0:00:02 > 0:00:04The London 2012 Olympic Games kick-off on Friday.
0:00:04 > 0:00:06Across the country, people are getting set
0:00:06 > 0:00:09for the biggest sporting event the UK has ever seen.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12Here in Middlesbrough, 12 kids are stepping up
0:00:12 > 0:00:14to the challenge of a lifetime -
0:00:14 > 0:00:17to organise an amazing party for the town to celebrate
0:00:17 > 0:00:19the start of the Olympics.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22Earlier this week, we saw Team 1 transform Party HQ,
0:00:22 > 0:00:26and yesterday was all about creating Olympic-inspired ice cream.
0:00:26 > 0:00:27Lovely!
0:00:27 > 0:00:29Today - the sporting challenge.
0:00:31 > 0:00:35Can these three take the quiet game of croquet, and turn
0:00:35 > 0:00:40it into a sport of Olympic ambition in time for the party on Friday?
0:00:40 > 0:00:43They will have a mentor - CBBC's Ore...
0:00:43 > 0:00:45Come on!
0:00:45 > 0:00:48..and some local sporting heroes will be on hand
0:00:48 > 0:00:51to put their game through its paces.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54This is CBBC's Olympic Games Challenge.
0:00:57 > 0:01:01The three locals hoping they won't be stumped by this challenge are,
0:01:01 > 0:01:04David, Lois and Erin.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08First up and ready to leap into action, 12-year-old Lois.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11I do a lot of sports, I'm not one of them girls which goes, "Yuck,
0:01:11 > 0:01:13"I don't want to get mucky!"
0:01:13 > 0:01:15I'll just get everything a go.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19Next, there's 12-year-old David who is passionate about ping-pong,
0:01:19 > 0:01:22and hopes he can battle only niggling doubts about the challenge ahead.
0:01:22 > 0:01:26I'm feeling really excited and a little bit nervous
0:01:26 > 0:01:29because if our sport goes wrong then it could be a disaster.
0:01:29 > 0:01:33And, finally, ready to put her own spin on things,
0:01:33 > 0:01:35it is keen gymnast, Erin.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38I think it's great to get everyone to try a new sport.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41I just come up with crazy ideas, and sometimes people might think,
0:01:41 > 0:01:44"That won't work," put it together and it's brilliant.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47Trying to keep up with this sporting trio
0:01:47 > 0:01:50and ready to come off the subs bench to help wherever
0:01:50 > 0:01:53he is needed, it's Ore from Match Of The Day Kickabout.
0:01:53 > 0:01:54Who reinvents sports?
0:01:54 > 0:01:57I mean, how often do you see a sport completely rebranded
0:01:57 > 0:02:00and turned into something new?
0:02:00 > 0:02:02I'm excited to see what they come up with
0:02:02 > 0:02:04because at the moment I have no idea.
0:02:04 > 0:02:08Ore has arranged to meet the three of them in Albert Park.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11It's here on Friday that they'll have to unveil the new sport to
0:02:11 > 0:02:14hundreds of partygoers who will all want to try it out.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16Hi, guys!
0:02:16 > 0:02:18You all right? Fantastic.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22Let's cut to the chase, you guys are three very talented sportspeople.
0:02:22 > 0:02:28The Olympic on our doorstep, therefore, your challenge is
0:02:28 > 0:02:30to reinvent and age old sport
0:02:30 > 0:02:32and give it a bit of an Olympic flavour.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35You're looking at me blankly.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37Tell you what, come with me and I'll give you a clue.
0:02:39 > 0:02:44All right, guys, your challenge is to reinvent the game of croquet.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48Croquet was once a hugely-popular sport
0:02:48 > 0:02:52and it even made an appearance at the Paris Olympics in 1900.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56However, these days it's a sport that tends to appeal to the over 60s.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58This croquet club in Albert Park
0:02:58 > 0:03:03sits at the heart of where Friday's CBBC party is taking place.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06We have challenged the kids to turn it into a sport
0:03:06 > 0:03:08worthy of modern-day Olympians.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10Easy!
