Games of the XI Olympiad—roleplaying thread

[Kernansquillec]

OPINION: WHY BOTHER WATCHING THE OLYMPICS IF WE'RE NOT IN THE FOOTBALL?

There is no hiding the disappointment of Kernansquillecans. Both the men's and women's teams crashed out a step away from the Olympic group stage. Both fell to defeat in front of a home crowd despite having victory within touching distance and, for all their quality, failed to make any mark whatsoever on the Games. Last time we were here, the women's team were epic, taking silver. So while the experts go over what went wrong, it's time to ask a much more important question - what is the point of paying an attention to the Olympic Games if we won't have any football teams involved?

Football is the best sport ever. Fact. In Kernansquillec, most of us worship our teams like Gods. When our national team plays, the country comes to a standstill as we wait and hope for victory. But the Olympics? It's a fun event for sure, and there's a lot of sporting stuff going on. But do we really want to waste our time watching some guy from a country we haven't heard of winning bronze in an event that isn't entertaining and that we don't understand? Like wrestling. What the heck is that? Two competitors cuddle each other and try to flip someone upside down like a turtle. We might be green in Kernansquillec be we aren't turtles. People don't fight like turtles - just how ridiculous would that be? "Oh no, I'm on my back, you win...". And golf. Yes, that "sport" that involves hitting a ball across grass until in goes into a hole. And repeat... Death is a more entertaining activity to partake, let alone watch.

Before, we could take it. Watching the boring events; and the ones we didn't understand; and the ones we didn't do well in at all (why even bother travelling to Aeropag to finish joint-4852th in the Women’s Double Trap?!), in some bizarre way it was worth it. Because at the end of the day watching the football made it all better. For 90 minutes we could actually understand and enjoy an Olympic sport. We could make sense of the commentary, we could recognise the names, we could play it in the back yard once the Games we over. But now, that silver lining has gone. The Olympics is now just a soulless mass of ununderstandable sports that bring no joy whatsoever to those who don't win (and even then, it's only worth it if there's a lot of gold in the medal...).

So don't waste anymore time watching the Olympics or trying to understand how gymnasts are scored on their monkey-like routines. Just forget about the Olympics, it's boring.

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GOOD START FOR ARCHERS

Ahead of the start of the Games, the Kernansquillecan Olympic Committee announced an objective of 45 medals (13 gold, 17 silver, 15 bronze) - five more than at their previous Olympic appearance - but based on the start given to us by the archers that might just be within reach. During the ranking round Ian Caudell was on fire in the men's individual at the Orange-Green Bowl. He was three points clear at the top and has set the benchmark for the field. Rasheeda Laman almost matched him in the women's individuals, finishing in second place. Both teams have finished in the top half of the qualification table and will receive byes in the 32nd-finals. But our attention will now turn towards the much anticipated opening ceremony and the vast amount of events set to get underway in the first official day of the Games, where the first medals will be awarded.

[Uzekia]

Olympic organisers continue to do nothing to combat drugs cheating
The Uzekian Empire's Olympic delegation was once again victorious on the field despite having to face a sea of aggressive and drugged "athletes" from inferior nations. Having qualified both football teams clashes with the Kernansquillecan traitors will not be possible as their inferior teams were wiped out before the Games began. Our valiant athletes continued their world topping form as the first events got underway. The men's archery team were only undone by a home team that was blatantly breaking every rule imaginable in the qualifying round to finish a mere handful of points ahead of the Uzekians who will vanquish these cheats come the final.

Both Uzekian football teams were victims of biased referees in their defeats. Both games were marked by decision after decision going against the Uzekians, especially in the men's match against Thatius where two Uzekians were sent off for perfectly timed tackles that forced two fragile Thatiusians to be substituted. It was obvious for all to see that the decisions were wrong and that the Thatiusians lacked the physical strength of the Uzekians, no doubt due to their perverse lifestyles and their drug abuse.

The Delegation of the Uzekian Empire shall next march in the Olympic Stadium for the Opening Ceremony. All players shall be in full military uniform and will be by far the most attractive delegation to set foot in Aeropag. After the ceremony Olympians shall prepare for the opening day of competition where they shall need to perform at their very best to beat the field of drug cheaters and corrupters. But the Empire shall continue to march towards vicotry! Glory to the Empire!

[Todd McCloud]

What Can We Expect from Swimming? Also Opening Outfits!
Reporting for V3 News Services, Rin Slakori

AEROPAG - It was seven years ago when Aeropag last hosted a summer Olympiad. At that time, Vekaiyu did not even have a delegation and was in the midst of then-Premier Selvala McEva's reign (they would field a team in the Fifth Summer Olympiad in Outineau). Prominent teams like Cafundéu, Newmanistan, Jasĭyun, and Quintessence of Dust (who narrowly lost the hosting bid) dominated the competition. Unfortunately, those delegations no longer compete yet will go down in Olympic lore as formidable competition. Several other strong delegations remain today - Liventia, Sargossa, Kelssek, and Taeshan, to name a few. Bears Armed, another long-gone national team whispered in the hallowed halls of Olympic greatness, took first in the overall standings, while the host would have to settle for 15th overall. The games were most decidedly declared a success by even the most stringent of delegations and their moody reporters.

Fast-forward to seven years later, and the competition has changed. Aside from the still-going regulars which always pose a threat to the top of the podium, nations like last-year's host Electrum, fellow qualifying host nation Quebec, the fanatical Gregoryisgodistan, now-back Sargossa, and a nation populated by smaller, shorter creatures that refer to themselves as vulpines, Vekaiyu, are all predicted to have strong showings at these Eleventh Summer Games. We of course will be covering mostly Vekaiyu, their athletes, and their fans as these games progress.

Vekaiyu, once marred in Maxism, a now-band political ideology steeped in nationalism and specism, was either too proud to send a delegation or was fearful of finishing the games in embarrassment, abusing the games as a metric for which nation was the most physically fit and therefore the strongest nation overall. Such comparisons will only lead to resentment and embarrassment, as we've learned from instances in our past. Indeed, their Olympic aspirations would not be realized until the year after Aeropag hosted its first Summer Games. Vekaiyu's first delegation was sent to Urth nation Kelssek at the Fifth Summer Olympics in Outineau. One civil war, two wars of conquest, and 288 medals later, and Vekaiyu is now a powerhouse in Olympic competition. The nation is going for its fifth consecutive top-5 finish in the Summer Games. While it may be "business as usual" for the nation that has made medal-winning a habit, that is not to say there will be challenges in these games, challenges which may impede the vulpine nation from being "an arm's reach" away from the top of the standings.

Take, for instance, swimming. Past-greats from the Vekaiyun nation - Riyna McAves and Yva Noveli - are no longer a part of the delegation. Combined, these two athletes managed to accumulate a total of ten medals - eight gold and two silver - over their careers. Their presence will of course be missed during the games, but Vekaiyu doesn't really rebuild when it comes to swimming - they reload. Newcomers like Floria Avistroviyey, Sera Ilastroviyey, and Seri Yevenostroviyey (all from central Vekaiyu - can't you tell by the suffixes on their last names?) will need to continue the Vekaiyun legacy in aquatics. Ilastroviyey, the youngest of the two female and one male swimmers, will compete in the 100 meter Backstroke and 200 meter Individual Medley. The daughter of a known fish monger in Iruk, Ilastroviyey and her family moved to Eldura during the 2010 Vekaiyun Civil War. According to Sera, that was when she really began to focus on swimming.

"I needed a way to stop thinking about what we had to leave behind," she told V3 News Services in an interview. "I don't know why I decided to enroll in more swimming, but it managed to help. It's become my antidepressant of sorts. If they ever invented something that prevented lactic acid build up in muscles, I'd probably swim every day if I could."

Also swimming the Women's 200 meter Individual Medley is Ikrisia Sulevire, one of the winningest swimmers in Vekaiyun Olympic history. She has accumulated some seven medals - five gold (two Olympic records), one silver, and one bronze - since joining the team back in 2010. Six years later, the nineteen year old may very well be in the prime of her career. And, because of her prowess, she has taken on a more prominent role on the Vekaiyun delegation, participating in three more events in 2016. Already a household name in Vekaiyu, she will need to continue her pace in order to cement her legacy in international competition.

Another successful swimmer, Sayli Koveseru, is chasing medals this year as well, though it may be difficult to match her total last year in Electrum. Indeed, she obtained the highest medal cache of any Vekaiyun swimmer in one Olympic competition - one gold, one silver, and two bronze. This brings her current total up to five (she won her first medal in the Ninth Summer Olympiad). If one remembers, she was one of the last medal hold-outs from the original eleven swimmers Vekaiyu sent to Outineau, but it was well worth the wait, as she seems to be getting better with age. The daughter of a Listonian immigrant refused to give up, practicing in the pool and remaining determined despite her coach, Ankya Uligasoyey, previously labeling her as having "raw yet unrefined" talent. However, she went to her defense when the VOC nearly released her after the patience of the Olympic body began to wane. She now seems poised and ready with an almost perfect Vekaiyun swimming form. As her coach intimated last year, " [Koveseru has] nice, slender arms that are held on by strong and lean trapezium muscles, which allow her to propel herself forward and not lose time on the recoil. She didn't always have that, but she developed those muscles over time. She has excellent form for butterfly and breaststroke events, those events that require a lot of upper body strength."

Of course, one cannot discuss Vekaiyun swimming without mentioning Vinsent Ivere, the greatest swimmer from Vekaiyu based on medal totals. Indeed, the swimmer is working on his seventh Summer Olympiad, and has amassed nine medals - four gold, one silver, and four bronze, including two Olympic records, one of which stands today. Ivere had a bit of an off year the past two years, a gold medal eluding him for two straight games. The soft-spoken, few-words swimmer blamed "jet lag" for the slow-for-Ivere times, which of course was latched on by the media, which smelled blood in the water, no pun intended. It is difficult to tell if Ivere hit his prime and is in a downswing, or if it is just a minor blip in what has otherwise been an amazing career. Vekaiyun fans everywhere will be looking forward to his matches this year.

Olympic Uniforms
And now, what everyone has been waiting for!

