What to buy for a six-event competition

A six-event competition needs more than sports equipment. You will also need clear scorekeeping supplies, team markers, seating, shade, refreshments and practical items for wet or messy challenges. Check quantities against your attendee list, then separate reusable competition gear from food and disposable supplies. Buy non-perishable items first, and leave chilled drinks, fruit, sandwiches and other fresh snacks until the final one or two days.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Party tentsqty 2
Foldable tablesqty 8
Folding chairsqty 70
Beer tablesqty 6
Stoolsqty 12
Dressing room tablesqty 2

Sports equipment

Conesqty 40
Marking tapeqty 4
Team bibsqty 60
Stopwatchesqty 8
Whistlesqty 8
Scoreboardsqty 6
Scorecardsqty 80
Pensqty 20
Bucketsqty 12
Spongesqty 30
Water tubsqty 6
Ropesqty 8
Skipping ropesqty 12
Ballsqty 20
Relay batonsqty 12
Hoopsqty 12
Sandbagsqty 12
Blindfoldsqty 12
Plastic cups for gamesqty 100
Crawl tunnelsqty 2
Obstacle blocksqty 12
Pull cord
Rubber matsqty 8
Measuring tapesqty 3
Basketball hoopsqty 2
Plastic conesqty 20
Bean bagsqty 20
Glue boxesqty 2
Tug of war rope
Starter pistol
Spare batteriesqty 2

Equipment

Sound system
Microphoneqty 2
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 4
Coolersqty 6
Speaker standsqty 2

Tableware

Reusable drinking cupsqty 100
Coffee cupsqty 40
Platesqty 80
Cutlery setsqty 80
Serving plattersqty 12
Pitchersqty 6

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Kitchen knivesqty 4
Bread knivesqty 2
Serving spoonsqty 8
Thermos flasksqty 4
Corkscrewsqty 2
Ice packsqty 24

Decorations

Team flagsqty 6
Welcome sign
Directional signsqty 12
Prize trophiesqty 3
Medalsqty 20

Lighting

LED lampsqty 6
String lightsqty 4

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 8
Broom setsqty 3
Litter pickersqty 3
Buckets for cleaningqty 3
Mopsqty 3
Hand soap dispensersqty 4

Catering

Groceries
- Still water - 12 bottles
- Sparkling water - 6 bottles
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Blackcurrant syrup - 3 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 packs
- Orange juice - 6 cartons
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- Coffee - 4 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Sugar - 2 packs
- Mints - 1 box
- Stirrers - 100 pieces
- Ice cubes - 12 bags
- Herbal tea - 1 box
- Mini ice pops - 80 pieces
- White buns - 80 pieces
- Brown rolls - 60 pieces
- Currant buns - 30 pieces
- Young cheese - 2 kilograms
- Ham leg - 1.5 kilograms
- Chicken breast - 1,5 kilogram
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Peanut butter - 2 jars
- Chocolate spread - 2 jars
- Margarine - 2 tubs
- Cucumber - 8 pieces
- Tomatoes - 2 kilograms
- Lettuce - 4 heads
- Bell peppers - 8 pieces
- Apples - 60 pieces
- Bananas - 50 pieces
- Grapes - 5 kilograms
- Mandarins - 5 kilograms
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Tortilla chips - 4 bags
- Salty sticks - 4 bags
- Popcorn - 3 bags
- Snack nuts - 3 bags
- Rice cakes - 4 packs
- Gluten-free rolls - 10 pieces
- Vegan spread - 4 packs
- Vegan sandwiches - 10 pieces
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 3 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Satay sauce - 2 jars
- Pickles - 2 jars
- Napkins - 300 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Parchment paper - 1 roll
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 40 pieces
- Dishwasher tablets - 30 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Cleaning spray - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Disinfectant wipes - 4 packs
- Hand gel - 4 bottles
- Disposable gloves - 2 boxes
- Bandages - 2 boxes
- Sunscreen - 4 bottles
- Mosquito repellent - 2 bottles
- Paper towels - 4 packs
- Freezer bags - 2 boxes
- Cool bags - 4 pieces
- Spice mix - 2 jars
- Salt - 1 pack
- Pepper - 1 jar
- Olive oil - 1 bottle

Tips

Plan one team bib for every participant, plus a few spares, so late registrations or damaged bibs do not disrupt the competition. Keep pens and scorecards available for each scoring point rather than relying on one central table.
For drinks, allow two to three servings per person during the first hour, then adjust for the total event length and weather. Chill drinks the day before when possible; warm drinks are easy to forget until guests arrive.
Bring at least one stopwatch and whistle for each active area, with a spare stopwatch kept at the scoring table. Mark lanes, boundaries and waiting areas with cones and marking tape before teams arrive.
Pack wet-event supplies together: buckets, sponges, water tubs, towels and a change of clothes for volunteers. Rubber mats are useful where participants or equipment could make the ground slippery.
Set aside a clearly labelled scoring kit with scoreboards, scorecards, pens and measuring tapes. Order prizes and medals early enough to allow at least one week for delivery, especially when the final attendee count is not fixed.

Frequently asked questions

What food and drinks do I need for a six-event competition?: Plan drinks at two to three servings per person for the first hour, then add more for longer events or hot weather. Buy shelf-stable groceries first, and shop for fruit, sandwiches and other fresh snacks one to two days before the competition.
How many scorecards and pens should I buy?: Prepare at least one scorecard for every team in each event, plus 10% extra for mistakes or wet cards. Provide two pens per scoring station and keep another four to six spare pens with the main scorekeeper.
What equipment is needed for six different competition events?: The core kit includes cones, marking tape, team bibs, stopwatches, whistles, scoreboards, scorecards, balls, ropes, hoops, relay batons and measuring tapes. Match the quantities to the number of teams and active stations, and keep spare pieces for breakage or loss.
When should I buy prizes and medals for the competition?: Order prizes and medals at least one week before the event, or earlier if the final number of categories is still changing. Confirm the winners’ categories before placing the order so you do not need a last-minute replacement.

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