0:03:10 > 0:03:11It looks like an old man's park.
0:03:11 > 0:03:15If we can make it into a children's park then that would be good.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19That is what I want to hear!
0:03:19 > 0:03:22- Are you ready for your challenge? - ALL: Yes!
0:03:22 > 0:03:24All right! Anyone know the rules? Ah...
0:03:24 > 0:03:27Before the kids can start thinking about giving croquet an
0:03:27 > 0:03:30Olympic makeover, they're going to have to get to grips
0:03:30 > 0:03:32with the sport first.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36Here to run them through the basics is Albert Park's resident
0:03:36 > 0:03:38croquet maestro, Charles Waterfield.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42- Now, pick up the mallet. - Step one, how to hold a mallet.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46Just let it sway like a pendulum.
0:03:46 > 0:03:47Step two, hitting a ball.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51One at a time... professional.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53Yes!
0:03:53 > 0:03:55Step three, scoring a point.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57Yes!
0:03:57 > 0:03:59Oh!
0:03:59 > 0:04:02Yes, all right.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04Come on!
0:04:05 > 0:04:07Let's see that again,
0:04:07 > 0:04:10it's a fantastic strike it doesn't even touch the sides.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12Look at him go!
0:04:12 > 0:04:15That's what it means to him, no worries, Ore,
0:04:15 > 0:04:17you're OK with the croquet.
0:04:19 > 0:04:24Can I have a high five? Anybody? No, anybody? Thanks, Dave.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28They've got to grips with the basics, it's time for a game.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30Much better!
0:04:32 > 0:04:36Someone needs to hit that blue one.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38No! Oh, Erin!
0:04:43 > 0:04:45Oh-ho-ho!
0:04:45 > 0:04:46Awwww!
0:04:48 > 0:04:52Oh, I've got my eye on you, Erin. I've got my eye on you.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56Come on! Hit it there. Yes!
0:04:56 > 0:04:58They've got to grips with the game,
0:04:58 > 0:05:01the task now is to be invented for Friday's party.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05I think it's going to be quite tricky to reinvent croquet.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07No-one really thinks about croquet,
0:05:07 > 0:05:10do they? They'll be a lot of ideas, so, yes.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13Our sporting trio are going to need all the ideas they can get if they're
0:05:13 > 0:05:17going to create a game to keep the crowds on the edge of the seat.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21Ore thinks he knows just the place to go for some inspiration.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25Guys, we are taking you to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships.
0:05:28 > 0:05:30Your face, Dave! you seem pretty excited.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34- Who wants to go to Wimbledon? - ALL: Me!- All right!
0:05:34 > 0:05:38The big day has arrived and our sporty trio has travelled
0:05:38 > 0:05:41down to London for their inspirational trip to Wimbledon.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43I'm really excited but I've never been before.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46Wimbledon, to go there, it'll be really good.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50I've got a signature book, and I want to get some people's
0:05:50 > 0:05:54signatures and just have a good time.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00Wimbledon is the oldest
0:06:00 > 0:06:03and most famous tennis tournament in the world.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06Known for its grass courts, players from around the world battle
0:06:06 > 0:06:09it out here every summer for the title of Wimbledon champion.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11Welcome.
0:06:11 > 0:06:16but, tennis wasn't the first sport to be played on these famous lawns.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19You might not know this but the full name of this club is actually
0:06:19 > 0:06:24The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, which means
0:06:24 > 0:06:28that once upon a time, croquet and tennis went Hand-in-hand.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30Before croquet fell of the radar.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32So, your mission today, guys, is to go out there
0:06:32 > 0:06:35and find out what makes tennis a game that is watched
0:06:35 > 0:06:38and loved by millions of people
0:06:38 > 0:06:42and see what you can bring from that into the game of croquet.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44It's a great game to watch and an even better game to play.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47Well, they couldn't come to Wimbledon and not play tennis.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49This is going to be ace.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52Well done, 31, 32,
0:06:52 > 0:06:54we could be here for hours.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56Uh!
0:06:56 > 0:06:58Argh!
0:07:00 > 0:07:03Smash it! Oh! Oh!