Vekaiyu will be sporting new Olympic Uniforms this year, which are a stark contrast to last year's uniforms, which featured black formal suits with red trim and a single red stripe lining the outside leg of the pants worn by the men, and simple red dresses with black vests, stitched in common Vekaiyun peasant symbols worn by the women. This year, the VOC hired a team of designers from Ayulosku Design International based in Adevi in order to provide a more updated look.

"We wanted something that was simple but solely Vekaiyun," designer Xa Suparestrovi commented. "Nothing too flashy, because we aren't really flashy people. But something that at least includes national pride with our colors. Of course, these outfits must be made in Vekaiyu."

As can be seen with the images above, the women will wear the above red dress with an open back, black hosiery (not pictured), black shawl (not pictured), and white shoes (also not pictured), while the men will wear a striking white uniform with red and gold accents, along with black shoes (not pictured again, our photographer is a minimalist). Fabric will be entirely synthetic and made from polymeric fiber, in keeping with Vekaiyu's prominent polymer industry. While it may be difficult to picture these outfits on our athletes, we at V3 News certainly hope they look dashing.

((OOC: it is nigh impossible to comb through image searches and find stuff not worn by humans that are congruent with Vekaiyun culture, lol))

[Valanora]

Valanora Times
Football Soars, Delegation Prepares for Opening Ceremony

After both the men and women defeated their Krytenian opposition in the second leg of the qualifying round, the football teams were back in action quickly. The women, drawn into Group D alongside Ethane, Vangaziland, and the Vilitan Union, were the first go participate, as they took on Ethane in their opening match in the Anaphase Alchemy Stadium at Sonoma Center. The two were part of a tight battle for the whole of the ninety minutes, with Ethane looking quite stout in their defensive prowess, breaking almost every Marauder attack as they tried to get forward and deep into the attack. While it was a stout defense, it eventually showed its flaws and was exploited for the solitary goal between the two sides in the seventy-third, when a whipped in cross found the head of Arahileth Haevathar. The Mar Sara FC striker's header found its way into the upper right corner and was all that the Marauders would need to win the match and get an early edge in advancing out of the group.

The following day the men's team was in action in Sokojito Dosi at the Sokojito Überdome, as they look to play the role of favorite in Group C, where San Llera, the Free Republics, and Uzekia were set to be their opponents. However that status may be in flux before the the Olympics ever begin, with the Free Republics delegation seemingly withdraw just hours before the Opening Ceremony was set to take place. On the pitch, the Marauders won their first match over San Llera in comfortable fashion, playing the attacking possession game that the entire nation has been trying to rediscover the last two years. Valaithonnen Galaésmyr got the scoring underway early, with a half volley in the fifth minute from a corner, while Tûrin Kiraiseer would double the lead in the forty-third minute when he pounced on a rebound from a Galaésmyr shot that had been parried. The game would end two nil for our side, though how things move forward is up in the air as the hosts figure out how to handle the Free Republics situation.

The beginning of the archery tournament has also began, with the Vanorians showing quite well on both sides, though the women fared quite a bit better than their male counterparts. In what is traditionally a strong sport for Vanorians, the competition looks particularly fierce this Games, as the Paripana, Quebec, and a handful of other nations have archer competitors that have nerves of steel and skill as high as that of our own athletes. Coming into this Games, Archery was one of the strongest possibilities for Valanora to win gold, though if they are going to accomplish that feat, they are going to have to be on the top of their game as it looks like any margin of error in the competition will be the difference in victory and defeat.

The Games will be covered in their entirety through the EBC along with EPB, while our own Valanora times has over two dozen reporters at the event to keep track of the major storylines. The Vanorian delegation will be wearing white as they take part in the opening ceremony, with flagbearer, Velelaeion Elenlinde, wearing a crown of navy roses, with the delegation opting for track attire as they will be among the last delegations to walk through. It shall be a night of merriment before the Games begin in earnest here in Aeropag.

[Wray]

(taken from http://www.sportsdaily.co.wr)

Wray Expects as Olympics kick off

The talk stops tonight, as the Games of the XI Olympiad kick off tonight with the Opening Ceremony in Aeropag, in Paripana. Wray started with 386 - a handful have gone home as a result of not making the cut in qualifiers in athletics and various teams sports, but a healthy delegation still remains, packed with medal potential.

The Opening Ceremony, which starts at the palatable time of 10:30am WST, has been shrouded in mystery as to what it will contain, but we're sure that it'll be a fantastic celebration of Paripana and the Olympic Spirit. As is usual, Wray will be right at the bottom of the order of entrants for the Athlete's Parade, and this year they will be led out for the first time by someone other than Brendan Matthews - this time his female counterpart, Grace Spencer, will hold the flag for Wray. The 4-time Olympic medallist spoke to SportsDaily before the Ceremony.

I'm so honoured to be chosen for such a special task, it's unbelievable. To lead your country out at the Olympics is something that you can only dream of - to be able to do so is pretty special. When the head of the WOA asked me I didn't know what to say, I was so stunned. I couldn't believe it. It's going to be amazing, I can't wait.

And neither can we. Wray's athletes will be decked out in traditional green and white, the men going with white polo-shirts, white trousers and green blazers, whilst the women go in chic green and white frocks, designed by Wray's own Tamara Hewitt. The athletes should be out at around 1:30pm, if our guesses are correct.

Of course, Wray's delegation at the Opening Ceremony will be somewhat depleted - the swimmers, amongst others are in action early tomorrow morning so it would be thought unwise to have the athletes out late at the ceremony. However, Spencer has been granted special permission to attend the ceremony, as her relay event, her only event tomorrow, is not until the afternoon. So the parade will be missing a number of key names.

Tomorrow sees competition begin in earnest, and Wray will be looking for a fast start in the pool. The first event up is the 400m Freestyle, in which Ben Waller and Mason Clover go in the heats at around 5:30am WST - their final, should they qualify will be just after 2pm. Neither are hot favourites, as it is an odd weak spot amongst Wray's swimming corps, but both can spring a surprise. The first big fish, to excuse a rather bad joke, will go shortly before 6am - Brodie Crossley in the heats of the Men's 100m Breaststroke. He is accompanied by Alex Thorne. The final will be at around 2:45pm WST. Crossley will definitely be looking to get on the podium.

Last time in Centralis, Brendan Matthews broke the Olympic Record in the Men's 400m Individual Medley Relay, for an explosive start to Wray's Olympic campaign. This time two young guns go in Matthews' stead - Zach Raymond and Branning Carrow, and both could have a shot at a medal.

For the women, August Everett competes in the 100m Butterfly, launching her campaign to herself an Olympic medal - she is without doubt one of the most talented athletes in Wray without medalware, and will be itching to join her compatriots on the podium. She could have that medal shortly after 2pm if she qualifies. Lucy Stone swims in the Women's 400m Individual Medley heats shortly after 7am, whilst you should definitely catch Grace Spencer, Makayla James, Heather Mills and Brooke Clerwillis in the Women's 4x100m Freestyle Relay at 7:15am - they could be explosive and grab a medal.

Outside of the pool (yes, such places do exist), the boxing gets underway with a handful of Wrayians in action - Adam McDonald goes in the Light Flyweight opening rounds, Stephen Irvine in the Lightweight, Josie Scoltham in the Light Flyweight, Elle Turner in the Welterweight and Tamara Knowles in the Light Heavyweight. You can see them from 5:45am.

Two canoe slalom heats start tomorrow - Murray Farron in the men's C-1 and Ruby Merion in the women's. Farron will definitely have eyes on the final, which is in a few days. The Men's Road Race begins shortly after 4:30am and will carry on all day - Brendon Kean leads Wray's three-man team, but it'll be left to the other nations to challenge for medals, or so we think. The Women's Football team play their second game against Thatius, looking for a win after they drew 1-1 with the Vakolicci Haven in their opening fixture.

Rowing heats get underway, as does the Men's Hockey and the Tennis. You'll be able to follow it all on our live blog, which we'll be online shortly after 4am. If you can face an early start, we'll see you then.

(For the purposes of this, Wray exists in a magical (yet inconvenient) time-zone of it's own)

[The Licentian Isles]

Montfort Inquirer

Olympics Off to a Flying Start

The Licentian men’s football team fired the starting pistol for the Cyan-and-Gold campaign at the Olympics, with a solid 3-0 win over Electrum the day before the opening ceremony in Aeropag to put them top of group B.

Captain Adam van Oord led the team out to represent the Licentian Isles, hoping to match the performance of the team that competed in Orean, where they took bronze. The centre half led from the front at set pieces, scoring the first goal after breaking away from his marker at a corner, to head past the Electrumite keeper and put the Licentians in the lead within five minutes of the kick-off.

Some creative play in midfield then left Erick Paalvast with room to move on the edge of the box, and his curling shot would have made it two if not for a fantastic save from the Electrumite keeper. The Cyan-and-Gold did increase their lead before going into the break however, with a fantastic cross from Tevin Arets being met by Josh Hunter, who bundled the ball over the line in typical fashion to increase the advantage.

Caelan Hamill changed the set-up after the break, switching to a more defensive focus in an attempt to ride out a wave of attack that he saw as bound to come from Electrum after they were found lacking in the first half. That attack did indeed come, and a silly tackle on the edge of the box from Michael Jones led to a free kick in a dangerous position for Electrum. That driven free kick forced a full length save from Will Carr, which left him on the floor in a heap, having landed awkwardly on his elbow; University keeper Finn Williams replaced him as a precaution.

Electrum didn’t manage to challenge the substitute though, with a well-marshalled defence mostly keeping the shots on goal to minimum. The Licentians did add one more goal in injury time to emphasise their victory, with Alex Christianson placing the ball in the bottom corner to put the Licentians in a promising position going into the rest of the group stage.

“It was a good win for us,” Caelan Hamill stated after the game adding that the injury to Carr was “worrying”, and that he is likely miss the remainder of the group stage, but can be expected to return if the Licentian Isles advance to the next round. The Licentian Isles come up against Kannap in Sonoma Center in two days time, and are hoping for another victory to ensure progression from the group stage.

A Spotlight On - Stuart Lleyton

During the Games, along with coverage of the Licentian athletes competing each day in Aeropag, the Montfort Inquirer will be looking to the day ahead by focussing on a single athlete competing the next day, looking at their background and their hopes for the Games.

