Each summer we gather for The Community Cup, presented by The Columbus Foundation, for a day showing Columbus’ true passion for wellness and camaraderie. But in 2020, those tenets of teamwork have taken on new meaning.

This year, maybe camaraderie means you’re the co-worker who has brought positive energy to each and every Zoom meeting. Or maybe your take on wellness includes encouraging the entire office to prioritize closing the laptop and participating in that step challenge. Either way, The 2020 Community Cup is for you.

The Community Cup is back for a third year with a blend of virtual and in-person events. On-site competition will be held in shifts at Fortress Obetz, allowing participants plenty of space to social distance while competing for the Cup.

Although the event has many new elements this year, there are still some familiar ways to get ready for the competition. Whether you’ve been vying for the Cup since year one or are just joining us in 2020, here’s a few ways to make the most out of The Community Cup.


Get the team prepped

Once your team is registered, it’s time to figure out how each team member will play a part in your win! For those participating in on-site events Aug. 1-5, make sure your team is signed up for its own two-hour time slot at Fortress Obetz. This is where points will be won on events like cornhole, basketball shooting competition and football toss.

For teammates who may excel in virtual events, make sure to mark your calendar for the one-mile walk and get registered for the virtual 5K race. These events can be completed any time between Aug. 1-5 in neighborhoods, your favorite trail, scenic metro parks or even on the treadmill at the gym.

If you have colleagues who want to make even more of a difference, encourage participation in the Charity Challenge. Until Aug. 5, donations can be made to the Mid-Ohio Food Collective or The Columbus Foundation to earn extra team points.

Practice, Practice, Practice

This year, all Community Cup participants are allowed to tally up team points before the competition even begins. Earn practice points by posting a video or photo of your practice session to social media and using the #CbusCommunityCup hashtag. You can learn more about practice points here.

Show Support for Your Team

Safety, spirit and attitude are going to be key this year at The Community Cup. We’ve developed a robust health and safety plan, approved by the Franklin County Department of Health, but we still need team camaraderie to be successful. Be sure to encourage your teammates however you can, whether that’s being a cheerleader six feet away on the sidelines or posting photos to social media or your Slack channel. While it may look and feel different this year, this event is still about bringing the community “together” for a day of fun.

Be Proud!

It’s been a tough few months, so you should be proud of the way your teamwork at The Community Cup! We’ve introduced the Spirit of Sports award this year, where we encourage teams to show off their team spirit via team photos or positive messaging. Points are awarded to teams who show off their Spirit of Sports because, after all, we’re all striving for a little extra spirit!


You can learn more about The Community Cup and register at columbuscommunitycup.com. We hope to see your team take these tips and claim the Cup starting Aug. 1!