0:07:03 > 0:07:06Ooft! No thanks, Dave.
0:07:06 > 0:07:11I've got something special in my armoury. Let's play the game!
0:07:12 > 0:07:14Oooh!
0:07:14 > 0:07:18They've had a chance to play the game, but there is work to be done
0:07:18 > 0:07:22and tennis coach Phil is on hand to answer their questions.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25Have you got any ideas to make croquet more appealing?
0:07:25 > 0:07:29It's quite a stationary game, isn't it? Tennis is the opposite -
0:07:29 > 0:07:30you're moving all over the place.
0:07:30 > 0:07:34Maybe in croquet you could chase the ball after you've hit it.
0:07:34 > 0:07:39Or something like that to get more movement into the sport.
0:07:39 > 0:07:44We should include having energy because everyone's having fun
0:07:44 > 0:07:49If they were having croquet, they wouldn't be smiling or having fun.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55Wimbledon attracts fans from far and wide, young and old.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58You might bump into the odd Blue Peter presenter.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02You aren't the best tennis player in the world.
0:08:02 > 0:08:07- A little bit harsh.- Sure. But you love the tennis.
0:08:07 > 0:08:12- What's that all about?- I love the crowds, how excited people get.
0:08:12 > 0:08:16I love watching the mums leap out of their chairs.
0:08:16 > 0:08:21We need to make croquet epic. That's the vibe from Helen Skelton.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25We need to make croquet a sport that will be played in stadiums,
0:08:25 > 0:08:30people will talk about it, it'll be on newspaper front pages.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32Why don't you swap the balls for eggs?
0:08:32 > 0:08:36Boil most of the eggs bar one.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39Some will roll then you can hit them and it's fine.
0:08:39 > 0:08:44For the odd boiled egg that is runny, that player is out.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46I like the sound of that.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49- We've got work to do. - Good luck.- See you soon.
0:08:49 > 0:08:53We've got lots of work to get through. Come on. This way.
0:08:53 > 0:08:57It's game, set and match for the kids as it's time to leave.
0:08:57 > 0:09:01But has the day given them the inspiration they need
0:09:01 > 0:09:02to transform croquet?
0:09:02 > 0:09:06We're talking about eggs instead of croquet balls.
0:09:06 > 0:09:11We're talking about serving the croquet balls. Crazy outfits.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13There's a lot of stuff going in there heads.
0:09:13 > 0:09:17I can't wait to see what it is they come up with.
0:09:17 > 0:09:21With the party around the corner, it's time for the kids to work out
0:09:21 > 0:09:24the basics of their new sport.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28They've decided to add obstacles to give croquet more colour and fun.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31It'll be one of the best versions of croquet ever.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34They'll have to decide what works.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37And what doesn't work.
0:09:37 > 0:09:38- ALL:- Oh!
0:09:38 > 0:09:43They'll be giving their new version of croquet a trial run.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46Time to see if they've got a new sport.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50It's the moment of truth.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53They'll have to set up the course for their new game.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56In a few minutes, elite athletes are coming along
0:09:56 > 0:09:59to give the sport its first trial run.
0:09:59 > 0:10:03They'll find out if their game is a hit or a miss.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05Use those two. I'll use these two.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09Putting ideas into practice is harder than they thought.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13I'm not sure they know exactly what they're doing.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15They're putting down hoops willy nilly.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17It doesn't make sense yet.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20What's going on over there?!
0:10:20 > 0:10:23It's like a golf shot - you have to get it in the sand pit.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29This should be enough.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31I'm sure you know what you're doing.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35Do all of you know what each other is doing?
0:10:35 > 0:10:40It looks like they've come up with a course that they all agree on.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43As well as the obstacles, they've designed their sport
0:10:43 > 0:10:48to be a head-to-head race, to bring the energy to get the crowds going.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52Time to meet the athletes who will give the sport its trial run.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54- Are you ready to try it out? - ALL: Yeah.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56Good to know.
0:10:56 > 0:11:01Here to see if crazy croquet is ready for hundreds to play
0:11:01 > 0:11:05are five sporting heroes from Middlesbrough Football Club,
0:11:05 > 0:11:07here to give the game a trial run.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09First, the rules.