Olympic fans that are waiting for their fix of sports on the water won’t have to wait long; the first official day of the Games of the XI Olympiad sees the first heats of the rowing and slalom canoeing take place, both events where the Isles will be looking to take home a few medals. In the men’s C-1 slalom, Stuart Lleyton had to fight through a lot to get on that plane to Aeropag, and will be hoping that all the hard work and struggle will have paid off when he takes to the water tomorrow morning.

Lleyton, as one of the leading paddlers in the Isles, was expected to be a dead certainty for the Olympics when the OCLI announced that they would be sending a delegation for a second time to represent the Licentian Isles at the Games of the XI Olympiad. However, those plans were almost forced to a hard stop only one year before the Games, after an accident while cycling back to Montfort from his training base in the parish left him with a severe head injury.

“I don’t remember anything from that day.” Lleyton recounted in an interview with the Montfort Inquirer before flying to Aeropag. “I lost about two weeks of my life to that accident, and I’m incredibly lucky that I didn’t lose more.” When asked about whether he was worried about his place at the Olympics after the accident, he said that he “never even thought about the Games” while he was in hospital. “I count my blessings every day that I’m alive, never mind still going to compete with the best in the world in Aeropag.”

Lleyton has made an incredible recovery, still managing to qualify at the Licentian Canoeing Championships, despite being mere months removed from an accident that could have ended his career. Despite such an incredible recovery to see himself book a spot on the water in Aeropag, Stuart was dismissive when asked about any hopes for a medal. “I’m still not 100%, and I don’t think I will be for some time. I’m just thrilled to be there. If I come home with a medal, then I’m buying a lottery ticket and asking Emily [his girlfriend] to marry me, because I clearly have a hell of alucky streak going !!”

Stuart Lleyton will be competing in the men’s C-1 slalom tomorrow morning in Aeropag. You can watch his heats from 9am LST on LBC Sports 2, or watch online at montfortinquirer.co.li/live.

[Ndaku]

International Football || Association Football || Tennis || Track and Field || Volleyball || Swimming || Olympics || Handball

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Saturday 06 August 2110

Opening Ceremony of Aeropag 2110

AEROPAG - The opening ceremony of the Aeropag 2110 Games are expected to be the most colorful, spectacular, magnificent, and creative opening ceremony ever witnessed yet.

Capitalizt Slani has had a reputation and quite a long history hosting the Games of the Olympiads throughout the decades in Aeropag particularly. Privileged to participate in its first Olympic Games ever in history, the Ndakene delegation was able to qualify 34 athletes, meaning 345 qualified athletes will be able to walk in the Parade of Nations and represent the Ndakene delegation tonight in Aeropag.

Countries from Africa throughout the years did not have as much athletes to represent their delegation, mainly because their sports weren't as invested as other developed nations. Ndaku, for the first time ever in African and even Ndakene history, was able proudly announce that there will be 345 qualified athletes participating throughout the whole Olympic park, carrying the name and flying the flag of their country.

George Tshimbiale (front) with Beverly Rey (right) and Riley Pinho (left) Saturday

A lot of these athletes have been through struggle and darkness in order to reach the highlight of their lifetime. Sissie Abujamal, teammate of Alisia De Santiago in women's beach volleyball and the official flag bearer of the Interplanetary Federation for the Parade of Nations, unfortunately lost her 2 brothers and grandparents during the Great Species War, a devastating war that claimed billions of human and nonhuman lives.

There are quite a handfull of unfortunate athletes who lost a part of their lives, but through sports, determination, courage, faith, discipline, and talent, the 345 Ndakenes will not only walk as Ndakenes, but they will walk as champions, survivors, believers, and fighters.

Although Ndaku's national football team, men's and women's, did not qualify for the Olympic Games after literally getting brutally annihilated by the Britonish football team, sports fans all over Ndaku are proud to see a relatively large delegation from Africa to the nation's first ever Olympic attendance. It is planned that President Unathi Serafim along with other officials of Parliament are to attend some of the Games, especially to watch Ndaku's track and field and gymnastics.

Despite the lack of presence in football, millions of Ndakene football enthusiasts and fans are eager to tune in to watch world class football by other delegations. According to social media and popular votes in Ndau's massive sporting community, it showed that much of the viewers anticipate gymnastics, handball, track and field, and aquatic events. Why handball, you may be asking?

The men's and women's handball team truly discovered their talent and skill during qualifiers as, on the women's side, the team finished on a 5-0-0 W-D-L record and the men finished with 4-0-0 W-D-L ratio. The NDISA (Ndakene Domestic and International Sporting Association) has announced plans to fund a handball premier league and take it on the international stage in the near future. Many criticize that Ndaku's handball career could be an incomparable success than Ndaku's football career.

A lot of awesome stuff coming up in universal sports, be sure to stay tuned with NdakuSports!

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Related trending sports news

Olympics: The Olympics to be underway, Aeropag 2110 could be the best Olympics ever
Olympics: Ndaku bittersweet that national football team (men + women) unqualified
Olympics: Sissie Abujamal to bear Ndakene flag in Parade of Nations

[Astyrian Olympics Delegation]

ENGLISH | Portuguese
Costa de Ouro | Morroseta | ASTYRIA | World | Business | Sport | Culture | Opinion

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AVISSIAN NEUTRALITY MAKES IT UNIQUE IN ASTYRIA
FILED BY: Helder Araujo (8/6/2016)

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The Avissian Union has tried to maintain its neutrality at all costs within the highly volatile world of Astyrian geopolitics - with several blocs vying for power, Costa de Ouro and Morroseta have both decided not to join any of them, maintaining neutrality and independence.

Costa de Ouro's closest foreign relations are with Nikolia - consummated by a series of mutual treaties that allow for Nikolian protection over the small island nation in the Mar de Aviz and further made closer by the marriage of the Costenho King Pedro I with Princess Helena of Nikolia. Nikolia is a member of the Astyrian Treaty Organization (ATO), which would seemingly bring the country, along with Morroseta, under that organization's aegis. A large Avissian trading partner, Kobolis, also belongs to the ATO.

But some of Costa de Ouro's and Morroseta's most important trading partners and tourist sources such as Dungeyland, Zitru, and the Blackhelm Confederacy are members of the rivaling East Astyrian Treaty Alliance (EATA). To top off the web of relationships, one of Costa de Ouro's closest allies in interception of drug smugglers and a financial hub, Cadenza, is part of the Tel al-Riyah Pact (TARP), yet another block that places itself in between the conflict between the ATO and EATA.

Other pacts also proliferate within the complex world of Astyrian geopolitics - including the alliance between Jarridia and ViZion, two 'sleeping giants' of Astyrian politics who have not chosen to exercise much of their political or military might in proxy conflicts, and the United Kingdom alliance between Symphonia and Aquitayne (also, incidentally, a member of TARP).

Tensions between various blocs and nations have been on the rise with insurgencies in Pangus and Prudencia, near Aquitayne and its colony of Cape Town; instability in Glisandlia and the Yellow Star Republic; and, most recently, the Rombergian takeover of frozen tundra in the continent of Lorecia, near the two previously aforementioned combatants. The EATA, Aquitayne, and Riysa introduced crippling economic sanctions on Romberg for that takeover, decrying imperialism. But that has only inflamed tensions in a region that used Rombergian troops to stabilize the Lorecian combatants in Glislandlia and the Yellow Star Republic.

The Avissian Union has tried to tread carefully between all of these groups to maintain good relations within cold wars and proxy conflicts, for several reasons. "We have a very small military for protection, and I doubt we could withstand even a small invasion," says Professor Gaspar Campos of the Flores Institue for Public Policy in Antillia. "We would totally get overrun, and our economy would suffer in an invasion - or sanctions carried out by a cold war enemy. Therefore, it's in the best interests of both Costa de Ouro and Morroseta to stay neutral and get out of a lot of these foreign conflicts." Tourism would suffer in any conflict, as would exports of fish and tropical fruits.

The Avissian Union has been able to maintain its neutrality by refusing to join in foreign alliances as well as playing off the various blocs against each other to fund projects in the nation. "Basically, what we're saying, is if you don't give us money or whatever, we'll join the other side, and doing this to both sides," says Campos. "So we've been able to invest in new infrastructure and such and fishing and tourism."

Astyrian negotiators have recognized the great efforts that the Avissian Union has gone to maintain its strict neutrality. Today, Antillia remains the host of the Astyrian Peace Organization, a coalition of groups dedicated to ending the cold wars and numbers of proxy wars in the region, and contributes many judges to international courts, as many nations trust the country to remain unbiased in conflicts between countries on opposite sides of the tense divide in Astyria.

Avissian officials are confident that their efforts have paid off - the economy is thriving, and the union is free of too many outside influences and pressures. Tourists are pouring in, welcoming the relative stability and distance from the conflicts in the area, and to take in the Union's sunshine and rich culture, standing out all the more from other tourist destinations due to the stability and despite the distance from Costa de Ouro to many nations.

In short, the Avissian Union's policy of neutrality has paid off as its economy has thrived despite all the pressures, and the country is increasingly regarded as a safe haven from the conflict racking the region.

Credit goes to Avissian Union (Costa de Ouro) for this RP.

[Vettrera]

After taking gold at the Olympics in cycling eight years ago, Valoria Beach felt like she was on top of the world. Unfortunately, that came with an immense pressure back in her home country to continue to be the very best. During training for the most recent Valor City Games, Beach suffered a tragic career ending injury that she opens up about here.

“It’s just one of those things you don’t think can happen to you. And I don’t mean that in a cocky way, but that’s definitely how I felt about the situation. After medaling at the Olympics I felt superhuman, I felt above everything and like I had reached the best place I could ever be in my life. I also don’t think it helped that everyone back in Vettrera treated us like demigods. I mean…the medal squad from Vettrera’s last Olympics is a small unit. You have Alicia Freemont, Victoria Hard, Frederick Grotto, Howard Grotto, Roland Nair, Meghan Young, Mallory Peaks, VTR Gymnastics, and me. We became this insular group of people that everyone looked up to, and when you’re in that position it’s hard to think that there’s any coming down from that high, but of course I did.

