Although many authentic explanations exist with respect to the five rings used to represent the Olympics, an alternate story emerged from my living room this week.
The rings evolved from duct tape, which was one of the key parts of the first official Olympic sport - Duct Tape Superball. This challenging game is played on a carpet with about one half inch of pile, with as many rolls of duct tape as you can find. Full rolls are more fun, and I suppose duct tape is probably a misnomer. Fortunately, accuracy is not important, and any large rolls of tape will do fine. Possible tape types include ‘duct’, duct (real duct), packing, strapping, masking, carpet, double-sided, and hook and loop. Tape should be about one and a half to two inches wide, although great variations may be even more fun.
Beginning players should sit approximately ten feet apart and distribute the rolls of tape sideways (such that they are laying on the carpet to form a cylinder with the floor as a base) between them, in any way that seems fun. The players should then find a large superball. Regulation superballs are exactly two inches in diameter, although smaller spheres may suffice. It is important to use a superball that can fit into the center of the roll of tape, otherwise, the game may be very frustrating.
Advanced players may stack the rolls of tape, place them vertically, and cluster them for more complex strategy. The greatest champions use carefully measured bounces to launch their superballs into the duct tape rolls, achieving great scores and winning lucrative endorsement contracts from many adhesive industries.
Scoring is entirely arbitrary and can be adjusted to suit the competitors.
The sport was abandoned by the Olympic committee in 200BC, due to the fact that tape and superballs hadn’t been invented yet. A very wise prophet envisioned it, laid the foundation for one of the greatest atheletic competitions, and then conceded the concept would have to be delayed until technology was available to support it.
It is anticipated that duct tape superball will soon be adopted by the IOC. In addition to being an inexpensive pursuit, people of all ages and abilities can participate.
Many happy bounces …