0:11:09 > 0:11:13You get the croquet ball through all the hoops.
0:11:13 > 0:11:18You hit it through the tunnel, in the sand pit then space hop back.
0:11:18 > 0:11:24To recap - cross the start line, into the hoops, through the hula hoop
0:11:24 > 0:11:28into the tunnel, up the ramp to the sand pit onto the space hopper
0:11:28 > 0:11:30bounce back and across the line.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32That's crazy croquet.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38It's time to play the game of crazy croquet.
0:11:38 > 0:11:39Bring it.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43First up, Team GB Olympic goalkeeper Jason Steele
0:11:43 > 0:11:47up against midfield maestro Richie Smallwood.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50On your marks, get set, go!
0:11:50 > 0:11:52It's a slow start for Jason.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56Richie is through the hula hoop and first to the tunnel.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59It's a race to the finish and Richie's got it.
0:11:59 > 0:12:04- What's it like to lose?- The most pressured situation I've been in.
0:12:04 > 0:12:05Fair play to him.
0:12:05 > 0:12:09Jason Steele may have fallen at the first hurdle
0:12:09 > 0:12:11but is this new sport a winner?
0:12:11 > 0:12:14It went well. The footballers liked it.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17The children cheered so they liked it as well.
0:12:17 > 0:12:24Next, Middlesbrough legend Craig Hignett against Lucas Jutkiewicz.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26Go!
0:12:26 > 0:12:27CHEERING
0:12:27 > 0:12:30The crowd getting behind the players here.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35Craig is first to the sand pit and onto the hopper.
0:12:35 > 0:12:37You missed! It's over there!
0:12:37 > 0:12:38CHEERING
0:12:38 > 0:12:42Through to the finish. But did he play by the rules?
0:12:44 > 0:12:49Video evidence suggests that Craig has broken the crazy croquet rules
0:12:49 > 0:12:50and must be disqualified.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52Lucas, you're in the final.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55A pre-match handshake between Richard and Lucas.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59This sport looks like it's got that competitive edge
0:12:59 > 0:13:01our trio were looking for.
0:13:01 > 0:13:03They were rather competitive.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06Especially when Craig got disqualified.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10It made it more competitive for the others.
0:13:10 > 0:13:15Richie will face Lucas for the title of crazy croquet champion.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17This is the final.
0:13:17 > 0:13:21On your marks, get set, go!
0:13:26 > 0:13:27What a final!
0:13:27 > 0:13:31It looks like Richie Smallwood is running away with it.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36Richie, you're the champion.
0:13:36 > 0:13:38The sky's the limit for you.
0:13:38 > 0:13:43I think it is, yeah. The next task is to get it in the Olympics.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47With a thumbs up from the players, that is where the sport it heading,
0:13:47 > 0:13:50to CBBC's Olympic event.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54It's been a great journey for our sporting kids.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57From having never held a croquet mallet,
0:13:57 > 0:14:01they aim to recreate a sport with the passion and excitement
0:14:01 > 0:14:04to enthral hundreds at the party on Friday.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07It's been a great success today but the biggest challenge
0:14:07 > 0:14:09is still ahead of them.
0:14:12 > 0:14:17It'll be nerve-racking doing it in front of hundreds of people.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19I think it'll go well.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22It's been like an amazing journey.
0:14:22 > 0:14:27It brought the energy and more fun into croquet.
0:14:27 > 0:14:31It wasn't boring like it was when we first played it.
0:14:31 > 0:14:32It made a difference.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35A bit of a way to go but I reckon
0:14:35 > 0:14:37that on the 27th July
0:14:37 > 0:14:42crazy croquet is the sport everybody will be talking about.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46Tomorrow, the final group of kids are in charge of entertainments
0:14:46 > 0:14:48for the party.
0:14:48 > 0:14:53They'll audition local talent, who'll get top billing at the event.
0:14:53 > 0:14:54We can do this.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57Join us for tomorrow's Olympic Games Challenge.