Games of the V Olympiad - RP thread

[Delaclava]

Shoveling Snow: Following Snowboarder Devon Kellogg Around the World

Well, this has been an interesting ride, hasn't it?

I qualified easily for all three snowboarding events in Sao Jorge, but didn't medal. Quarterfinals in snowboard cross and parallel giant slalom, one spot out of advancing to the semis in halfpipe. I went back home to Valhalla to practice, and also try a bit of motorbike riding as a hobby.

A bit more than two years later, just a day before the deadline, Len Rogerre's giving me a call about how they need to balance out entries for budget, marketing, funding, and so on. So he asked me to compete in men's BMX. I said, sure, why not? Let's give this a fling. In my head, I was thinking he was crazy. I had done BMX as a hobby for two years. As a hobby. Not as a competitive sport. Delaclava doesn't even have a professional BMX circuit, and I got submitted along with Jerome Gorvaggno and Gideon Geraldo Gomez because a bunch of groups were complaining about it. I certainly didn't have the stuff to compete well, let alone win the thing.

Whatever. I ended up finishing 9th in seeding, which pleased me a lot. When I got on that bike, it just felt so natural to me, and I just rode it. Then in the first round I won my eight-man heat, and Mike Miller, the Taeshani biker who was first in seeding, recorded a DNF, so that removed some competition. I was feeling confident for the quarterfinals, and won that too. Suddenly, I was in the semifinals, and I went from the man who was supposed to be having a fling at the sport to a serious competitor. But still I didn't think of myself as a medal contender. I don't like to get ahead of myself.

The next day, it was the semifinals, and I rode a personal best 36.146 to somehow win the semifinal as well. Suddenly, I WAS a medal contender. And somehow, starting as a last-minute, inexperienced entry, I came from sixth to overcome Sam Atkinson, Jack King, and Carlos Moura to sneak in with the gold! It was a weird feeling. I'm 22 and have spent the last 16 years trying to succeed in snowboarding, and have gotten no international recognition. I try to compete in a hobby and turn out with a gold medal.

And for a little bit, I wasn't recognized by my own countrymen. I thought people would see the name AND my dashing looks ( ) and realize that I'm the snowboarder who was fairly close to medaling in Sao Jorge. Nothing. Not even after I pulled out the gold. Then, I got a copy of the official results from the organizers, and realized it. My name had been butchered. It was spelled with an I in my first name instead of an O. (As it turns out, it was not the organizers' error, but instead a mistake by the DOC, and frankly I can't blame them because they entered me on the last day.) Eventually, the DOC made an announcement, and suddenly people were recognizing me a lot more. Helps when they know who you are instead of them thinking you're just a ringer. It all worked out, and it'll always be a funny little story I'll be able to tell.

But it makes me wonder if maybe BMX is my true calling. I mean, I practice one sport for sixteen years and get nothing, then pick up another in a matter of days and leap to the top of the podium. I'll always love snowboarding, but my skill in BMX will definitely be something that I'll treasure, care for, and harness, and I can't wait to defend the medal.

Peace and love,

Devon

[Qazox]

<<<QBC.com/The Games of the Vth Summer Olympiad>>>

Qazoxian Day Nineteen Results:

Men’s Basketball

Qazox     18 19 21 16  74
Mantenwic 20 19 25 15  79

Qazox lead 74-70 with 45 seconds left, when Mantenwic nailed a 3-pointer as the shot clock expired. On the next possession, Darryl Tillison turned the ball over, and Mantenwic nailed another 3-pointer to take the lead for good. After a missed shot with 21 seconds left by Cody Dinan, Mantenwic sunk 3 of 4 free throws down the stretch to clinch the game.

Men's Beach Volleyball
Jeff Dillow/Jose Honeycutt lost to Joshua Fuller/Don Richardson (Bergnovinania) 12-21, 16-21. Jeff Dillow apparently injured his left ankle early in the 1st set, and the previously unbeaten team of Dillow & Honeycutt were upset by Joshua Fuller/Don Richardson of Bergnovinania.

[Kelssek]

Day 20 A

Please refer to OOC thread for info on a major revision to the women's pole vault final results.

[Kelssek]

EXCLUSIVE!
MYSTERIOUS TIME EDDIES PLAGUE OLYMPICS!

Controversial claims are being made by reliable eyewitnesses who say mysterious entities are interfering with the Olympic Games!

