SEATTLE - It started out with an idea. The Olympic Committee asked: What would be a good way to get people interested in watching?
The folks at Seattle-based Cole & Weber United think they have the answer: World-class Olympians challenging everyday people to do simple stuff, like U.S. snowboarder Lindsey Jacobellis hula hooping for 30 seconds.
"There's a natural inclination that when you see it your first, instinct is I can do that," says Cole & Weber partner Britt Peterson.
Peterson says the idea of competing against the likes of Michael Phelps by putting golf balls into a plastic cup is just fun.
"That's what the Olympics really celebrates - the best in whatever it is you can do," said Peterson.
Average people (at least 13 years old) can log on and post videos of themselves trying to beat the Olympians' time.
"Even if you're not the fastest runner or the fastest anything, it's really about the spirit."
Last month a challenger from Virgina won the prize of attending the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. This time around, randomly picked winners will win a trip to the first Youth Summer Games in Singapore and, of course, bragging rights.
"That's really what the Olympics does, it brings out the best of us individually and collectively," said Peterson.
For more information on how to enter, go to thebestofuschallenge.olympic.org. The deadline is February 28.
To add a comment, please register or login.