I was practicing for the Valor City Games, overdid it, and tore my ACL. I didn’t listen to the doctor’s advice on recovery and basically ended up having permanent damage. And…It’s something that I don’t even try to justify. There were a lot of things that went into me pressuring myself to do all that. I wanted to race because I loved the sport. I wanted to race because I loved my fans. I wanted to race because I loved winning. But the biggest piece of the puzzle is that I wanted to race to protect my pride. It’s hard for me to vocalize that sometimes, but that’s basically what it came down to. I became addicted to the celebrity surrounding my success domestically and across the globe, and I didn’t want that to die out.

I know it sounds sleazy and cheap, but that’s the best I can say about it. I developed a hydrocodone dependency shortly after my injury, and I basically fell into this really deep place. There were days that I didn’t get out bed at all, and I would just sit and cry and look for something to numb the pain away. I felt like I needed something else to fill be with this feeling of joy because there was nothing in my life that was serving as a good provider of it. Thank god I had a strong support system willing to stand by me, because without the people in my life that helped me get my shit together, I have no idea where I’d be today.

I…I made it out of the fog, and the skies cleared, and I’m excited to start this new chapter in my life. I’m not just Valoria Beach the cyclist, or Valoria Beach the gold medalist. I’m still searching for what is next for me, but I’m happy to be out of the dark place I was before.

Part of why I’m acting as the spokesperson for these Olympics is because I want Vettreran athletes to know that it’s ok to succeed and it’s ok to fail, and that there’s a life after your sport. I’m here as a link between the public and the athletes, and I’m here as a support system as well. I think it’s important to make sure people don’t end up in my position where they’re just gazing out the window and wondering what they do when they no longer have that thing that they were best at.”

[Qasden]

Qasden
Athletic News

---

AeropagXI Report- Days -1 & 0

---

With days -1 and 0 underway, it's time to see how TQ has done.

/\/\ Archery /\/\

Huzzah! Why am I using such a renaissance word? Well....unlike what happened in the Qasden Open, the Vans actually performed exceptional. Not 2, not 3, but all Qad delegates in all 4 archery categories have progressed into the next stage with byes. With the delegates steadily advancing, could we possibly medal?

As Archery was the only event we participated in so far, let's look at Qasden in the Opening Ceremony

The QAD delegation sent to Aeropag will be entering the ceremony in an athletic hoodie apparel, as shown below. The outfits were created by Fyre resident, Paul Golder, who won the design contest prior to the Olympics.

The outfits for Qad athletes at the XI Olympiad's Opening Ceremony

After the decent campaign in the Electrum Slam 3, Halaeo DiGaldi has been chosen to wave the beautiful blue and red flag in Aeropag's OC, while basketball players Rebecca Tazel and Wendi Frosts right behind her.

That's all for this report. Can the Vans keep performing strong in the olympics and raise the blue and red? Or will the events in Aeropag prove to be too overwhelming for Qasden's debut? Stay tuned, stay updated, and stay alert for our days 1, 2, and 3 report, only from Aeropag, Paripana!

[West Phoencia]

Aside from sport another passion of West Phoenicia is religion.

Churches, temples and Synagogues were filled to the rafters as the faithful flocked to their religious sanctuaries to pray to their chosen God, goddess or animal deity in support of their athletes.

In Blessed City, Agape, West Phoenicia Pontifex Angelika I lead a national blessing where 300,000 turned out to pray for their athletes.

Over in Selene Valley, Helios Territory, Baal Territory and Bast County sacrifices and blessings were made in a similar pattern.

Faith and Spirituality where not just for the citizens either. The True-Path the national religion of West Phoenicia has sent 10 Chaplains to support the spiritual and emotional needs of their athletes while Madam Gypsy Wind-Rainbow has the special privilege to be in attendance as the Head Soothsayer.

Among the pagan support staff in support of Madam Wind-Rainbow are 3 Tarot readers, 2 palm readers, two witch-doctors to assist in medical. A white witch for blessings, a black witch for curses and 2 Mediums who consult with the dead.

Madame Wind-Rainbow predicts medal tally

"I have consulted with the dead. And they have sent me a message. West Phoenicia will receive between 5-12 medals with at least two gold."

[Commerce Heights]

As the clocks in the Olympic Tower Stadium ticked down the minutes, people around the world began to converge toward their screens. Billions and billions of them, from all walks of life, moved with a singular purpose to fix their gaze on this one event. It is an occasion that transcends barriers: even in backwater countries whose national broadcasting companies would prevent them from watching, many were determined to find a way—any way—to access the live broadcast. But while the countdown marched on, that fixation was briefly shattered when the news began to spread.

The Aeropag Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (AEROC) has taken the decision to suspend the Republican Olympic Committee (ROC) from the Games of the XI Olympiad with immediate effect. This decision is taken in response to political interference in the governance of the ROC and a consequent decision by the ROC which would bring the Games into disrepute.

As the athletes nominated by the ROC for these Games are not responsible for, and should not bear the consequences of, this unprecedented ruling, AEROC has decided that these athletes may still compete in the Olympic Games. Instead of representing the ROC, they shall now be designated as “independent Olympic athletes”. An AEROC volunteer has been assigned to carry the Olympic flag for them in the athletes’ parade at tonight’s opening ceremony.

To any athletes and officials who fear retribution for their participation in these Games as independent Olympians, the Paripana Sporting Council offers sanctuary to you and your families for as long as may be necessary. We will not brook the efforts of any government to extinguish the Olympic spirit that these Games embody.

Sarah Lynch
Chairman
Aeropag Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games

Derek Wright
Chairman
Paripana Sporting Council

But though the chatter echoed through newsrooms, living rooms, and even around the seating bowls of the Olympic stadium, the countdown would proceed. It would not be swayed by politics, or any force other than the Olympic spirit that had inspired people to set it in motion. And once it reached zero, that spirit would compel the world to turn its eyes back toward the stadium floor.

“Bienvenue à la cérémonie d’ouverture des Jeux de la XIe Olympiade, Aéropag!” “Welcome to the opening ceremony of the Games of the XI Olympiad, Aeropag!” “Venes akoliad tal seremónie’da apertúrire Jémire’das Olímpiadire’das XItes, Éropeg!”

The title of the artistic program was “Human Nature”, and its opening act was a dramatic rendition, through music, choreography, and pyrotechnics, of the tectonic and volcanic activity in the sea that formed the Jativan Islands—and particularly, Aeropag Island. When the volcanoes went dormant, the lava cooled, and the music stopped, a familiar sound was heard.

Beeeep, beeeep, beeeep… A concrete truck backed into the stadium. A dancing construction crew began to mime pouring roads and building a village on the island. A bevy of clueless commentators from around the world would look down at their program notes and try to explain to their equally-clueless viewers how this established the theme of the ceremony: how humanity stands apart from nature, yet still humans emulate natural processes in their own unique way. Nature builds islands by pouring lava. Humanity builds cities by pouring concrete.

That theme is quite pertinent to Aeropag—a sprawling metropolis in a region of natural beauty, straining against the natural boundaries of its original island, so densely packed with buildings that many of the outdoor events of these Games had to be moved to the more spacious setting of Port Lusambo. Would these concepts stand any chance of making it through to the global audience intact? It’s hard to say. But some commentators were at least kind enough to reassure their viewers that this was not a historically accurate depiction of the settlement of Aeropag.

Then the rain came, followed by lightning and thunder. (Not real lightning. Despite their impressive production budget, the creative team couldn’t find a way to do that—or at least not a safe way—so they settled for strobe lights, streamers, and a video clip.) As the villagers sought shelter from the storm, it filled a lake on the island, and from the lake proceeded a stream. The villagers would drink from the stream, and then, seeing its utility, build an aqueduct to their village, and install a turbine to power electric street lamps.

A hawk would inspire the villagers to build an airplane and take flight. The airplane and the hawk soared together over distant lands, resplendent in the natural beauty and diversity of the world, until a rival hawk swooped down to defend its territory against the intruder, leaving the airplane to complete the journey on its own. It landed not back on the island, but in another land, where a number of well-dressed gentlemen seemed to be having a spirited dicussion in a grassy field.

The gentlemen—thirty-two of them—shook hands in agreement and dispersed around the field. They began to mark out…a football pitch! Two teams took to the pitch, one wearing a generic white strip, and the other clad in red and black—the colors of Ariddia. The Rouges-et-Noirs kicked off and went on the attack, but their striker was brought down outside the penalty area by a late challenge from a defender on the white team—perhaps it was meant to be Bravlek? The referee was demonstrative; he was clearly having none of that kind of play in his match. The free kick was taken, and it clattered against the crossbar. (Ariddia’s first World Cup match against Bravlek finished 0–0, of course.) The sound of the impact was closely followed by the sound of…flapping.

The spirit of friendly sporting competition, which was kindled by that first World Cup and which still burns to this day, had awoken the doves of peace.

Together with the symbolic doves, people wearing all different colors of sporting attire, embodying the human diversity of the world, began to enter the pitch to join in this spirit. It was no longer only for footballers; some of them now carried tennis racquets or archery bows; some rode in on bicycles. All these people would ultimately stand together with the footballers in formation to create the symbol of the Olympic movement, the six-colored estoile.

---

The habitual fireworks punctuated the end of the program. “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the athletes of the Games of the XI Olympiad, Aeropag!”

At the last big multi-sport event held at this stadium, the parade began with the tongue-twisting nation of Abcdefghijklmnopqrstuk. This time, the trio of announcers speaking French, English, and Noterelenda had a rather smoother start. “Abadja!” “Abaja!” “Abaja!”

As the parade moved down the alphabet, many were waiting for the segment of the parade that had been rather abruptly altered. “Fluvique!” … … … “Free Swiss States!” … … “The Greater Vakolicci Haven!” … … … “Gregoryisgodistan!” … “Hannasea!”

The Hannasean athletes heard the audience’s rather muted reaction to those marching behind them. “Athlètes olympiques indépendants!” “Independent Olympic Athletes!” “Atletes Olímpikires Independénsires!” The militaristic costumes of Free Republics had been exchanged for something pulled out of storage—spare outfits intended for volunteers who needed to blend into the background during the ceremony. The murmur eventually developed into a cheer, as people began to process what these athletes—a relatively small number compared to the whole delegation that Free Republics had sent to these Games—must have gone through to march in here after their leaders had ordered them not to attend.

