Useful links
Signups/OOC thread
Roster and information thread
Olympic discussion thread
Results/schedule thread
Demonstration events thread
Neverend, Liventia, is one of the most northerly cities in The Heartland, thanks to Liventia's geographical position as the northern-most nation in the region. The city itself started off as a small ski resort town, but has gradually boomed over the years, and was declared to be a city by an act of Parliament in 2149. Neverend hosted the first Winter World Paralympic Games, featuring 20 Paralympic committees, last year.
The city at a metropolitan area of 281 sq. km is the smallest city in the country. It has its own train and public bus system, which will be free to all ticketholders, athletes and officials during the Games. There are three major shopping centres in the city, two located within a 15-minute walk of the Athletes' Village. A whole host of nightclubs, bars and restaurants are also available in the city.
About Liventia
Liventia has strict laws when it comes to behaviour; rioting used to carry the death penalty until a moratorium on capital punishment was brought into effect in 2138. There is a widespread ban on outdoor public smoking and outdoor public drinking, which makes smoking and drinking in pubs and restaurants commonplace. Since the Greener Society won the most recent parliamentary elections, there is proposed legislation to ban all smoking outside of homes.
In Neverend, there is a specific ban on smoking within 500 metres of an educational institution, and a ban on drinking within 1 km of one. Public alcoholism will result in prosecution. The drugs trade is banned, although casual use is not actively policed. The minimum age on smoking and drinking in the country is 15, although the Greener Society are pushing for an increase to 18 for drinking and 21 for smoking.
Laws on firearms possession are relaxed, although they were tightened following the murder of Prime Minister Danahue at his City Centre residence some six years ago. The current prime minister is Anita Kumara, while the head of state is Alex Cardoza.
About these Games
The Games will be held across eight venues — seven in Neverend and one in Liventia's former capital, City Centre:
The Neverend Ski Resort will play host to alpine skiing, biathlon, and cross-country skiing, as well as the demonstration sport of snowball fighting;
The Neverend Ski Hill and Lodge, a newly built extension to the Ski Resort, will play host to freestyle skiing, Nordic combined, and ski jumping;
The Neverend Olympic Park (also known as the Wonder Garden) will host snowboarding in a temporary indoor facility, and will host medal ceremonies;
The National Sled Centre will host bobsleigh, skeleton, and luge events;
The Neverend Curling Club will host curling, figure skating, short track, and speed skating;
The National Indoor Arena (City Centre) will host all men's round robin matches in ice hockey;
The James Thornton Centre will host all women's round robin matches and all playoff matches except the finals in ice hockey, as well as all bandy matches; and
The Stade Grande Olympique will host the ceremonies, as well as the gold medal finals in both men's and women's ice hockey.
Winter pentathlon will be contested at its components' respective venues.
Letter from Vice-Admiral Royston French, chairman, OCSWO
Friends,
It is with great honour and much distinction that I write you as chairman of the Organising Committee for the Seventh Winter Olympics. It is my great pleasure to report that, including your own, we shall have 71 delegations competing in Neverend, a record number of delegations to a Winter Olympics.
We have worked long and hard and tirelessly in the run up to these Games. We have worked to ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible, using our knowledge and experience gained from hosting the First Winter Paralympics last year. At the Sixth Winter Olympics in Ashton, we witnessed a remarkable event with impressive facilities, smooth logistics and brilliant sporting feats. We look forward to welcoming your athletes to Neverend, where once again the world's top winter athletes will take centre stage.
In a spirit of excellence, friendship, and respect, I end my letter with warmest wishes of best luck, and as someone once said:
"Let the Games begin."
Vice-Admiral Royston FRENCH
President, Liventia Sailing Council
Vice-President, Liventia Olympic Association
Chairman, Organising Committee for the Seventh Winter Olympics (OCSWO)
(OOC note: If anyone's planning audio RPs, Neverend is pronounced Nev-RUND (rhymes with "Reverend" — not Never-END); Liventia is pronounced Lih-VAN-shia (soft 't').)
The marching order for the Opening Ceremony (and full list of participating delegations) is as follows: