Unwrapping the magic of the Holiday Olympics

Picture this: a stadium filled with cheering elves, snowflakes shining under twinkling lights, and the sweet scent of gingerbread filling the frosty air. The 2024 Holiday Olympic Games had finally arrived, and the North Pole delivered its merriest spectacle yet.

The opening ceremony began with a bang as Mariah Carey, the Queen of Christmas herself, emerged from a snow globe as if summoned by the collective jingles of holiday playlists everywhere. As her iconic high notes of All I Want for Christmas is You echoed through the stadium, fireworks lit up the sky.

“All the lights are shining so brightly everywhere,” reported our ground correspondent, “and the sound of children’s laughter fills the air. As for Mariah? She really sleigh-ed it.”

Santa Claus waved to the athletes from his sleigh, spreading a message of joy to the world as he officially declared the Games open.

The Holiday Olympic Games took place from 24-25 December 2024. Read on to discover the highlights of this magical event.*

*This article is purely for festive fun and holiday cheer! The Holiday Olympics, while delightful to imagine, is a fictional event. Any references to real-life people, places, or events are purely fictitious (except Santa—he’s definitely real).

The timeless traditions of the lesser-known Holiday Olympic Games never fail to enchant, and this year was no exception.

Reindeer Dressage kicked things off, showcasing the unparalleled grace of Dasher and Dancer as they pranced through intricate routines to the tune of Jingle Bells. Their synchronized leaps had the audience stomping their snow boots in delight. But it was Rudolph's star-turn pirouette that stole the show.

"We used to laugh and call him names,” his sleigh-mates praised the red-nose reindeer following his performance. "But he'll go down in history."

Prancer, despite his promising name, failed to qualify for the finals.

Sport Chimney Climbing, a fan favorite, delivered its usual athleticism as competitors scaled chimneys with astonishing agility, each leaving behind perfectly placed gifts.

Kris Kringle, still spry after centuries of competition, stunned the crowd with a flawless sub-15-second chimney climb, solidifying his status as an all-time great. "Still got it," he said with a wink. Another gold medal for ‘King Kringle.’

The Merry-thon lived up to its grueling reputation, with contestants braving 26.2 miles (42.195km) of snowy terrain and frosty winds. Cindy Lou Who, representing Whoville, captured hearts when she tripped on a stray snowball mere meters from the finish line but jingled all the way to the end to claim gold. Her victory marks Whoville’s first-ever Holiday Olympic medal, and she’s sure to be celebrated as a hero back home.

But the event that had everyone laughing through the frost was the Penguin Luge. Sleek, tuxedoed athletes zipped down the icy tracks with belly-first determination. South Pole’s King Penguins narrowly edged out Team USA after a questionable belly flop at the finish line, sparking heated debates among fans across Elvish social media.

Some familiar faces from Paris 2024 also brought their competitive spirit to the North Pole this year.

World record holder and double Olympic champion Mondo Duplantis from not-so-far-away Sweden made a surprise appearance in the North Pole Vaulting competition, furthering his undefeated streak across all levels of the Olympiad. The Swede was absolutely delighted to expand on his medal collection.

The world of holiday athletics also saw India’s Neeraj Chopra take gold in the Candy Cane Javelin, while USA’s Valarie Allman added another gold to her resume this year in the Christmas Wreath Discus.

A number of new sports were also added to the Holiday Olympic programme.

Making its Olympic debut this year was Breaking [Down Gift Boxes]. B-boy Grinch, despite a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct that nearly put him on the naughty list, excelled in the event.

Synchronized Packing emerged as yet another unmissable spectacle, with elves performing choreographed routines of meticulous gift-wrapping. Santa’s helpers shone in a dazzling finale, a triple ribbon twirl tied in unison securing them the gold. Mrs. Claus, returning after a 300-year hiatus, took bronze in the event, proving it’s never too late for a holiday miracle.

Buddy the Elf, fresh off his recent Wrapping with the Stars win, proved to be a valuable member of the gold-medal-winning team.

The Great Figgy Pudding Catapult debuted as a demonstration sport but ended in a sticky disaster, sidelining three elves and leaving the reindeer parking lot covered in dessert.

As the aurora borealis painted the North Pole sky, Santa led a choir of athletes and spectators in a heartfelt rendition of Feliz Navidad. Even Frosty the Snowman melted a little, though thankfully, only metaphorically.

"This is what the Holiday Olympiad is all about," Santa said at the closing ceremony, his eyes twinkling. "Coming together, sharing joy, and a little friendly competition. In these Games, everyone’s a winner, because here, there are no ë-Ls!”

It was on that heartfelt note that the Holiday Olympics came to a close, leaving its athletes and spectators dreaming of next year’s games.

With the festivities still echoing across the North Pole, it’s safe to say that no one is dreaming of a silent night just yet.