The latter portion of the parade was marked by some of the wordier delegations—North Eurasian Unified Sporting Team, Pederal na Republika ng Pilipinas, and Royal Kingdom of Québec—and the even more perplexing Soviet Socialist Electrotehnics. “Is that really a nation?”, more than one commentator would ask himself. After that, flag-spotters will have noted that the standard Tobiasia carried in was actually identical to that of Dunnës, apparently because both were taken from a design published in the famous Tiago Silvan compendium The Big Book of Flags. Zillmerilic would close out the alphabet (as Zitru was part of the Astyrian Unified Team, and Zwangzug of course did not attend these Games), and the host delegation of the Paripana Sporting Council would loiter on the parade route a bit too long before the stodgier parts of the ceremony could begin.

---

No one really cared what the chairman of the organizing committee or the president of the Olympic Council had to say, did they? Except perhaps to the extent that they might address the day’s crisis, which neither of them did, at least not directly. After their speeches, Derek Wright, chairman of the Paripana Sporting Council, did the honors: “I declare open the Games of Aeropag, celebrating the eleventh Olympiad of the modern era.” (Usually this role is played by a head of state, but since Paripana doesn’t have a government, heads of state are a little hard to come by. Since the PSC owns the Olympic Tower, it could technically be argued that Mr Wright is the head of state of that particular domain.) The entrance of the Olympic flag, singing of the Olympic Anthem, and taking of the Olympic oaths filled some more time before the main event of the evening.

The Olympic flame made its first appearance in the hands of Emeteriö Menqako, the veteran football goalkeeper who became a hero in this city when he led the local Élite League club, CF Aéropag, to the semi-finals of Champions’ Cup 63, the greatest achievement in their history. (Never mind that they lost 6–0 on aggregate to Ulsa.) He ran through the streets of Aeropag Island to the Orange-Green Bowl: the venerable ground which had hosted the opening ceremony of the very first Olympic Games of the modern era. The grandstand may not be as grand as it once was, but the estoile still shines proudly on its façade, and the original Olympic cauldron still stands.

Normally, this is the point in the ceremony when the torchbearer would fake out the viewing audience by passing the flame to someone else. But not this time. Menqako simply ran up to the cauldron and lit it.

That couldn’t be the end, though, could it? The cauldron in Olympic Tower Stadium remained dormant. There was still one more leg of the relay to complete.

From the cauldron of the Orange-Green Bowl, the flame was picked up by Kerstin Krüger, the young striker who had made her name known when she scored the winning goal for CF Aéropag in the final of the Youth Cup, earning the club’s first UICA trophy a season after their senior side’s Champions’ Cup run. She carried the torch from the cauldron onto the field of the old stadium, where a golden cannon stood.

The cannon was an archaic Paripanan symbol of liberty, dating back to the time of those early Olympic Games. In fact, a cannon had been used in the lighting of the cauldron at the Games of the III Olympiad in Columbia. Was this just a rehash? Krüger lit the fuse. This cannon would not fire a projectile; it shot a bright jet of fire into the sky. The stream of flame continued to rise, seeming to climb impossibly high, and yet it ascended still further. Evenutally gravity took its toll, and the blazing trail arced downward in the sky, downward toward the Earth, downward toward…the Olympic Tower. The roof of the colossal structure erupted in an immense inferno.

The entire Olympic Tower was now the torch that carried the flame.

Some will see this moment—the firing of some sort of flamethrower at a target over two kilometers away, with pinpoint accuracy—as a remarkable technical achievement, a triumph of human ingenuity. They’ll go to bed wondering how it might have been done; they’ll wake up in the morning and go to read the interviews. But it is not for that reason that future generations will remember this moment. They will look back and see the image of the Olympic flame in its rightful place of honor, blazing above the Olympic capital, and to them, it will seem completely natural.

Though it is a moment that will be remembered for centuries, it was indeed only a moment. The inferno soon subsided, and the flame started to flow around the interior rim of the roof. It settled into a spiraling channel which carried it toward its final destination, igniting the cauldron.

Then, of course, came the fireworks display to celebrate the end of the ceremony—the start of the Games. But after what the world had just witnessed, the fireworks felt superfluous.

[The Archregimancy]

IS OUTRAGE!
The Olympic Blog of Fr. Vasily the Heavily Accented

Is now almost time for start of Olympics, and already I am seeing signs of anti-Orthodox conspiracy everywhere. This is now eleventh version of summer Olympics, and some of these signs of anti-Orthodox conspiracy are same signs that Olympics have been having since first Olympics.

Is outrage!

For many times now I have been complaining about these signs of anti-Orthodox conspiracy. Organisers must be tired of reading and hearing of Fr. Vasily's outrage time and time again. There is being simple solution:

Do something about it, Olympic organisers.

Here are signs of outrageous anti-Orthodox conspiracy that I am already seeing:

Monastic team are being told they may not replace national flag with giant silver-plated icon in opening ceremony procession of athletes.

Monastic team are being told they may not give opening ceremony prayer on behalf of all athletes on grounds that not all athletes are Orthodox Christians.

Monastic team are being told they may not carry inflatable baptismal font in opening ceremony in order to baptise milling around athletes during boring bit of ceremony when teams beginning with 'A' are doing the standing around doing nothing while waiting for teams lower down alphabet to hurry up and move along and join them in centre of stadium. Is better to be doing something useful during boring time, no?

Organisers continue to be handing out condoms to athletes in promotion of sinful hanky-panky.

Monastic team is forced to share Olympic Village with women instead of being strict segregation of gender, as requested.

Many trials are being placed in front of monastic athletes in what is surely intentional test of faith. I shall be doing the praying that future hosts are taking monastic concerns more into account, and that future Olympics are being better environment for patient Orthodox monk athlete.

[West Phoencia]

Protect yourself at the pool...

100m & 200 Butterfly swimmer hopeful Marige Brixton was enjoying some alone time at the Olympic Villiage pool, minding her own business in her leopard print 2 piece bikini, enjoying a pina coloda and reading 50 Shades of Gray when she was attacked by 2 water balloon condoms that flew off from, what she was able to later testify a 3rd floor balcony, with words go home harlot screamed out as the perpetrator ran off.

"One hit me in the face" Miss Brixton cried, "While that really isn't the first time such an item has been in that region. It was frightening, my life flashed before my eyes."
"The other bounced off my chest and into my pina coloda which splashed across my book. I was only up to chapter 2, now all the good parts are ruined."

"This act has just made me more determined to bring home a medal for my country. And when i find the culprit the beating they will receive is going to be worse than what i was told that happened in chapter 12!"

[CoraSpia]

(Note: The following text was published in Velstrania, a rebellious province of the GVH.)

Olympic spirit? 'What's that?' ask Havenssport

A delightful Olympic opening ceremony, which showcased the creation and settlement of Aeropag was today loudly disrupted by the attitude of Havenic supporters intent on expressing what they thought of certain nations. The supporters, easily the most vocal (for their number) in the stadium, showed their views in the form of the banging of feet, yelling, cheering and booing at seemingly random moments. This was first shown most clearly during the short gap of changeover between Fluvique and the Free swis states. How it is possible to deny interference is beyond me, since the immense level of noise made, and the precise timing, was incredible as feet were banged, and the crowd took to roaring in a way that generally precipitated one of the Haven's famous football riots.
This did not occur, however, and the Havenic reaction to their own athletes was actually positive. Cries of 'Ziccardino! Ziccardino!' rose through the stadium as Luciano Ziccardino IV, the young Havenic tennis player and flagbarer, carried the Havenic flag, golden ship displayed with pride in its centre, in the parade.

The level to which a crowd can change its views is, of course, amazing. The focus of the ceremony moved to gregoryisgodistan, and it is here that the actual sounds of displeasure started, with booing and geering sounds easily carried across the stadium. Few will forget the murder of the King of Celeria by a Gregoryisgodistani athlete two Olympics previously, and the unfortunate diplomatic incident in the previous one. Vakolicci supporters surely didn't.

Vakolicci supporters will probably rightly take credit for the start of the cheers for the independent Olympic athletes which were, in a word, rapturous, and showed some actual small measure of dedecation to some part of the Olympic spirit. Once this was over, however the fans were farely quiet, evidently through with their decision to decide upon the atmosphere for the opening ceremony.

---

Official release from Havenssport: Bringing Havenic sporting action to the world

Havenssport and its constituent bodies condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the decision of the Aeropag Organising Committee to suspend the Republican Olympic committee from the games of the XI Olympiad. This is a decision which should only be made after proper consultation with the IOC, and Havenssport can declare that its own representatives had no knowledge that such an action was to take place before it did. Therefore, we can only presume that this action was made out of political significance to the AEROC, and wish to voice our protestations to it.
We see the decision to strip the identity from Republican athletes as Republicans also, as an outrage of the highest order. These Olympics were supposed to be a method of showcasing national sporting prowess, rather than anonymising a nation simply because it is not politically pertanent for a host to allow them their identity.

With hope for the future,
Zarek Raianci,
Chairman,
Havenssport

[The Archregimancy]

IS OUTRAGE!
The Olympic Blog of Fr. Vasily the Heavily Accented

Fr. Vasily is reading of condom-based water balloon attack on West Phoencia 100m & 200 Butterfly swimmer hopeful and sinful bikini-wearing and pornography-reading harlot Marige Brixton (who is also admitting to worrying familiarity with proximity of male generative organ with face region; I am wondering if she is perhaps relative of football World Cup Dallas harlots).

Fr. Vasily is wishing it to be known that while he is understanding of motive behind attack, and relieved that Brixton harlot's book of sin is being ruined before she is reading evil bits, he is condemning action.

Fr. Vasily is also denying responsibility as he is only having media credentials, and is not staying in athlete's village.

Correct action to protest against sinful swimming athletes in lust-ridden Olympic village is not to be doing the attack on athletes, but instead to wave placard denouncing hanky-panky outside swimming venue while singing beautiful and inspiring Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God.

This is best way to be ensuring lessening of Olympic sin, and turning of athletes to path of righteousness.