Experts in the paranormal are also detecting anomalous space-time anomalies which point to bizarre and strange occurrences, perhaps even occurring in unknown dimensions. Witnesses say they have seen mysterious police call boxes materialising out of thin air.

One athlete who did not want to be named also said she felt "déjà vu" several times during a women's beach volleyball match which clearly indicates something is awry in the space-time continuum.

Another told the People's Weekly News Daily, "I thought I hadn't qualified, but then I had, and it was a strange dream, but it was so vivid, and there was also a rhinoceros made out of fruitcake and despair."

Many other athletes have complained of being kidnapped into police call boxes by a mysterious doctor, and then losing all their memory of what happened, except they did remember they lost their memory, and they don't specifically remember getting very drunk or high the night before. But the police call box is quite strange, apparently.

But the space-time fabric is certainly anomalous. This is according to Barry Shilton, a member of the Paranormal Society, who says all this is proof of strange things happening and of entities advanced beyond our sphere of knowledge are tampering, not just with the Olympics, but the very nature of our reality!

He even puts forward a well-known theory that all of us are nothing more than figments of the imagination of beings in some other dimension. Does this explain all the weirdness in our daily lives? Perhaps.

Skeptics, of course, claim that time travel is impossible.

"It's impossible. You'd kill your own grandfather. And that's impossible, because then who will give you little toffee sweets?" said one skeptic.

Some others blame immigrants. Said Selvaraj Balakrishnan, "All these immigrants coming here have no idea of hard work. Of course it will lead to laws of physics breaking down completely."

The People's World News Daily contacted a physicist at the University of Kirkenes, but he was very long-winded and boring. However, he did say that universe is made out of M strings or something, which is proof that the truth must be out there, somewhere.

[Kelssek]

Day 20 B

The next scorination will be on the morning of Monday 16 August (UTC time).

[San Adriano]

San Adriano celebrates second ever Olympic gold
The Press Association

Sixteen years ago, at the very first edition of the Summer Olympic Games, in Ashford, an independent village nation by the name of San Adriano sent a delegation consisting in a single athlete, a swimmer –and hairdresser by profession– called Sabrina Vannucci. In her red and green swimsuit displaying the national colours, she finished fifth in the final of the 50m freestyle event – an achievement outshone by a gold medal in the 200m final. Vannucci had come to the Games with few expectations, but her first place in the 200m semi-finals had drawn international attention to the event, which the Sanadrianese villager went on to win in 1:56.52.

Vannucci did not compete in the Olympics again, but since then her country has sent small delegations of one or two athletes to almost every edition of the Games. Remarkably, they have brought home exactly one medal per Games. A silver in short track speedskating at the first Winter Games, followed by a bronze four years later; a bronze in table tennis at the second Summer Games; and Femke van der Vaart’s bronze in the marathon at the third Summer Olympics. It has become a tradition, with fans of the tiny country expecting it to win exactly one medal at each Games. Bronze or silver became the expectation; Vannucci, with her gold in Ashford, remained the village’s one and only ever Olympic champion.

All this has set a trend which Sanadrianese athletes strive to live up to. This year, long distance runner Femke van der Vaart is the country’s only representative in Outineau. She arrived in time for the Opening Ceremony, carried the red and green flag proudly, then waited, training by herself or with new friends from other nations’ delegations, for the athletics to begin. The Sanadrianese quarter in the Olympic Village consists in a single bungalow, which she has all to herself. A perfect excuse to go out and socialize with athletes from other countries.

As though the challenge of the marathon were not enough, van der Vaart built herself up an exhausting schedule, registering for seven events. It meant more opportunities to go after that one target medal – but also a greater risk of burning out along the way.

San Adriano’s Olympic adventure in Kelssek got off to an excellent start with the heats of one of van der Vaart’s most favoured events: the 10,000 metres. Storming away in the final lap, the athletic Sanadrianese won her heat in 30:09.49, crossing the line well clear of second placed Purna Haque (from Akbarabad), almost fifteen seconds behind her. The result was enough to place her second overall at the end of the heats, out of seventy-nine starters. Only Akbarabad’s Kristine Becker ran faster, throwing down the gauntlet by completing her race in less than half an hour, eleven seconds swifter than the Sanadrianese.

