Nationstates Olympic Games Discussion Thread

[Liventia]

By my reading, the Executive Committee would currently be as follows:
President (VII) – Krytenia
Vice-President (7) – Liventia
Host of VI – Cafundéu (vacated due to CTE)
Host of 6 – Krytenia (vacated due to presidency)
Which would mean we have two empty spots.

[Commerce Heights]

By my reading, the Executive Committee would currently be as follows:
President (VII) – Krytenia
Vice-President (7) – Liventia
Host of VI – Cafundéu (vacated due to CTE)
Host of 6 – Krytenia (vacated due to presidency)
Which would mean we have two empty spots.

It’s the four most recent hosts, not limited to the hosts of the four most recent Games, so Kelssek fills the fourth spot as host of the Games of the V Olympiad.

The Charter doesn’t say anything about whether or not an ex-nation can be a member of the Olympic Council or Executive Committee. Since Cafundéu does qualify as a Council member by participating in the last Games, I think he should keep his place in case he comes back. (If he doesn’t, his Council membership would expire after the Games of the VIII Olympiad, which would then make him ineligible for the Executive Committee.) If Krytenia decides to remove him now, then Kelssek would fill the third seat, I’d fill the fourth, and Civil Citizenry would be appointed to the fifth.

[Krytenia]

I think removing Cafundéu would set a dangerous precedent, and therefore he shall remain as an ExCo member for so long as he qualifies to be so.

[Kelssek]

It doesn't seem to be a big change to the existing rule, but an extended clarification right?

Actually, as it stands, the wording allows for any event to be a medal event if this is explicitly stated in the hosting bid. The proposed amendment would ensure closer conformity to the real-life Olympic Games.

[Shofercia]

So just to clarify the proposal:

1. Will the host still be able to add events to make the Olympics equal for both genders? I.e. four women bobsleigh? (If the host wants to)
2. Will the host still be able to add events that have already been accepted for the next Winter Olympics, i.e. the 2014 in Sochi?

Sorry if these questions are newbish, but I want to know!

[Commerce Heights]

So just to clarify the proposal:

1. Will the host still be able to add events to make the Olympics equal for both genders? I.e. four women bobsleigh? (If the host wants to)
2. Will the host still be able to add events that have already been accepted for the next Winter Olympics, i.e. the 2014 in Sochi?

Sorry if these questions are newbish, but I want to know!

Yes. That’s what the extended list is for.

[Liventia]

Official bid from City Centre, Liventia
VIII Olympic Winter Games

About the city
City Centre, Liventia, is the former capital city of Liventia and 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 lost capital status when the Liventia Act was enacted making Orean the modern capital, though a number of international embassies remain located in the old capital. The prime minister also maintains a formal residence in the city, which remains the commercial centre of the country.

There is a world-class train system (more on that here) at spectators' disposals which will help fans get around. Spectators will fly into Patrick Danahue International Airport, from where there is a fast train link to the centre of the city. All public transport will be free to all ticketholders, athletes and officials during the Games, taking on a popular part of the successful Neverend bid from last time out.

About the country
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.

About the bid
Why Liventia again? City Centre lost out to Neverend in internal Liventia Olympic Association bidding for the right to bid for the Seventh Winter Olympics. After consulting with the Neverend bid committee chairman (and current Olympic Council vice-chairman) Royston French over the feasibility of the same country hosting twice in a row (past precedent said yes), City Centre applied to the LOA to officially bid for the Eighth Winter Olympics.

The LOA sees the City Centre bid as a chance to further the legacy created by the Neverend bid and to once more return international-calibre sport to City Centre.

To this end, the bid logo is heavily reminiscent – though not identical – to the official Games logo for the Seventh Winter Olympics. However, the inner star has been replaced by a snowflake and the tone of blue is paler, signifying a mild winter's day with light snowfall. The colours in the outer diamonds surrounding the main feature have been changed to those of the Olympic estoile. The bid team would like to thank Polarian graphic designers for refreshing the Seventh Winter Olympics logo.