[Todd McCloud]

Somewhat Uncomfortable Opening Ceremony Does Not Faze Vekaiyun Athletes
Reporting for V3 News Services, Rin Slakori

AEROPAG - I don't suppose one needs to go over the Opening Ceremony to these Eleventh Summer Games in the glistening, thriving city of Aeropag, but for the sake of reporting and the sake of quelling any rumors perpetrated by various tabloids across The Vekaiyun Union, I will. I must remind my fellow colleagues that they must apply for renewal of media licenses every two years... no one wants to end up like Listonia NOW after the whole fact-checking fiasco, right? At any rate, yes, the production last night was geared toward a human audience. It suggested that humans corral nature and have the ability to use it for their own devices. Rather widespread inventions and concepts such as concrete, irrigation, lamps, electric power generation, airplanes, heck, even shelter from the elements, seemed to stem from their greatness and dominion over the world around them. Some important yet confusing events followed, namely, the origins of football in the Jativan Islands and their first game, the likes. It was all very well.

We as Vekaiyuns have come a long way from the days of Maxism, and we as a nation are more open to understanding international culture perhaps more than at any time in our history. Yet we are still sensitive to our differences and our shortcomings. In all honesty, and while my opinion on this matter is meaningless, I believe that most Vekaiyuns were okay with the events thus far. After all, it is a human nation that has quite possibly been exposed to other solely-human nations and has had limited interaction with other sentients. It was based on their perception for their nation - we all know that and respect that. Yes, it's a bit odd that the emergence of technology from the deluge of ineptitude was attributed to humans, but it's their mantra, and they are of course the host nation. But I think what was most off-putting to the Vekaiyun faithful attending and those abroad was the final segment, which featured performers joining together in unison to form the well-known six pointed star. All human, of course.

Perhaps that's why many in Vekaiyu were disappointed with the ceremony last night. Perhaps that's why the well-known animated gif of a vulpine child shouting and the large white text below him reading "THAT'S SPEE-CIST!" was trending all over the Vekaiyun social media. Perhaps that's why there were rumors that the Vekaiyun delegation wouldn't walk out of protest. And trust me, we being journalists had first-hand experience of the potential PR nightmare that was about to unfold in front of us. Back home, there were calls from citizens to boycott the walk, but what would that have proven? All the growing and changing we as a people have gone through, all the success and triumph in international competition - was it all for naught? It would only underscore our feelings of inferiority, and submit to our perception that these games were for humans only. We've shown that is not the case. Our athletes have certainly shown that we're quite capable of shaping these games. Our people have shown we are quite capable of technological feats, after all.

After a few tense moments, the Vekaiyun delegation was called, and they did not disappoint. The men in their white suits with red and gold trim looked rather dashing indeed, while the women in their silky red dresses and black stoles looked smart and becoming. The 4'11'' flagbearer, Ikrisia Sulevire, waved the Vekaiyun flag quickly and proudly, proclaiming the greatness of the predominantly vulpine nation in a world that perhaps had never even considered their existence. In keeping with tradition, she was hoisted up by two other athletes, Yamano Tisiraristre and Yiisu Ulanoro - two weightlifters. Other athletes waves small Vekaiyun flags or held up scarves which read "Vekaiyu!" in Unonian script.

"I will never lose energy waving the flag to my nation!" Sulevire exclaimed after the event.

Fellow swimmer Ivalsa Beraseri also appeared rather jovial during the whole ordeal. "Perhaps they just need to realize there's more than one race out there that is in these games. That's why I was jumping around a lot."

At least one athlete was accused of making questionable gestures to the crowd, but was missed by Vekaiyun television.

"Ah, [redacted] them!" chided the always-colorful Yiisu Besatera. "Oh, I am sooo sorry we heathens are here at your precious games! Thank you sooo much for inventing fire and teaching us not to [redacted] all over each other! Wheeere would we be without the ingenuity of humans? Maybe they just think we're mutants!"

Flightweight boxer Reko Zseri was a little less animated. "I just held my flag up. I'm not competing for them anyway. I'm competing for Vekaiyuns and now non-human species everywhere."

"No, we were never going to boycott the Opening Ceremonies," Vekaiyun Olympic Council (VOC) Chairwoman Riyna Yovisktre clarified after the parade of nations. "That was a rumor that somehow gained traction. We're most definitely a part of these games, and we don't need any recognition or representation to prove us otherwise. Frankly, I am confused at the emotions of some. Did we really expect to receive nonhuman representation in a historical promotion when we had no part of that distant history and previous nonhuman nations are no longer a part of the games?"

[Kelssek]

Event thread: Opening Ceremony - 11th Summer Olympics, Aeropag
submitted 3 hours ago by D1ldoBaggins_2

SMASH-THE-STATE 1 point - 9 minutes ago
This militarist uniform thing is so problematic

D1ldoBaggins_2 1 point - 7 minutes ago
SIEG HAIL MOFUCKA

PickNMix 40 points - 16 minutes ago
Are those athletes wearing freshly-killed flamingos on their heads?
BorisYelpsinlolool 5 points - 18 minutes ago
The headgear situation in this opening ceremony is outrageous...
SkillsyMcSkillsface 9 points - 19 minutes ago
HOLY SHIT RUN IT'S THE SCORPION QUEEN

D1ldoBaggins_2 23 points - 12 minutes ago
It's ok the Serbian Empire's secret agents will railgun the shit out of her
BroToss 3 points - 8 minutes ago
Such rare poketmon
TOOLFACE 7 points - 6 minutes ago
think we just saw Flagbear's final evolution

Gajer-san 12 points - 16 minutes ago
What the fuck is this country wearing
ADellCorn 4 points - 16 minutes ago
What the fuck is this country wearing?
KingInDaSouth 7 points - 20 minutes ago
MY EYES!! Oh god these outfits are hideous
DestryStalker 4 points - 29 minutes ago
Well there's one national stereotype confirmed...
BroToss 4 points - 31 minutes ago
how many fucking countries are there in this world holy jesus
ADellCorn 1 point - 38 minutes ago
That flagbearer is HAWT. What country was that I wasn't paying attention.
KingInDaSouth 3 points - 41 minutes ago
These are... interesting colours alright.
BroMount 8 points - 49 minutes ago
Volunteers are swarming! Where's they supposed to go?? lol

NoPornHere69 1 point - 46 minutes ago
Flagbear was caught!

BorisYelpsinlolool 1 point - 53 minutes ago
A wild Flagbear appears!
AssWagon 1 point - 58 minutes ago
This is my 4th beer and we're still on the parade?!?
Fieeereich 6 points - 1 hour ago
Those blazers were just too tasteful and subtle... Kelssek just has no imagination.

PuckAtTheNet 19 points - 58 minutes ago
It's too bad they weren't actually naked. Wouldn't even be the most shocking wardrobe choice at this rate.
matser 1 point - 55 minutes ago
I'd probably develop body image issues if they did. That's a joke about how I'm horribly obese. Shhhhh

PuckAtTheNet 74 points - 1 hour ago
KELSSEK!!!!

KingInDaSouth 3 points - 1 hour ago
I mean KELSSSEEKKK

matser 3 points - 1 hour ago
Oh god that is the worst shade of yellow possible
AssWagon 2 points - 1 hour ago
Suits and ties... and bananas on their heads.
PuckAtTheNet 1 point - 1 hour ago
Those poor Free Republic people wearing paper bags on their heads.
AstoundingBatboy -2 points - 1 hour ago
The V.net site is super laggy for anyone else?

KingInDaSouth 3 points - 1 hour ago
It's on the KBC for free you moron. And how the hell are the Olympics gonna be funded if no one will pay for the rights because some broadcasters deliberately break the rules?
Any_Rand 3 points - 1 hour ago
Fuck you I have the right to watch how I want when I want and it's being violated by the stalinist nazis who run this country. THEY PAID OUR TAX MONEY FOR THIS SHIT.

VeepPaternak 2 points - 1 hour ago
I can't see anything I'm on commercials!
Glorious_Bastard 1 points - 1 hour ago
Why are there ads?? Surely it doesn't cost anything for a broadcast crew of hundreds of people to go over to another country for weeks.
OUIetToutDevientPossible -2 points - 1 hour ago
When Beaulac is an independent country this is where we would march.

Any_Rand 0 points - 1 hour ago
LIBERTE OR MOUIRIR
LFyingV 1 point - 1 hour ago
@Any_Rand You're the reason they want to separate you fucking cumstain

KingInDaSouth 19 points - 1 hour ago
Who wrote the script for the commentators because Don Eachern sure isn't this cringeworthy normally.

matser 2 points - 1 hour ago
Could be vertigo/altitude sickness being in the tower. He had that problem in Aeropag last time too. It's weird, he's from Coldwater.
Venonant 1 point - 1 hour ago
I don't think mountains and vertigo work like that...

AstoundingBatboy 1 point - 2 hours ago
That thing about the lava and the concrete is actually so trippy.

[Swibia]

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Swibian Olympic Bulletin
As brought to you by the Swibian Olympic Committee

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Qualifying Day 5/6 and Day -2/-1 Highlights

Basketball — Men's
Swibia 120–80 Kaboomlandia
1 Swibia 5 5 0 468 348 +120 10 Q

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Archery — Men's Individual
20 Alistair Williams (SWI) 674 32 10

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Volleyball — Men's Indoor
Mattijana 10 9 13
Swibia 25 25 25
1 Swibia 4 3 1 11 3 3.667 340 249 1.365 10 Q

Welcome to the seventh Swibian Olympics Bulletin for the 11th Summer Olympics.

That’s it. The qualifiers are over and the real Olympics have begun. In this edition we will be analysing the last few qualifying results and the pre-opening ceremony Olympic results. So, to Day 6 of the Liventia Qualifiers, and it’s the final of the Men’s 4x400m Relay. The Swibian team, Carl Volk/Jalen Dickeson/Jamil Douberly/Lawrence Blacklidge, has just squeezed into qualifying for the Olympics, coming 6th with the time of 2:59.16. Congratulations to them. So, the final medal count for the Neverend Athletics Grand Prix, which, fortunately, how now ended, gives Swibia one Gold medal, and puts them 8th in the table. That’s down to Allison Cuny, who topped the leaderboard in the final for the Women’s 400m Hurdles.

We now move on to Paripana, for Matchday 5 of the Men’s Basketball. The team secured a comfortable 120-80 victory over Kaboomlandia, meaning they remain at the top of the group, and still qualify for the Olympics. In Matchday 5 of the Men’s Handball, the team has not been so lucky, but has beaten Mattijana 29-25. The team remains 4th in the group, however, and will not be qualifying. In Matchday 5 of the Men’s Hockey, the team has lost to Electrum 5-1. This means the team is still 4th in the group, and also will not be qualifying.