Thus, van der Vaart went into the following morning’s final with strong hopes for a medal in her opening event. The twenty finalists took off together, with the Sanadrianese moving immediately into the lead pack. Gradually, competitors fell away –two dropping out through injury–, and even Kristine Becker fell behind, leaving the six fastest progressing as a pack into the final laps. Endurance began to tell, when van der Vaart found the energy to break away, at blistering speed, and only Carpathian runner Sveva Pék was able to follow. Then Pék, too, dropped behind, and in the end it was van der Vaart on her own sprinting –somehow– down the final stretch of the track. She crossed the finish line with her arms raised in delight, twenty-three seconds ahead of Pék. Her time, 29:52.47 – not an Olympic record, but definitely a national one, and a fantastic personal best. Behind, it was a much closer race for the bronze medal, which Cassadaigua’s Allyson Swatt just managed to snatch in 30:21.69.

Looking both thrilled and a little dazed, the tall Sanadrianese exchanged hugs with her opponents, before being set upon by reporters, all well aware that this was San Adriano’s first Olympic gold medal in sixteen years, an only the second in the country’s history. Back home in the Sovereign Village, parties broke out in instant celebration, and the elated runner barely had time to catch her breath before she was handed a mobile phone with a call from the tiny nation’s royal family.

Amidst all the excitement, she did not forget the obligatory lap of honour, draped in the Sanadrianese flag – a flag which was soon to be flown over the stadium while Sanadrianese anthem Ciò è la nostra casa rang out for only the second time ever at an Olympic Games.

Then it was off for lunch, and back on track that same afternoon, for the heats of the women’s 800 metres. Not one of van der Vaart’s best events, and the newly crowned long distance champion went out in sixty-second place. The following morning, she was eliminated from the heats of the 3000m steeplechase. It mattered little. Already a celebrity back home, with her face on banknotes alongside history’s three other Sanadrianese Olympic medallists, she had just given her name extra prominence in the village history books.

Nor was the excitement over. Two days after her big event, having had a little time to recuperate, she was running once again, this time in the marathon – where she had a bronze medal to reclaim. She appeared among the starters with the same appearance she had displayed eight years earlier, when she had won her first Olympic medal: glossy green lipstick, and green-dyed hair. Recognisable as one of the favourites, she drew something of a cheer from spectators, a small number of whom were waving Sanadrianese flags.

In the end, though she remained with the leading pack almost throughout the race, van der Vaart was unable to repeat her earlier performance, and crossed the finish line in thirteenth place (out of eighty starters). Carpathia and Ruthenia’s Angela Mondo won the much prized marathon gold, over three minutes ahead of her.

“I wasn’t perhaps as rested as some of the other girls, but I’m not going to make excuses,” van der Vaart said afterwards. “I didn’t do as well as I hoped. I didn’t do badly, but these are the Olympics, and the girls ahead of me just managed their race that little bit better. Now I’m going to get some proper rest, then get back to training for my next events.”

That rest period was to last four days, this time, before the Sanadrianese long distance runner took part in her most peculiar event of these Games – the long jump. During warm up, with her striking trademark green now gone from her lips and hair, she was seen chatting with An Blascaod Mór’s Sadhbh Né Chadhla – two athletes representing microstates, competing against one another in a friendly spirit.

Perhaps not surprisingly, neither of them qualified. Né Chadhla achieved a creditable jump of 6.44 metres, but débutante van der Vaart was there for experience –and enjoyment– more than anything else. She ran a foul on her first jump, prompting caution in her second, which led to an unimpressive leap of 5.59 metres. Her third was somewhat better, 6.02 metres, which she repeated for her fourth. It was close to her personal best (recorded as a somewhat unthreatening 6.07m), but left her last but one of the seventy-seven athletes who achieved a valid jump (three others recorded four consecutive fouls). In another league altogether, Quodite Eija-Riitt Lankila jumped a gold-winning 6.81 metres.

The following day, in her last but one event, the seemingly tireless Sanadrianese gave the 1,500m race a try, and was eliminated in the heats. With no break whatsoever, she was then lining up for her seventh and last event, one of her strongest: the 5,000 metres. On no doubt somewhat weary legs, she completed her heat in 15:05.13, qualifying in fifteenth place.

She had secured herself one last shot at additional glory – before she flies home to a hero’s welcome in a small village filled with party spirit.

[Ferkas]

Sherman Collapses, What Is Going On?!?