Additionally, it is hoped that another successful staging of the Winter Olympics will prepare Liventia, its logistical capabilities and its citizens to bid for the upcoming Eighth Summer Olympics as the country looks to become the first geographic area since Paripana to host two consecutive Games.

The city will be split into three zones of action:
Zone 1 centred to the southeast of the city limits around Mount Konshua (but reachable by train from anywhere in the city via Mt. Konshua Green station), which will host Nordic combined, ski jumping, cross-country skiing, biathlon, alpine skiing and freestyle skiing;
Zone 2 centred near towards the south-central area of the city around the 190,000-capacity National Stadium, which will become the Olympic Stadium. Here, the opening and closing ceremonies will be held, in addition to all medal ceremonies (except curling and events in Zone 3). The Liventia Curling Centre of Excellence is based in the Alexander Building, just one CCERT station down the line from the National Stadium, and will host curling events and medal ceremonies.
Zone 3 is centred in the east of the city, where the Michael Harley National Indoor Arena complex will host ice hockey, figure skating, speed skating and short track speed skating.

CCERT stations:
Zone 1: Via trains from Mt. Konshua Green (Union Line, East/West Line)
Zone 2: National Stadium (North/South Line, Central Line) and Alexander Building (Central Line)
Zone 3: Island Arena (Circle Line)

Additionally, the National Sled Centre in Neverend, which successfully hosted bobsleigh, luge and skeleton at the last Winter Games, will once again be called upon to host those events. Ticketholders, athletes and spectators will be able to use a high-speed 15-minute train link between the two cities for free.

Bid specifics; i.e. the OOC important bits
The Games will take place over four weeks, from January 26 to February 23, with one daily scorination around 00:30 UTC and the occasional off day.

The most up-to-date version of xkoranate at the time of the opening ceremony will be used.

The events list will follow the base list exactly with the addition of four-woman bobsleigh. Women's Nordic combined will remain off the official schedules, as was the case in Neverend. No events currently not on the base list, i.e. approved events for Sochi 2014, will be held. There will be no demonstration events put forward as part of this bid, but demonstration events may be proposed and will be considered for inclusion.

Each user may enter up to two separate associations (clearly labelled as being controlled by the same user). Each association may enter up to 200 entries; two associations by the same user may enter up to 300 entries in total (as long as neither exceeds 200). This is down from 350 at the Neverend Olympics, mainly to ease the workload on me from non-RPing puppets, which tend to be almost all second entries. The average rating will be announced at a later time, but will be the exact mean of the minimum and maximum possible ratings.

Unified teams may consist of more than two associations, but will either (a) be treated as an entry of two associations with a maximum limit of 300 athlete entries; or (b) be treated as a single combined entry to which either the 200 athlete entry limit would apply but allowing for a further puppet/master entry.

A maximum of 300 athlete entries and two signup entries per user, without exceptions.

[Shofercia]

So just to clarify the proposal:

1. Will the host still be able to add events to make the Olympics equal for both genders? I.e. four women bobsleigh? (If the host wants to)
2. Will the host still be able to add events that have already been accepted for the next Winter Olympics, i.e. the 2014 in Sochi?

Sorry if these questions are newbish, but I want to know!

Yes. That’s what the extended list is for.

Thank you for the quick response CH

[Lymantatia]

snip

Hey, didn't Liv host the last Winter Olympics?

[The Babbage Islands]

snip

Hey, didn't Liv host the last Winter Olympics?

He's not barred from hosting again should the Olympic Council choose his bid.

[Socialist States Owen]

snip

Hey, didn't Liv host the last Winter Olympics?

Irrelevant really - if the council are happy with it...were I given the choice, I would back the Liventian bid.

[Anarchist States Of America]

Will there be Olympic Hockey?

[Lymantatia]

Will there be Olympic Hockey?

If by Olympic Hockey, you mean ice hockey, yes.