The Women’s Hockey brings better news, with the team beating the Free Swiss States 2-1 at the Tristiano Droga Arena. The team is second in the group, behind the Serbian Empire, but ahead of Drawkland by a point. It looks like they will qualify. Matchday 5 of the Men’s Indoor Volleyball, and the team has thrashed Mattijana in straight sets, the scores being 25-10, 25-9 and 25-13. So the team retains its spot at the top of the group, just ahead of the North Eurasian Unified Sporting Team, who it appears will also be qualifying.

That’s almost everything. All that’s left is a couple results from the Royal Kingdom of Quebec. Matchdays 5 and 6 of the Men’s Beach Volleyball have brought mixed results, with
Elliot Sturgeon/Mitchel Patton losing both their matches, although only narrowly losing one. They are now at the bottom of the group and are very unlikely to qualify. The final result is from the Women’s Indoor Volleyball, and the team has beaten Cosumar in straight sets, 25-13, 25-20, and 25-20. That leaves the team at the top of the group, just ahead of Pederal na Republika ng Pilipinas, and both will be qualifying.

And, finally, just some results from the pre-opening ceremony part of the Olympics. In the Men’s Individual Archery, star archer Alistair Williams has come 20th out of 142, with 674 points. Griffin Burkinshaw has come 81st, and Antwan Rasor has come 86th. In the Men’s Team Archery we have come a solid 17th out of 42, with 1970 points, meaning we will progress further. In the Women’s Individual Archery, our archers have come 92nd, 98th, and 115th. In the Women’s Team Archery, we have come 36th, and so do not progress further. And that’s it.

QUALIFIED
Allison Cuny – Women’s 400m Hurdles
Luke Crawford – Men’s 3000m Steeplechase
Dallin Plumb – Men’s 5000m, Men’s 10000m
Jaylen Provins/Rudy Ping/Cullen Dobson/Russell Arnall – Men’s 4x100m Relay
Carl Volk/Jalen Dickeson/Jamil Douberly/Lawrence Blacklidge – Men’s 4x400m Relay
Women’s Basketball
Women’s Hockey
Women’s Indoor Volleyball
Men’s Basketball
Men’s Indoor Volleyball

[Fluvique]

The Olympic party

---

AEROPAG- The Olympic Tower Stadium was dancing with a calm rhythm when, suddenly, the Fluviquean flag entered, high on its mast. Behind of Eva Leiah, the rest of the delegation had stopped jumping and singing. The euphoria of an unforgettable moment was turned into joy, to incorporate those feelings which will never go away. Eva was calm, like when she plays in the midfield of The Panthers and dazzles the multiverse with her movements. And behind, the rest: her teammates jumping, the Young Lions shaking their berets and throwing them to the airs. "Fluvique" was announced in several languages but it was too late: all had realized. A reception that will be unforgettable for all those who were here, those who had to stay in the Olympic Village because they compete early today and those not yet arrived because they participate later in their disciplines, but they truly desired to be there.

Stylish in white and red, celebrating an unforgettable moment they paraded around the stadium, as each delegation, while in the stands the Prime Minister of the Kingdom, August Moine, and her husband, Lloyd Carew, stood up to applaud the athletes. At the end of the road, the group turned to the right. And while Leiah left the flag in a sector, the group of more than a hundred members started an anarchic tour, breaking the protocol, splitting into groups, filming, taking selfies, approaching to the stands to find family and friends. The volunteers had to work very hard to bring them to the designated sector. And there they continued, as if they were in a great celebration. Which in fact it was. A party that had begun in the Village itself, with an album of varied and unique photos, mixing together Severin Kerr, Mario Cayden, Felix Dupont, Augustin Flores y Emiliana De Snaaijer, among others

Unforgettable moments. The one of Leiah, who did not hide her happiness for the distinction of being the flag bearer, reflected in the previous tweet with "Here we go" with the rest of the athletes behind. An experience which will live forever on her heart. Or the one of Fátima Rizzo, who was moved simply by being surrounded by figures of the national sport. Or Ralph Llinaire, who will be participating in dressage, after defeating a lung cancer, and had the the best prize: parading and seeing the light the olympic cauldron. Or the one of Zacharie Leigh, the youngest in the delegation with 17 years, and an entire future in canoeing.

Need more memories that will never be lost? The couple of Jeremy Leighton, player of The Warriors, and Eugénie Lesauvage, one of the freshest faces of The Panthers. The Fluviquean field hockey is marked by special cases: in the last Olympics Ezequiel Noguiera, the scorer of the Young Lions, proposed marriage to his current wife, the Panther Emiliana De Snaaijer, who heard the words she most wanted just as the Olympic cauldron was lit. Emotions and pure romanticism. Marina Capittanni and Bernard Pullian weren't so lucky: the White Foxes decided to stay in the Olympic Village after the defeat in the first match of the Olympic football. The tennis players didn't miss the ceremony, but they left the stadium long before the end, to be fresh and focused for their upcoming matches.

The social networks were filled by videos of the Fluviquan athletes, enjoying the moment, like the viral video which shows the entire delegation just before entering to the stadium, singing and dancing, doing a pogo in middle of the entrance with the rhythm of "This the band of la Fluvique, is dancing uncontrolled, and moves towards here, and moves towards there, this the craziest band in Aeropag". A madness wich goes from the head to the heart. Showing what it feels.

[Hannasea]

Posted on the fashion blog "Nothing Tastes As Good As Skinny Feels".

Ranking The Hannasean Olympic Outfits

Black and gold are the dominant themes of this summer as 47 athletes from the Federation take part in the Olympic Games in Aeropag - but which outfits are to die for, and which outfits just need to die?

The Good

Usually played on astroturf in blaring bright colors, the field hockey team's decision to go with a mostly black outfit augmented by carefully positioned gold stripes on skirts and socks has really come off. After last summer, we were ready to write off pleated skirts as just done, but this year's collection has breathed new life into a well-trod classic. The same is definitely true of the tennis, where Rachel Burrell and Michele Jarrett have gone back to basics, opting for a clean white pattern with black, gold, and red trim, and showing there's nothing wrong with the tried and tested, so long as it's given that little twist, like adding lime instead of lemon to a classic cocktail. Mixed reviews for the gymnasts: the black is mostly fetching, but it makes it harder to pick out the body's natural lines, and may make it difficult for the judges to identify high-value skill moves for those looking to push their difficulty scores.

The Bad

Khloe Wilkie's fencing outfit is a monstrosity, that makes her look less like someone interested in pursuing the deft arts of swordwomanship, and more like Iron Man's butch older sister. There's a common theme running through the outfits that clean, simple designs have generally worked, while the attempts to pull off something more daring - like the provocative modernistic equestrian garb - just need to be pulled off altogether. The same is true of the judo and taekwondo kits, which have reached "2-star hotel free bathrobe" levels of kitsch with their gold ornamentation and horrid red slashes ruining the color scheme and making our TV sets, as well as our eyes, bleed.

The Fugly

It's common knowledge that athletes with a diacritic in their name fare better at the Olympic Games, and those with multiple diacritics are practically guaranteed gold medals galore. But the Hannasean delegation are positively diacritically-impoverished, without an umlaut or grave between them. Faced with this serious impediment, delegation organizers have taken the desperate step of resorting to a team outfit for the Opening Ceremony covered in diacritics, from gold háčeks on the shoulder-pads of the jackets, to red cedillas engraved into the buckles of the black shoes. The overall effect may well have played favorably to the Paripanan crowd - notorious connoisseurs of a tastefully deployed circumflex - but we just found it garish. Including a golden nosinė on each cuff may have upped the diacritic rating, but it's the sort of flashy showmanship that ruined what could have been a rather stylish black ensemble. And flagbearer Tansy Marchand's breve-patterned hair dye? Hideous.

[CoraSpia]

George Sopas was happy.
He was very happy.
And the little cigarette he was smoking was making him still happier.
Oh, how he loved to see the flashing lights, and the mushroom men.
They were giving him cups of their marshmallow tea, and it tasted of happiness and Saturday and pink.
It came with small dandilions on top, but dandilions weren't for eating so he screwed it up and put it in the bin.
But the small mushroom person, or...mushchild...was talking to him.
His voice was curiously yellow and fuzzy, like one of those magical banananas that lived in the sky near his house.
It said that the dandilions tasted of love, and love was good, right?
He tasted it, because he could trust the mushroom child. The mushroom child was his friend, and he was the mushroom childs friend.
Why was the mushroom child giggling?
George Sopas wasn't happy.
He was very unhappy.
He itched all over.
His body felt all blue and foreign.
His nose was spinning...spinning...off into the sunset.
His hands were no hands at all.
They were furry rainbow ducks!
Ducks in pancake-gloves, with red and yellow and orange and green and blue and indigo and violet ploomage!
This wasn't right.
Not at all, not right at all.
He was smiling.
Why was he smiling?
And...why was the mushroom child still laughing?

[Ferkas]

What's the Big Deal?

Ferkian's Confused by Olympic Ceremony Hype

Ferkian Broadcast Corporation - Online

Ferkians - both athletes and fans - have admitted confusion about the hype surrounding the Olympic Opening Ceremonies, with one athlete commenting "It's just a parade and show. Honestly, what's the big deal? And what the hell is with all the athletes? Did these guys get dressed in the dark?"

Confusion about the hype, the controversy, and perhaps the outfits most of all has grown quickly on social media. Interestingly many nations seem to treat the Olympic Opening Ceremony as some sort of excuse to wear bright colors, bold patterns, and generally poorly designed outfits.

"First, what's with all the colors?" Asked one fan. "I mean, I can understand wanting to include national colors or something. But what about a tasteful tie or a nice lapel pin? Who even makes purple suits? Why do they make them? Is it a religious thing? I have so many questions!" Many others raised similar questions, both online and at the Olympic games.

Dr. Simeon Dardenela, a sociologist at the University of Ferkas - Coventry, had the following to say on this odd phenomena. "What I've found in my studies is that many Ferkians are more subdued in how they present themselves. Making a scene isn't generally accepted here. In many cultures that isn't the case. So it's largely cultural. What we find odd, if not downright embarrassing, other cultures consider perfectly normal and perhaps even ideal."

