordinate with decorations)
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 Banners
Colors
Scale

Creative Ideas List

The following list is a thought starter for you to think creatively about your Ceremony:

Pick a Theme
A "theme" is something that becomes the backdrop for everything you do. For example,
you could make your KidsGames like an ancient Olympics (but with clothes!) and set in
Ancient Greece. It could be fun to still have modern aspects (like security guards, but
dressed in robes like in ancient times.)
Some themes to consider:

An Olympic Games setting - Athens, etc.

A 5 color theme - everything is based around the 5 colors of the KidsGames logo red, blue, yellow, purple and green.

A theme based around a time period - ancient Greece, a 1970s Olympic Games
with everyone in 70s fashion, a 1920s theme, etc.

A Paul's travel theme - each part of the field or stadium is another place around the
Mediterranean.

A movie or TV theme - use a popular movie or TV show as a basis.

A generic theme - have an "Outer Space KidsGames", a Pirate KidsGames, an

MTV theme, Circus KidsGames, Extreme Sports KidsGames, etc.

A country theme - pick a country and everything is based around that country's
culture.

Other Theme ideas

Team leaders could be dressed up as characters from the theme, as well as all the
helpers in the event. For example, security people, ushers, referees, etc.

Descriptive and fun names for everything related to the theme - for an Egyptian
Joseph theme you could have the "Camel Waterhole" (for drinks), "Pyramid Caf"
(for food). For a Greek Paul theme have a Parthenon or a Greek Island.

Toilets could have prison bars in front of the doorways.

Big props/ cutouts related to the theme

Music related to the theme, that maybe slotted throughout the ceremony, for
example, there maybe an Egyptian camel dance music, where when played, the
camel characters come out and do their camel dance, or various music tunes which
when played requires particular movements from the crowd. There could be awards
for the best participating section of the crowd.

Fun entrance way into the sports arena - children could enter through a maze, a
pyramid, through a tent or through the columns of a Parthenon.

Have a Security checkpoint using volunteers dressed as Roman guards.

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Have a (fake) conveyer belt for children to put their bags on as if their bags are
being screened for security; reasons. If children have made there own passports
before the games, these could be checked and stamped also.

Each quarter section of the arena could be given a wacky, fun name to be used in
crowd interaction games, e.g. the Jail House Rock section, the Ring Nosed
Camels section. There could also be cheerleader dance group assigned to each
section.

Pre- Event Considerations

Energetic, enthusiastic, confident M.C. (master of ceremonies)

Crowd interaction games:

Mexican wave, Macarena, rhythm patterns
For smaller team groups - games for team leaders to play with their
individual teams/groups while they are waiting before the main event begins

Energetic enthusiastic leaders who love interacting with children.

Color and movement through:

Mascots, and clowns roaming around the field and interacting with the
participating teams.
Wacky games
Mime artists
Magicians
Dance and Cheerleading teams
Music (loud and pumping!)
Jazz bands

Each team to bring balloons, string, tinsel, streamers etc, to decorate their particular
area of the auditorium or sports field. (This automatically creates color and
excitement to the event.)

Small "windmill" logos for children to make while they are waiting.

Central Field entertainment

Clever sports people doing ball tricks and juggling

Cultural group demonstrations

Drumming cultural group

Dance groups/ cheerleading groups

"Go Kart" Racing

Model car racing on a track

Huge beach balls bouncing in the audience stands and field

Sumo wrestling - using three car inner rubber tubes taped together (make sure the
valve is carefully taped away from skin)

Trampoline demonstrations

BIG and "Way Out Ideas" for Creative Opening and Closing ceremonies

Large festival puppets

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Hundreds of children blowing bubbles

Crowd Juggling with blow up beach balls

Shadow dancing and drama (like in the Atlanta Olympics)

Remote control blimp

Remote model airplane demonstrations

Actors on stilts

Big props objects, cut out models, banners, polystyrene artwork (related to the
Theme) balls, balloons

Huge cut-outs of sports personalities, mascots or characters related to the theme.

Large windmill of the KidsGames Logo

Smoke and ice machines

Lighting effects

Large video screen for coverage of the sports events that have occurred during the
week

Photographs and video footage of the arts happening around the KidsGames

Photography and video taken by the children

Poster competition for children who are interested to work on while they are
watching other teams compete

Sport Demonstrations

Football juggling

Power and strength displays

Skateboarding

BMX bikes

Trampoline display

Ribbon and gymnastic displays

Go kart racing

Always have loud music playing to create hype.

Team Leaders at a Ceremony

Team leaders should display the following skills and abilities at a Ceremony to help make
the time as fun and enjoyable for the children as possible:

be energetic and enthusiastic

love interacting with children

responsible

encourage team moral

have good organizational skills

They will need to be:

given ideas on what to do for team control.

given ideas on what to do to entertain their group of children when waiting.

well briefed on their responsibilities as leaders.