Republic Sport Magazine

Star 5000M Man, Bernard Ulster-Sherman failed to advance past the Semifinals today, when he collapsed to in infield with just laps to go, following the style of Ferkian notables like Andrew Peters, who underperformed in the Mens 800, Danielle Pkol, who collapsed in the Womens 10000M Run, Petres KeLocster, who collapsed during the Womens Marathon, and Jeremy Verlot, who performed well in the Mens 10000M Heats, but faltered with just laps to go in the Finals. Many have commented that all of these athletes, being dedicated distance runners share the same coach. Calls are know being given for resignation and change, the NOC must offer some kind of solution, and fast, before the public turns entirely against them.

It is worth noting however that Lyndon Merlorter ran a 13:37.68 to qualify for the next round in 6th place, so he may still be a medal contender. Zakery Jaco ran a 13:59.91 to take 37th place, but will not be advancing.

In the Mens 20km Walk the only Ferkian athlete finished in 9th place with a time of 3:48.28.

[Qazox]

<<<QBC.com/The Games of the Vth Summer Olympiad>>>

Qazoxian Day Twenty Results:

Nothing to see here. Qazox did not have any athletes compete today. Meanwhile, Qazox is abuzz about the two boxers remaining in contention for a gold medal, Charles Corbin & Nathan Marquez; are sparring with each otehr in preperation for thier semifinal matches.

[Cafundeu]

DIÁRIO ESPORTIVO
Esportes o jornal todo, com exceção apenas pra publicidade!

---

The Cafundelense delegation reaches the decisive moments in its main Olympic sport: Volleyball. With the indoor teams both guaranteed in the final of their events, Farias and Garcia to decide the gold in the men's beach volleyball and the girls' double composed of Caffé and Araújo reaching the advanced stages of their event, things seem to be close to perfect for the Cafundelenses. They just aren't perfect because the once dreamed beach volleyball final between Cafundelense doubles won't happen. But, as a compensation for this, the so much hyped Landau Institute double of Professors A and M lost and is out of the Olympic Games. Therefore, we can hope to reach the four gold medals in four Volleyball events, surely a legendary achievement. Better than this, the arrival of these medals can send Cafundéu to the top of the medal tally. Though this isn't really the worry of the responsibles for the country's Volleyball. Accordingly to one of these directors, Cafundéu has already reached that position before, in Columbia. So, for now the focus is to make the memorable performance in Volleyball alone, one to impress the world. More positive consequences would only be a bonus.

But we cannot forget the other sports just because we are getting close to the final matches in Volleyball. In Sailing, for example, the Cafundelense delegation has done well. Several medals were won by our athletes, and the level of disappointment that we once had with the sport in these Olympics seems to be now a thing of the past. In Football, our teams have both lost, which is frustrating for the successful women team of Cafundéu, which has the Olympic Games as their major competition since the ceasing of the Women's World Cup. Between the remaining team sports, Handball appears as another in which Cafundéu still has medal hopes, though modest ones due to the high level of the opposition. In fact, besides Volleyball the main hopes of the Cafundelenses are in fighters, of the Boxing and Wrestling events. The country isn't a powerhouse in these sports, but there are some individuals who are among the favourites in their categories. The spotlight goes, especially, to wrestlers Michel Serdan and Pitbull de Mauá, who are eternally seen as the best in the country, and usually do really well in international competitions.

[Zwangzug]

"...and we're here at the Olympic velodrome, where Claire Scholl has won a bronze medal for Zwangzug! Congratulations, Claire!"

"Thank you very much!"

"Last...time at Aeropag, you were fourth. Did you feel any different, in today's race, did you know?"

"Yes, I did, I was really able to figure out when to break for the intermediate sprints and that was what made the difference."

"Now, if you don't mind explaining, what the intermediate sprints are and how the race works?"

"Oh, sure. We race around a track, a hundred times, and every tenth lap they give the first few some points."

"And...that made the difference, you said?"

"Yeah. The bulk of my points came from lapping the peloton, but there were a bunch of us who'd done that."

"Sorry, the peloton?"

"Oh, the main group of riders."

"But...there were eight of you who finished up front, and just seven behind you...that's hardly the "main" group, is it?"

"You know foreigners, it's all about the groups and the commie stuff."

"True. So, let's see, you were beaten out by...Talia Valjavic, from Krytenia?"

"Yeah. I didn't remember her but apparently she'd been in Aeropag, too."

