Earlier this week, the International Olympic Committee announced that the Summer Olympics will be held in Los Angeles in 2028. It's the first time the United States will host the Olympics since Salt Lake City in 2004!

But guess what? You don't need to wait till 2028, because Liberty Science Center has its own version of the Olympics – the Rat Olympics! – every Saturday and Sunday.

At this event, you can watch a Norway rat go for gold by conquering a series of obstacles that include hurdles, high jumps, tight ropes, and high dives. Guests can even participate in the fun by carrying the Olympic torch, keeping score, and ranking the rats' performance.

Our Rat Olympics showcases the natural abilities of rats and the behaviors they might use in the wild. For example, their ability to jump reflects how they might need to leap out of the way of a predator. Their ability to run across a rope reflects how they might grab a piece of food off the other end of a branch.

The rats were trained using only positive reinforcements, such as having their backs scratched and receiving treats.

Experience the fun every weekend in our Eat and Be Eaten gallery.