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Leaders could:

involve teenagers to help them with their team interaction games and hype.

be dressed as a character from the main theme, or all have the same colored
leaders t-shirt.

should have at least two leaders for each team, so that one leader is available to
accompany children to the toilets, first aid tent, etc.

Why have a Parade Instead of a Ceremony?

There will be times when a Ceremony is impossible or not advisable. In these cases each
Games could consider a parade format for their Opening and Closing, or at another time
as part of your Games. The following will sometimes refer to a KidsGames but most ideas
relate to any of the four Global Community Games opportunities.
Why Consider a Parade?

Space no facility is large enough to hold all the participants

Cost the rental of a stadium/sound system etc is prohibitive

Participation can allow more participants to be actively involved

Guests allows in small or large communities for most to be aware of the Games
and its values

Limitations of Parades

Not possible to communicate to all Games participants as in a field/stadium setting

Need more approvals to be allowed to use public streets

Need more creativity to communicate Games values and purposes in a parade

format

Objectives of a Parade

To keep the kids led and focused in a positive outward focused way (i.e.. include the
community and onlookers as much as possible).

Communicate the various aspects of KidsGames - sports, games, inclusiveness,

compassion, dance, drama, KidsMedia, mascots, torch, World Water Bucket, World
12x10 Relay, CityLink, etc.

Model partnering between community groups, churches and schools to serve

children.

Keep as fast moving, dynamic and inexpensive as possible.

Focus on the sports/games and participation opportunities.

Include as one portion of the parade the biblical lessons.

Concepts and Issues to Consider for a Parade

Actual floats add cost and add complications, keep it simple and inexpensive.

Floats keep kids in a stationary situation as compared to creative ideas that keep all
kids on the ground.
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Banners and posters allow the children from every community group, church and
school in the Artists part of KidsMedia to exhibit their talents.

Provide on boards (or walls in a convenient walking area) a place where spectators
can look at KidsMedia photographs and art works.

Divide parade into sections where each section displays a different aspect of the
Games - sports, games, inclusiveness, compassion, dance, drama, KidsMedia,
mascots, torch, World Water Bucket, World 12x10 Relay, CityLink, etc.

The parade section depicting the clothes, music etc of the CityLink partner provides
a wonderful way to expose the broad approach of the Games.

Torch Run and lighting in parade allows opportunities to focus on shared

participation by one or many able and disabled.

Face painting adds enjoyment for participant.

Balloons can be an inexpensive way to add color and fun.

Balloons also provide a way to invite sponsors to have their name seen.

If a reviewing stand is created be sure to keep the children the focus not well known
athletes, elected officials, pastors, school principles or other adults.

Listing sponsors on banners at viewing stand can help pay for the parade.

If a mayor or other public official is invited to bring greetings be sure to limit to no

more that brief comments or you have created a boring environment from the very
beginning.

Think through creative ways that fit your community to keep the feel of the parade
fast moving and new things keep happening by the participants.

Invite school or other community bands to participate if they fit the objectives.

If parade is the Opening of Games a strong focus should be included on the

compassion project.

Say no to drugs and other values based issues can be highlighted just as in a
stadium style Opening Ceremonies.

If you have an announcer at the reviewing stand or several placed along the parade
route be sure the person(s) has communications talents. If children can serve this
role that is best. If you have broadcasting as one of the KidsMedia options those
children would be able to have their talents exhibited in this role.

Bandanas and paper hat or other creative inexpensive ideas can be used when
identifying the participants is desired.

In a field/stadium opening or closing the march-in occurs by community group,

church or school in a parade it makes more sense to arrange by kind of activity.

Pom poms and flags made by the participants with music and dance routines create
a fun environment.

Always be prepared for alternatives for bad weather.

Always obey all laws and secure all permits at the beginning of the planning
process.

Options

Conclude the parade with giant festival inviting all participants, family members &
possibly the entire community.

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If you have a festival set up a viewing tent for More than Gold or The Ultimate Goal
videos with a table for literature distribution.

Find ways to include one or more top class athletes without taking away from the
kids as the stars. (Never promote a parade based on participation of well known
athletes or you will create pressures each successive Games to secure some as or
more famous athlete next time).

Include a section on what will happen in the next kind of Games or the next of the
same kind to begin recruiting broader participation.

Sharing your creativity

KidsGames is all about sharing resources and ideas. The ideas in this supplement have
come from many people and they are shared with you at no cost. Your ideas are also
important and we want to be able to share them with others worldwide and in later
editions of this manual. We would like to encourage you to send your best ideas back to
us so that we can share them with others. This includes scripts, songs, graphics, ideas,
games, torch-lighting ideas, photos, etc, etc, etc.
You can email files to:
ceremonies@kidsgames.com
or post your ideas to:
KidsGames Ceremonies Workgroup,
PO Box 809
Hornsby NSW 1630
Sydney Australia.
Please send us the information or resources in the best way you can (for example:
actual photos, CDs, computer files) so that we can share at a high-quality to others.

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