All Ferkian participants in the opening ceremony wore solid charcoal colored suits with white shirts and blue, white, and gold ties. Flag lapel pins were also worn.

[Llanrhyddid]

A Foreigner's Guide to Llanrhyddid
Canllaww Estroyyn d Llhanryddid

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Hello from Llanrhyddid! We are very excited to take part in our first sporting competition! In order to explain the nuances of Llanrhyddid, its history, its culture, and its sports, we at the SNL (Sefydliadd Newyddion Llanrhyddid) will be releasing a multi-part series to foreign media organizations describing the Ddeyrnass Cudd, or Hidden Queendom. A city-state hidden in the Mynyddoedd Iwerdd, the Llhanx are a proud, but welcoming people. We hope that you enjoy getting to know our beautiful nation.

A linguistic note. This series will be published in English, a language taught to all Llhanx school children and generally known throughout the multiverse. However, there may be some words in Llanx, the national language of the Llhanx people (a variant of Brythionic). These words will be translated to the best of our abilities. We apologize for any spelling and grammatical errors that result and beg patience as English is not our first language.

So, let us begin!

Infrastructure

Llanrhyddid pours a lot of money into infrastructure. The goverment funds most projects, stretching from paths for bicycling (asphalt) and running (dirt), to dirt roads, to bridges, to river infrastructure. There are four major infrastructure proejcts that the government has worked on: the Llhanx high-speed rail system, the Llhanx cyclopath system, the Llhanx dyddpa, and infrastructure related to the Afon Tibedd.

The Llhanx high-speed rail system connects the major cities in Llanrhyddid. Begun approximately 20 years ago, it is powered by energy from the Ddrws Solar Farm. It began full operations seven years ago, operated by the state-run corporation Dderyn Rail. Tickets are free for Llhanx citizens (the service is paid for by foreign visitors), but some costs are covered by advertising revenue. The rest is made up for by taxes.

The Llhanx cyclopath system is a system of asphalt bike paths that run through Llanrhyddid. It runs through many of the major cities and towns in Llanrhyddid. Due to material limitations, the path has a limited scope. However, the government is looking to import more raw materials to extend the path system further. The path is free to use for all, and bikes are available for rent for those who do not have them.

The Llhanx dyddpa is a huge system of dirt trails that cover almost of Llanrhyddid. These trails go up into the mountains, as well as around the Cwcudd. These trails are used for running and hiking, and were the main source of getting around the nation until the high-speed rail system was built. A trip to the Cwcudd is incomplete without a walk on the dyddpa, where one can see the great Llhanx runners in training.

Afon Tibedd has infrastructure associated with it. First, the Dam Brenwynn runs across the river, providing hydroelectric power for the country. This dam is operated by Elecnx, the state-run energy generator/provider. Second, there are several bridges that cross the river. Caryu Bontt is the most famous, crossing the river in its upper section. This bridge originally allowed for livestock to cross the river to various pastures, but has now been converted to part of the dyddpa. Other famous bridges are Ddon Bontt and Ddon Pfoennyl.

I hope that this had provided a picture of Llhanx infrastructure. Infrastructure is very important to understand as a foreigner because it helps with travel and suggests some must-see attractions.

In our next piece, we will explore the Llhanx education system.

Until then, Carydd to all!

Ailis Frighil
Cyfarwyddwr, Sefydliadd Newyddion Llanrhyddid

[CoraSpia]

The Republican and East Sanctii representatives stepped into the car to travel to the meeting with Vakolicci leaders. The car ride seemed like it took forever, though it did not actually take anywhere near as long as it seemed. Finally, they arrived at a flower garden where they were to meet President Delbrathin and the other two delegations. When they arrived, the Vakolicci delegation was already waiting for them. Georgius Catiotus, the sole East Sanctii delegate, led the way, greeting the Vakolicci representatives. He was unsure whether to make small talk or to get straight to the point, so he waited to see which way the hosts wanted to go.

Elsewhere in the Greater Vakolicci Haven, the West Sanctii representatives joined Liam, Daniel and Alyana in the vehicle. As they traveled to their destination, Andreas and Leva introduced Prince Ioannes and Deputy Prime Minister Polus. The 7-foot plus basketball legend, the cornerstone of the great Sanctii team that won the IBC three times in a row, had remained loyal to his older brother King Petrus XX rather than side with his younger brother King Andreas in the intra-family feud that had split the Kingdom of Saintland in two. But even though he stood out physically, nobody stood out more than the Deputy Prime Minister and leader of Feministvs Sanctvsterra. Censorina Polus's blonde hair was left uncovered and her dress was relatively revealing by Sanctii standards, but not especially revealing by the standards of most nations. This allowed her beauty to be on full display.

The appearance of Censorina Polus was in sharp contrast to that of Leva Fadius, whose head was covered and whose body was equally covered. A survivor of the genocide of "intellectuals" and their families carried out by the regime that called its nation "Slave State", Leva had once been captured by Vakolicci slavers and sold to Andreas Fadius. The two of them had fallen in love almost at first sight and Leva had eagerly converted to the Church of Saintland to win the affection of her master. At first, she had converted merely to make Andreas happy, but eventually she had come to embrace her faith and the security that came with it. Even as Feministvs Sanctvsterra had set about reforming Saintland, Leva had chosen to remain a housewife, by the side of her husband who had fast become one of the stars of the [West] Sanctii National Soccer Team and an important diplomat within the Royal Diplomatic Service. The two of them had remained loyal to King Petrus XX, whom Andreas had idolized while he was growing up, despite their own personal politics being slightly more on the traditional side as compared to their King.

After they had finished the introductions, Andreas and Leva spent the rest of the car ride catching up with Liam. At one moment, Andreas reassured Liam that he wasn't there to convert them to the Church of Saintland and he wasn't about to help anybody steal anything from the Vakolicci treasury. Seemingly an eternity ago, Andreas had left Vakolicci territory in the middle of the night with Veleik Nicholls and the two of them had given the Republican military direct access to the Celerian royal treasury, which had unwittingly led to the downward spiral of the Free Republics in recent years. The influence of the Republican military had driven their politics further and further toward the extremes, eventually leading to the election of men such as Reino Kulseth and Kaleb O'Reilly as the Consuls of what was once a free and genuinely great nation. Andreas had deep regret for that foolish mistake he had made years ago, a mistake that Veleik tried to atone for, likely at the cost of his life. Andreas wanted to make a deal that would ensure the security of the Kingdom of Saintland and provide for defense against the Free Republics and the so-called Holy Kingdom of Saintland and he was hopeful that he could get Liam and the other Vakolicci representatives to agree to a deal...

---

The uniforms for the Republican delegation at the Opening Ceremony remained a closely guarded secret until the last possible moment. Finally, the Republican athletes received their uniforms, less than an hour before the Opening Ceremony was scheduled to start. They were surprised to discover that Republican men would wear standard Republican Army uniforms, with the exception of the military officers within the delegation, who were to wear their full military uniform during the Parade of Nations. The women, however, were surprised to find that they were to wear the same uniforms that the Cheerleading Squad of the former Republican National Soccer Team had worn back in the day. Several women among the Republican delegation, which numbered well over a thousand and was to be, by far, the largest ever to march in an Opening Ceremony in Olympic history protested and demanded to wear the men's uniform instead but the cBot who had delivered the uniforms quickly made it very clear that they were going to wear the cheerleader uniforms and they were going to march in the Opening Ceremony.

However, even at this late hour, the Republican delegation still had not received word from the Olympic organizers as to whether or not their registered injury replacements and their athletes who had failed to qualify, a group that numbered several hundred in total, would be permitted to march in the Parade of Nations. The Republican delegation was under very strict orders to refrain from participating in the Parade of Nations at all if any of their members, including those whose participation remained in question, were prohibited from marching with the delegation. Should that happen, they were unsure whether or not Consul O'Reilly would order the entire delegation to go home, but they were certain that the "Opening Ceremony" shown on Republican television would be the version they had filmed two weeks prior in the Free Republics rather than the one taking place in Aeropag if the Republican delegation was not permitted to participate in full but they remained hopeful that the Paripanans would tread lightly rather than anger Consul O'Reilly yet again...

Liam chuckled at Andreas' promises and layed his hands out casually. If they would notice anything about him that had changed, it would be the level of tattooing the singer and junior minister had put his body through. Politically-influenced imagery covered his arms and upper chest, however he sat easily in his seat.
"I am sure you are not," he said in his usual soft, yet slightly authoritative voice. "I'm also not hear to try and convince Leva to dress down...even if this is the Vakolicci summer, and heat stroke is not wonderful. On that topic though...I'm afraid...I have some sad news." He swallowed slightly.
"Camelia Buertova, Contessa of Aivalio, died in a mercenary operation last year. We only found out it happened a few weeks ago...their was nobody found."

Her grace, the Contessa of Availio smoothed down her dress as she walked beside Sola as she walked towards the delegates. The 'dead' cyborg was dressed in a similar style to Sola: a farely unadorned, plain dress which intensified curves that seemed designed to attract men. Her dress, however was cut far shorter, and one arm had a worked gap that allowed access to a metal panel on her arm.
The rest of the delegation was made up by Alexander Gordavris and Marco Pentos. Alexander was an impressive sight in a sharp black suit and tie, gold jewellery standing out on his body. Everything about the business leader seemed to display wealth and an air of powerful control. He was a committed fascist, and a man who it seemed actually believed in the view that the Haven once led the world and would one day do so again.
On the other hand, Major-General Marco Peltos was a small, slight-looking man who seemed out of place in the delegation, almost like a servant if it wasn't for his uniform displaying countless decorations. However, he walked slightly apart from the rest of the delegates as if he felt somehow out of place or lesser.

Sola reached the guests first, her hand extended and taking the Sanctii man's hand in a firm handshake.
"Good day," she said softly. "My name is Sola Delbrathin, and I am the ruler of this area. May I introduce my allies in this endeavour: Her Grace, Camelia Buertova..a skilled diplomat, singer and soldier; Alexander Gordavris, chairman and CEO of Gordavris technologies, the largest weaponsmiths in the Haven; and Major-General Marco Peltos, who is the commander of much of our military forces in this region. Do, please make yourselves comfortable: refreshments will soon be served."