
Eeeepp!!! I’m so excited! ‘Tis the season for this decidedly non sports fan to get a little addlepated over the Olympics. I know, it makes no sense, but I’m all in when it comes to Olympic sports. Figure Skating is my favourite but I become a bit obsessed with all the Olympics coverage and willingly watch anything (well, except hockey …gasp, I know, and me a Canadian, but we just won’t talk about that. Shhhhh!)
So, anyway, I thought it would be fun to get into the spirit of the Games with a Reading Challenge. This one will last from January 26 2026 – February 26 2026. Prizes awarded – Gold, Silver and Bronze (of course) See the end of this post for those details. First off, here’s the Olympics Readathon Board:

And just for fun, I’m adding in two BONUS categories, each worth 5 extra points. They are:
- Ice Hockey – read a book with a hockey theme, or at least one hockey scene (as spectator or player.)
- Italy – read a book set in Italy (at least part of the time) to celebrate the location of the 2026 Winter Olympics!
How to play (and have a chance to win):
- Bingo runs from Monday January 26 2026 Thursday February 26 2026 (midnight EST)
- Read a book that fits a prompt (or prompts) to fill in a square (or squares)
- So yes, that means, one book could fit multiple prompts.
- 8 chances at a Bingo โ 3 rows across, 3 rows down, 2 diagonal rows
- Your name will be entered into a draw every time you get a Bingo (so the potential for 8 times)
- Bonus round: Fill your entire card to have your name entered 5 more times
- EXTRA BONUS PROMPTS: Ice Hockey and Italy, both are worth 5 extra points
- Once youโve achieved a Bingo, submit the prompts and corresponding books to me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. using BINGO in the subject field
- Technically, you have until midnight EST February 26 to submit all your entries, but it would be easier on me to have them trickling in throughout the month.
- Winner will be announced on Saturday February 28 2026
Gold Medal – US – $20 Baker Book House gift card, Canada – $20 Amazon gift card – Medalist will be chosen from all Blackout entries. Names will be added to the Random Wheel of Names Spinner (one entry for every point earned) in the order I receive the entries. Then the spinner does the hard work of choosing the winner.
Silver Medal – US – $15 Baker Book House gift card, Canada – $15 Amazon gift card – Names will be added to the Random Wheel of Names Spinner (one entry for every point earned) in the order I receive the entries. Then the spinner does the hard work of choosing the winner.
Bronze Medal – US – $10 Baker Book House gift card, Canada – $10 Amazon gift card. Names will be added to the Random Wheel of Names Spinner (one entry for every point earned) in the order I receive the entries. Then the spinner does the hard work of choosing the winner.
- Nordic Combined – a book featuring mixed genres (like history and mystery) OR a dual timeline novel
- Speed Short Track Skating – a novella (can be just one in a collection) OR a short novel (under 300 pages.)
- Luge – ‘Luge’ yourself in a good book ๐ – a novel that carries you away from reality for awhile.
- Biathlon – 2nd book in a series – this could literally be the second book in a series OR the second book you have read in a series (even if it’s #4) Hope that makes sense.
- Curling – Curl up with a book that has been on your TBR since last year. This should be a book you actually own either in physical form or audio or Kindle, but just haven’t gotten around to read it yet.
- Skeleton – Read a Mystery, Suspense or Thriller. For those of you who don’t read suspense, another genre that features a mystery as part of the plot would work as well.
- Snowboard – a book that has snow on the cover or features at least one snowy scene
- Cross-Country Skiing – a book that includes a journey, the physical kind. It could be a cross-country adventure or just one trip in the middle of the book or even a hero or heroine who is travelling somewhere else to start over (as long as there’s a travelling scene at the beginning of the story.)
- Ski-Jumping – A book that gets your heart racing – could involve a swoon worthy hero or a high-speed chase or romance with a Gothic vibe etc.
- And don’t forget the two BONUS PROMPTS (see above, just under the Bingo card.)
Phew! I think thatโs everything. Feel free to ask any questions in the comments. Let the Games Begin!
This sounds so exciting…. I’ll try!
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Yay — nothing like exercising your reading muscles in challenge! ๐
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Kav, your bingos are great! I especially appreciate the punniness of โluge yourself in a great bookโ
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Bwahahahaha — luge just begged to be punnied up! ๐
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Oh! How fun! Iโm definitely interested in doing this oneโI need more help tackling my personal TBR, aka, my leaning tower of books! ๐ Iโm also not a sports fan, but I do love figure skating, and will even watch skiing!
Karen Rhoades (kcrhoadesATroadrunnerDOTcom)
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Ah, yes, those leaning towers of books — such a comfort, but also potentially dangerous for avid readers everywhere!
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Oh fun, I’ve enjoyed our previous bingo games. Once I start watching the Olympics I can’t seem to stop, and I’m not much of a sports fan either. (I didn’t even realize it was time!)
I’m going to make my bingo card this morning and see how many books I have on my TBR that will fit. We woke up to snow on the ground and ice on the roads, so church is online only today giving me plenty of time.
I think I can do most all the categories, but I’m going to need some Best Reads help with Italy.
My recommendation for the hockey prompt if anyone needs an idea would be The Not-So-Neutral Zone by Susan May Warren. A lot of graphic covers look childish to me, but I think this one’s really cute. It comes out Feb 24th on kindle, so it’ll have to read it right away before bingo ends on the 26th.
I agree with Stephanie, “luge yourself in a good book” is so cute!!!
Looks like it’s super cold in Canada today with below 0 temps, stay safe and warm Kav! Praying all our Best Readers made it through this winter storm and don’t lose power!
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I’ve been watching the ISU European Championships and the Olympics was brought up a lot – kinda crept up on me too. Weeee — nothing like Olympic viewing to chase the winter blues away….well, reading does that too, of course, and now the two can be combined!
Italy — The Juliet Code by Pepper Basham, have you read it yet? Also Gelato and the Villa by Robin Jones Gunn, The Italian Ballerina by Kristy Cameron, All the Lost Places by Amanda Dyke, Ti Ams : I Love You by Marion Ueckermann (part of a multi authored series –A Tuscan Legacy – on KU and some of the other books are set in Italy too, I believe, or partly anyway. Of Love and Treason by Jamie Ogle, Daughter of Rome by Tessa Afshar
Hockey — The Not So Neutral Zone sounds fantastic…fake dating too and yes, that cover is lovely. I just finished reading Toni Shiloh’s Feb release – Hearts on the Fly — it’s fantabulous!!!!!
This winter weather system is crazy with the area it covers. It’s brutally cold here, well into the -30s with the windchill. By great luck, our church is online only this week because they are repairing a water main in the area so, no water in the church. Brrr, I feel for those poor workers out in this bitter cold all day long! Happy Reading, Tracey.
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Fun times ahead! ๐
2clowns at arkansas dot net
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Yay! Hope you are surviving the cold, Kay!
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Think the high for today was 13. Way too cold for me to even consider going outside. I peek out around the drapes on occasion. While the white stuff might have stopped, there’s more than plenty on the ground. With temperatures not to get even close to 32 this week, it will be around for the next bout next weekend.
I’m not sure how it happens, but even being inside where it’s plenty warm, the pains intensify greatly. It means I spend my time under cover in the recliner with a stack of books I “need” to read. So, it’s not all bad. ๐
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Reading BINGO – GAME ON!
psalm103and138atgmaildotcom
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That’s the spirit, Caryl! ๐
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I prefer the Winter Olympics over Summer, and love figure skating the most. This Olympic Readathon is going to be Sooo fun! Let the games, um… reading begin!
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I agree — there are more winter sports that I like to watch though I do enjoy diving, swimming and the various boat racing sports in the summer Olympics. Read on!!!!
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Iโm looking forward to watching the Olympics and joining in this fun bingo game too! Love the categories and see some challenges ahead.
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Yay! Hopefully the challenges won’t be too daunting…and lots of fun too!
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Neat idea, Kav! Your bingo games are always fun ๐ And believe it or not, I never thought I’d be competing in the Olympics! Ha! ๐
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Ha! I like that — we’re all reading Olympians! Happy Reading, Cheryl!
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Sounds fun, Kav! Not a big fan of the winter Olympics, but I do enjoy figure skating! Let the Olympic Bingo games begin! ๐๐
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Figure skating is the best part of the Olympics! ๐
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What a fun challenge! I have a lot of books I’m reading for review in the next month, so I’ll see if they fit in any of the categories. I don’t know if I’ll have time to pick and choose some others. We’ll see what the month brings–and how much time I spend watching the Olympics instead of reading. LOL
whthomas13 at yahoo dot com
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Oh dear, that does present a quandary, doesn’t it? Do we watch or do we read? ๐ Happy Reading, Winnie!
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Fun! Some of the prompts will help encourage me to read a few of the books Iโve had on my Want to Read list but havenโt yet read.ย ย ๐
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That’s me too. A little less mood reading and more strategic planning for me in February, I think. Happy Reading, Bridget!
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