In case you’ve been in a hole somewhere without TV and internet access and have missed the constant media furore; this year the Olympics comes to London. Unfortunately, with obtaining tickets to the various events being somewhat of a lottery and those tickets themselves costing into the hundreds, many of us won’t be getting a close up taste of the action.

Here at frugallivingadvice, we don’t think distance from the capital and a lack of VIP seating should stop you getting involved in Olympic fun, so we’ve come up with the perfect alternative to going to the Games, in person. Here’s our guide to holding your own Olympics in your living room:

First up, you need to make sure you look the part, so take your pick of the athletic kit worn by the Olympic professionals here. You might want to give your mates a nudge to get themselves kitted out too.

Next, send out your invites, if you are confident you’ll have a lot of people who want to attend, you might want to hold your own Olympic-inspired draw. It’s also best to give your chosen athletes a bit of notice before the event so they can prepare and train in your chosen activities.

Now, to the big event. Unless you and your chosen competitors are natural born athletes, it’s safe to say that your Olympics should probably involve a Wii tournament or incorporate some of the traditional events from a children’s sports day. Watching each other will be far cheaper than buying Olympic tickets, though it may admittedly be less inspiring. To keep things competitive make sure you offer some kind of trophy or prize; after all you don’t want the event to lose momentum! Here’s a super easy to follow how-to explaining how to make your own trophys.

Controversy has surrounded the “gateway hypothesis” – that is, the theory that argues that smoking can lead on to drug dependency down the line. However, a new study on the molecular biology of mice has claimed to uncover evidence in support of this hypothesis. If you are smoker and are worried about the impact cigarettes are making on your body, take advantage of the free advice available at online pharmacies, such as Lloyds Pharmacy. These pharmacies will also be able to point you in the right direction of affordable quit smoking medicines and treatments that may be of use to you.

The study, conducted by Denise Kandel, epidemiologist at Columbia University in New York and founder of the “gateway hypothesis”, her husband neurobiologist Eric Kandel and her colleagues at the institution, revealed that nicotine – the chemical found in the tobacco of cigarettes – caused changes in the gene regulation of the mice, which subsequently enhanced the brain’s response to cocaine.

Amir Levine, a member of the Columbia team, commented on the findings – which focused predominantly on the influence of nicotine in the progression from soft to hard drugs in teens – admitted that other factors might also be at play, but that “adolescence is a time when the brain is very malleable.”

He added: “We wondered if drug-induced brain alterations could have long-term molecular impacts.”