There will be no wheeling and dealing between French and Russian Judges at this Olympics event! Quite the contrary: these will be the cleanest Olympics events ever witnessed.

The week of September 8-14 is International Housekeepers Appreciation Week, and The Banff Centre is planning to celebrate it by holding an Olympics where Banff Centre Housekeeping and Custodial staff can display their prowess at a variety of competitive housekeeping events. This September 12 starting at 2 p.m., six teams of professional scrubbers, dusters, and polishers will wield their cleaning weapons for an afternoon of competitive housekeeping and custodial events. Competition will flare as a team of Hospitality Managers takes on teams of Custodial and Housekeeping staff.

Among the tidy trials in these Olympics are a modified frisbee toss (contestants will be judged on their accuracy in throwing floor-polishing buffer pads) and a relay race with a different kind of baton: runners will balance shampoo, soap, and lotions on a scrubbing tool while negotiating the racetrack. The highlight of the Housekeeping Olympics, however, would challenge even Mr. Clean: pairs of competitors will make a cot while blindfolded, oven-mitted, and tied together at the leg.

"Each year, The International Housekeepers Association recognizes housekeepers all over the world. Very seldom do the support staff in the Bow Valley get recognized for the hard work they put in throughout the year, especially during the summer. That is why it is so important to have a week dedicated to them," explains executive housekeeper Brenda-Lee Upstone , addressing the origin of the Housekeeping Olympics. "Having the appreciation week in early September is timely because the Bow Valley can praise the front-line staff after the hectic summer and before winter begins," she adds.

The 2^nd annual Housekeeping Olympics will take place on the outdoor concourse behind Lloyd Hall or, in the case of inclement weather, in the Sally Borden Building’s gym.

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