[Krytenia]

Bidding for the VIII Winter Olympics is hereby CLOSED.

There are two bids:

City Centre, Liventia
Gothika-St Nash, Qazox

A formal announcement on the vote will follow in the vote thread in due course, once I have populated the list of eligible voters. This should hopefully be in the next hour or so.

[Logria]

We have a vote up!

TG votes to this account, please.

[Cyborg Holland]

I don't suppose it's too late to ask a question, just to swing my vote:

What are the two hosts opinions on min-maxing, an issue close to my heart, and will they allow it in thier competitions?

[Euskirribakondara]

On another note, now that I've read the Olympic Council List... Bear in mind that Artsakhestan is my puppet. Thus, I should be listed as Euskirribakondara/Artsakhestan.

[Liventia]

I don't suppose it's too late to ask a question, just to swing my vote:

What are the two hosts opinions on min-maxing, an issue close to my heart, and will they allow it in thier competitions?

Both Qazox and I have agreed that it would not be right to answer this question after voting has begun.

[Qazox]

I don't suppose it's too late to ask a question, just to swing my vote:

What are the two hosts opinions on min-maxing, an issue close to my heart, and will they allow it in thier competitions?

Both Qazox and I have agreed that it would not be right to answer this question after voting has begun.

Confirmation of the above.

[Logria]

I haven't had any votes in my (empty) TG box since Friday lunchtime. If you have voted in the last 48 hours, then please resend your vote.

[Socialist States Owen]

There isn't exactly much debate about this bid going on at the moment, so I'll say this; hosting the Olympics on NS takes a certain type of person, especially when so little interest is shown in hosting. When I look at the bids of both Qazox and Liventia, I can see that on the face of it both bids are at least somewhat solid, so neither bid is poor enough to be dismissed offhand. However, I think that when we look at the hosts themselves, Liventia is probably the best choice for host. I'm not sure I trust Qazox to host such a big tournament - I know I say that without big tournament hosting experience myself, but I trust the opinion of a significant majority of the established NS Sport community that maybe this is too big a task for Qazox. When so little interest is shown in hosting you need someone who has hosted this tournament before, successfully, and who can be absolutely trusted to follow through on what is expected of them because this tournament is a long and arduous one to host.

From what I can see, Liventia meets those requirements whereas Qazox might not. Even when faced with many RL commitments and perhaps not a fantastic amount of RP contribution, Liventia has managed to host an Olympics previously with an impeccable record (Forgetting to scorinate one of my key shooters aside, obviously ) I know that Liventia isn't everyone's cup of tea - even though I'm advocating his bid here I don't always like some of the things he says, and how he says it. However, his hardened attitude is perhaps what is necessary to get this tournament over with. If there had been more bids, I would probably not support Liventia - I'd vote for someone different this time around, who is prepared to take on the task and who I trust to do it well despite not having too much experience with the Olympics. Someone like PIS or the like. I couldn't say that Qazox is in that category.

[Lymantatia]

Let's revive the Youth Games. I was in the Winter version from last year (ICly 20 years age), but it failed due to OOC controversy. For that, I'm afraid I'll have to revive the Youth Games.

[Liventia]

The Youth Games is not the concern of the NationStates Olympic Council, and as long as you do not refer to it using the "Olympic" term, it is not our concern and should not be discussed in this thread.

/Official Council Vice-Presidential statement

[Lymantatia]

The Youth Games is not the concern of the NationStates Olympic Council, and as long as you do not refer to it using the "Olympic" term, it is not our concern and should not be discussed in this thread.

/Official Council Vice-Presidential statement

I know.

I mean, it's not like your goal is to get rid of me forever.

[Saugeais]

The Youth Games is not the concern of the NationStates Olympic Council, and as long as you do not refer to it using the "Olympic" term, it is not our concern and should not be discussed in this thread.

/Official Council Vice-Presidential statement

I know.

Then why did you ask?