"And...let's see. Brooke Peterson, from...there are two Cassadagans in the race!"

"Oh? Their delegation must have messed up."

"Do you think someone should report it?"

"Someone, maybe, but it'd be a bit tacky coming from me under the circumstances. Besides, I like our 1337 medal total."

"Your what?"

"Our, Zwangzug's, 1337 medal total."

"Sorry, would you like an interviewer who speaks--"

"No, sorry, it was a joke. Anyway, we don't want to frustrate the officials, they've got the ritardando to deal with."

"The what?"

"It's a time dilation thing." It was, by this point, a good thing this was a radio interview, as the interviewer was becoming increasingly flustered. Seeing his face, however, Claire pressed on. "It's okay, you should be buffered against it...unless they synced you to the wrong week."

"The what?"

"Oh, you know. All that talk about the Sorthern Northlandish race, it's possible you media types have gotten synced to the wrong week, and will be here for what seems like a week with nothing to do and then not be able to report on the next week of events...Relax, it's not like it's guaranteed or anything...oh, come on."

[Ariddia]

Sissoko outrun in final
The Press Association

Visually impaired Ariddian sprinter Priscillia Sissoko had drawn much in the way of positive comment by qualifying for the final of the 200 metres – the only Ariddian to have reached an athletics final at these Games. Having finished third overall in the second round –before dropping to sixteenth in the quarter-finals and pulling her way back up to sixth in the semis–, she was very much a potential medallist. She was also setting herself up to be a star at future Paralympic Games –where she would run in the T13 category, without a guide–, but her focus today was solely on the Olympics.

Not only was she the only athlete with a disability at these Games, but she was undoubtedly aware, also, that an Ariddian medal in athletics would be almost unprecedented. Ariddia’s six medals in Outineau so far have all come from gymnastics; she had the opportunity now to provide a little diversity.

As the eight finalists lined up, most of the crowd’s cheers were for Úna Uí Chinnfhaelidh, the Sorthern Northlander athlete in lane one – the fastest qualifier from the semis, and hence slight favourite to win. But Sissoko –whose name the media have beamed into many households– also received a more than equitable share of the cheers, over on the opposite side in lane seven. To either side of her were Delaclava’s Sinibou Caelticon (lane six) and Jasiyun’s Sofie Andresen (lane eight).

The gun cracked, and Sissoko was one of the fastest darting out of the blocks. Though she could barely see the way ahead, she had trained hard to run in a straight line, and her surefooted strides remained well within her lane. Andresen, and Guena of Delaclava, rapidly fell behind, but three of the ladies were pulling ahead, legs pumping them past the swift Ariddian. In defiance of earlier results, Krytenia’s Samantha Reddy pipped Caelticon to the line, and the crowd voiced its support as the big screen slow-motion repeat showed who had actually won. Sissoko dashed in behind them for fifth place, and wandered off quietly as the media descended on the champion. It was a disappointment, to be sure. But Priscillia Sissoko is now a household name, in Ariddia and beyond – and if the Paralympic Games do roll round, she can expect to do even better than fifth.

[Kelssek]

Day 21 A (2 parts)

I know the formatting is a bit messed up in the decathlon, I'll try to fix that later.

[Ferkas]

[floatleft]Sprinter Advance, Dec. Starts

Republic Sport Magazine

The Olympic Games in Outineau continued, with the first Ferkian event being the heats of the Mens 4x100M Dash. The team of Noster, Livingston, Kingston, and Operlet finished in 20th place with their time of 39.17 and will be advancing to the next round. After the race Mr. Kingston commented "Things went pretty well for us today. We just want to spend a bit more time working on our hand offs and timing in the exchange zone. If we can get that a bit better than we may be able to cut some time off."

Micheal McCar started competing in the Mens Decathalon today. The first event was the 100M Dash. McCar ran an 11.12, which was good enough for 832 points and 36th place. His next event was the Long Jump. McCar finished in 54th place with all three of his legal jumps measuring 6.81m. The third event was the Shot Put. McCar putted it 14.57m, which gained him an extra 764 points. In the High Jump McCar reached the height of 1.90m, for which he was rewarded with 714 points. The final event today was the 400M dash. Finishing with a time of 49.42, McCar earned 841 points. At the end of the first day McCar had a point total of 3922.

The only non track event today was the Quarterfinals of the Mens Light Flyweight. Roger Mel lost to Marvin M. Velez of SIB with a final score of 13-9.

[Kelssek]

Day 21 B

[Sargossa]

As the assorted honking, shouting, swearing and blare of sirens that made up the rich tapestry of sound of the Soluca rush hour passed by outside, the denizens of Eduardo's Sports Bar slowly unwound after a long day in the office.

"I'm telling you, get your money on Alianza. Telemans is going to get those boys to play."

"How much have you drunk?"

"They've been improving every season, this'll be their year."

"Please. Evening Marco, have you heard this rubbish?"

"Evening all. Alianza again?"

"Yep."

"Forget that, take a look at these."

"Are those what I think they are?"

"Oh yes. Sargossa v Sarzonia at the ediraf."

"And who did you sleep with to land those?"

"Aren't corporate perks wonderful? Eddy, a spiced rum here please. And whatever these less fortunate gents are having. And could you crank up the volume a bit and get some actual sport in this here Sports Bar."


So it's New Rockport in 1, Cassadaigua in 2, Sargossa in lane 3, Krytenia in 4. . .


"The Olympics? Is that still going on?"

"Ssssh, I like the relay."


Set

BANG

Great start from Juliana Bertiz, she's already on the shoulder of the Dagan. Collins going well too. It's a good change to Teresa Benitez. And down goes a baton, looks like the New Rockport team. Benitez going well, here's the change and. . . Mendoza away safely. Sargossa leading from Krytenia and Unified Beretania. Here's Padilla. She's away well. Disastrous change for the Krytenians. And it's Padilla and Barber. Padilla, her long strides taking her clear. Padilla brings Sargossa home in first, Unified Beretania in second and it's Somewhereistonia in third.

Here come the times. It looked a faster heat than the first semi-final. And there is the confirmation. Sargossa qualify for the final with the fastest time. The Beretanians qualify in second with Jesselton, winners of the first semi final, in third. Cassadaigua and Krytenia with disastrous final changes fall by the wayside. . .


"Not too shabby huh?"

"Pfft, pure fluke. Đ20 says they don't even get the stick thing all the way round in the final."

"You're on."

[Ariddia]

Ariddian gymnasts back in competition
The Press Association

There is not much of a betting industry in Ariddia. ‘Not much’ being, in this case, a euphemism for ‘none at all’. But despite the lack of money swapping hands, Ariddians do seem to enjoy discussing the prospects of their Olympic stars, and their hopes for additional medals. There have been six of the shiny pendants so far, and all –including two gold– have been won by gymnasts. So it is understandably with some interest that supporters have been watching members of the ‘Dream Team’ return to the gymnasium for the rhythmic events.

The qualification round of the men’s individual, earlier today, involved thirty gymnasts in a display of technically proficient and indeed graceful dancing, juggling or swishing ropes, hoops, clubs and ribbons. Among them were Ariddian flag bearer Julien Arakelyan and compatriot François Terreau. The two men had earlier said they enjoyed training together in order to compete against each other, and in their very high level of skill they did seem evenly matched. Arakelyan’s art impressed judges and spectators alike, enabling him to finish second with 72.375 points – one of only two gymnasts to top seventy-two points. His team mate was third, with 71.850. With the top ten qualifying, Ariddians of a gambling disposition, had there been any, might have bet on the prospect of two medals to come, if the star gymnasts can maintain their level of performance. But the man looking set for gold is from Asteran – Andre Petersen, who totaled 72.875 points for first place in this round.

It will be a close competition – and, for spectators, an exciting one. Art, sport and a contest for medals; who ever said rhythmic gymnastics wasn’t one of the big events?

[Qazox]

<<<QBC.com/The Games of the Vth Summer Olympiad>>>

Qazoxian Day Twenty-One Results:

Nothing to see here. Qazox did not have any athletes compete today. Meanwhile, Qazox is astir about the two boxers remaining in contention for a gold medal, Charles Corbin & Nathan Marquez; are sparring with each other in preperation for their semifinal matches.

I know it seems to be a repeat of the previous up date, but it is not. I changed ABUZZ to astir.

[Kelssek]

Day 22 A

[Ferkas]

Continued Failure

Republic Sport Magazine

A new day of competition started in Outineau today, with Lyndon Merlorter being the first Ferkian, running in the finals of the Mens 5000M Run. He finished in 11th place with his time of 13:11.75.

Next was the heats of the 4x400M Relay. The team of Zabet,Waslet, Interg and Nosterlez ran a 3:04.03 to finish in 24th place, and earned the last advancing spot.

The Mens Decathalon finished up today. McCar started by competing in the 110M Hurdles, where he ran a 14.82 which earned him 871 points. The next event was the discus, his throw of 41.39 was only good enough for 693 points. In the polevault portion, McCar only cleared a height of 4.50 meters to earn 760 points. After that he threw the javelin 56.46m to earn an additional 685 points. In the 1500m run McCar barely managed a 5:05.55, a pitiful performace which barely earned him 528 points. Overall he finished with 7459 points.

The final Ferkian to compete so far was Natalie Westbo, running in the Womens 5000m Semifinals. Westbo ran a 15:14.72, but was outkicked down the final strech, being the first non qualifier with her place of 16th.

[Bergnovinaia]

The Bergnovinaian Chronicle--Online Edition

August 16th, 2010

An Untied Shoelace Cost us the Race--Athletics Hopeful Elsewhere

During the first part of competition on day 22A in Kelssek, Bergnovinaia had several notable chances at medals, especially in athletics. At the women's 4x100 m relay, the team from Bergnovinaia of Runin/Sandra/Rand/Noderling failed to medal--all because of an untied shoelace. The team, who barely made it past the semi-finals, was anxious about today's race, seeing as it was a very good chance for another Bergnovinaian medal. However, even the greatest of starts of Runin and Sandra, which placed Bergnovinaia well ahead of the gold medal team of Kennedy/Lords/Cataguay/J. Williams (TAE), could not have helped the team. In the pre-race anxiety, it is believed that Rand had forgotten to tied her shoe, and was too jittery during the race to realize it. Just seconds into her leg of the race, the shoelace got the best of her, and Rand fell flat on her face and accidentally tripping Benitez (SRG), putting both nations out of the race. Benitez got up, unphased from her hard fall to the track beneath her, but Rand laid on the track until after the race was completed and Kelssekian medical personnel rushed on the scene.

Runin, Sandra, and Noderling were shocked to see their fellow team member crash and seriously injur herself, but there is still some bitterness and anger in the team. In an interview after the race, Noderling, who didn't get to run her leg bashed Rand, calling her a "Bloody stupid idiot" since she "Could't tie her shoes--even my two year old daughter knows how to tie her own fucking shoes!"

The head coach of the Bergnovinaian Olympics Delegation, Mark Visockis, is believed to be at the hospital with Rand and her family. Rand is listed in criticial condition since it is believed she sustained some brain trauma when she fell on the track.

Elsewhere at the Olympics, the women's 4x400 m relay semis went well for Bergnovinaia with the team of Valdez/Lokinai/Sanders/Hiles finishing in 6th place. In the women's 5000 m semis, Shanekia Lokinai also put on a good showing earning a solid 7th place time. The men's 4X400 m relay heats also went well, with the team of Porter/Felon/Thonder/Scarn finishing in 4th place.

The team of Knot/Crandal/Porter/Knoff were extremely thrilled when Knoff crossed the finish line just behind Gertrud (BUR). The second place win gives Bergnovinaia it's 5th silver medal, which makes the medal tally for our nation 10.

And the other big news, Bergnovinaian men's volleyball is guranteed at least a silver medal as they will soon be heading into the gold medal match. Women's volleyball is also going well, with the team of Kevin Griffen/Aspen White beating Sophie Segovia Valdés/Scarlóid Nic Mhathúna (SNO) 23-21, 9-21, 15-2. The win ensures that the team will have a shot at no less than a bronze medal.

[Akbarabad]

What's wrong with Taekwondo?.

(Akbarabad Press, AP): Fresh from a judging controversy in judo earlier in the games, a new controversy is brewing again, this time in taekwondo. Terrible and possibly biased judging has seen several contentious decisions go against Akbarabadi athletes in these events.

Noted expert Fahim Hamza has been outspoken in his allegations over skulduggery in these games and he again repeated his charges. According to him "the judge's mistakes crossed the line from mere incompetence to a malicious interference and reshaping in the events themselves" and "there is no doubt that the judges have been bought off or other wised intimidated to favour certain countries."

AOF officials have so far declined to officially comment on this issue, but it seems unlikely that they can hold their silence for long. The results of the Taekwondo events do seem heavily suspicious and geared towards particular countries. For the record, despite sending a strong team Akbarabadi athletes failed to achieve anything more than a bronze in the sport.

[Quintessence of Dust]

OOC: Assuming that The Press Association is a newswire, there'd be no such thing as a letter to the editor - so this could be addressed to a publication that reprinted the article.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Dear Sir/Madam/Clone,

I write in response to your recent article, "Sissoko outrun in final", and its claim that Priscilla Sissoko is "the only athlete with a disability at these Games". We commend Ms. Sissoko's efforts, and of course welcome efforts to promote international sporting opportunities for people with disabilities - but while she may be the only Ariddian athlete with a disability at these Games, she is not the only such athlete of any NOC competing in Outineau. We ask that future articles from your publication desist from identifying her as such.

Three members of Quintessence of Dust's Olympic team are people with disabilities: shot putter Ben Gagne, who is an amputee; 800 m runner Long Jen, who has dwarfism; and judoka Ouji Ideguchi, who is clinically deaf. All three have competed with the best spirit of the Olympic message, and not recognising their important contributions to promoting the cause of equality for athletes with disabilities is a poor way to encourage developments in this area.

The Please To Be Sporting campaign intends on pushing for a sledge hockey tournament at the Sixth Winter Olympics, and, given sufficient international interest, would support a renewed attempt at launching a full Paralympic Games. Also we like cheese.

Naomi Karlsson
Director of the Sports Access For All Trust's "Please To Be Sporting" campaign

[Kelssek]

CANOEING COACH SLAMS OLYMPIC ORGANISERS, KOC

A Kelssekian coach has today added to the controversy dogging COJOO, the organising committee for the fifth Summer Olympics in Outineau, after accusing Olympic officials of bias. The accusations come in the wake of canoeist Kiera Donough being prevented from taking part in the men's C-1 500m competition on the grounds that she was female, had not registered for the event, and that the Kelssek Olympic Committee had already registered another athlete.

Thomas Docherty, who coaches Donough, accused the officials in the event of favouring Akbarabad, saying, "there was one brown guy in particular who looked a very shifty character."

Akbarabad's Ziad Akbar won the silver medal in that event, which Docherty cites as clear evidence of pro-Akbarabad bias on the part of the officials.

"Everyone always hates the host country." he asserts. "The fact that most of the judges are from foreign countries means that they are evil and conspiring against Kelssek." said Docherty, who was expelled from the University of Mazinaw as an undergraduate for repeatedly defying university authorities in holding a monthly Kick A Dirty Foreigner Day.

The women's C-1 500m event has also triggered accusations of officials sabotaging Kelssek's chances, with Docherty claiming he had seen an official wearing a shirt that said "equipment inspection" tampering with Laure-Marie Thérien's canoe shortly before Thérien's race, in which she placed fourth, missing out on the podium.

"The equipment inspector was looking at her canoe quite closely. The question that should be on everyone's minds is: why?"

Meanwhile, great public anger has erupted over Kelssek's poor performance in field hockey. Kelssek has not won a single match and failed to qualify from a group stage, which many have attributed to the failure of the team to have been entered for the Olympics in the first place. Scorn has been heaped upon the Kelssek Olympic Committee, because this is clearly their fault.

"Who else is there to blame?" said one homeless man blazed out of his mind on LSD. "It is clearly the blood-drinking lizards' fault, and has nothing to do with the athletes not being good enough or simply not performing on the day, because we have the greatest athletes in the world. The entire Olympic committee should resign for the failure to win gold medals in every single event. And someone really should get that T-rex taken away, it's blocking traffic."

[Kelssek]

Day 22 B

Day 23 A

Sorry 22B was late, life got in the way.

[Qazox]

<<<QBC.com/The Games of the Vth Summer Olympiad>>>

Qazoxian Day Twenty-Two Results:
Men's Boxing HeavyWeight Semifinals
Charles Corbin Defeated Michael Smith, Sr. (Cassadaigua) 17-3 decision. Corbin pounded Smith from pillar to post, but somehow Smith would not go down. But despite Smith's brave showing, Charles Corbin advanced to the gold medal match vs. Nkruma Dubango of Sorthern Northland in the Heavyweight division, giving Qazox a chance at it's first men's gold medal ever in the Summer Games. Nathan Marquez, in the Welterweight division has his semifinal match tommorrow.