2020 Winter Invictus Games [Kylaris Only|Canon|IC]

by **The Kingdom of Glitter** » Thu Feb 13, 2020 3:34 pm

AFTER YEARS ON THE SLOPES, A CALDISH GIANT WILL STEP ASIDE

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Catríona Ní Chadhla (@catnichadhla)
^{13 February 2020 | Ulan Khol, Narozalica}

At age forty-six, Oisín Mac Carthaigh has competed for the final time and goes home with one last gold.

ULAN KHOL - In the run up to the Ulan Khan Winter Games, a long-time face in Caldish winter sport announced this would be his last major competition. For over two decades, skier Oisín Mac Carthaigh has been a leader in international men's skiing. With several medals already under his belt, Mac Carhaigh told us this Invictus would be his last. Since his first debut for Team Caldia in 1992, Mac Carthaigh has left his impact on the sport.

At the age of twenty-two, Mac Carthaigh first qualified to compete for the Caldish Invictus team in the run up to the 1996 winter games. Reflecting on that experience, he said that it was "absolutely mental" that he qualified to compete so young.

"Like many [in Caldia], ski culture was my culture. It wasn't just a family pastime for me, it was my passion. I became enamored with it from such a young age, and my parents were always so supportive of me".

So supportive in fact, his parents helped guide him through the process of attending one of Caldia's special state-run tertiary schools where he'd be able to ski during the day and take classes at night. After trying out at the age of twelve, he was admitted to one of the nation's top ski schools.

"It was a dream come true, school was never my style. I always struggled with my course work, it just didn't engage me" Mac Carthaigh said of his education. All of that changed once he was skiing.

"Being able to receive instruction in the classroom and on the slopes completely changed my perspective. I was far more motivated to do well in school, my passion depended on it".

He said he knew from a young age that he wanted to be an Invictus athlete, and pleaded with his parents to help that dream become his reality. By 1996, it did. The 1996 Benbaun Winter Invictus was on Mac Carthaigh's home turf. As a native of Caldia with an impressive resume on the nation's slopes, he impressed the nation and the international skiing community by winning a gold medal at his Invictus debut.

"That was a special feeling, a really special feeling".

He'd go on to represent Team Caldia at every Winter Invictus after. Ulan Khol is his seventh performance at a winter games, and it is also his last.

In total, Mac Carthaigh has won a total of three gold medals, one silver medal, and one bronze medal in his twenty plus Invictus tenure. Even in the years he did not place, he missed the podium by mere seconds. The men’s 15km freestyle competition for cross-country skiing has been dominated by Mac Carthaigh since his debut in 1996.

What kept in going for so long?

"One more gold".

A forth place finish at Rayenne in 2012 and a silver at Haussimont in 2016 kept the aging Invictus athlete going.

"I was so close and still physically capable of competing, so I decided I'd give it one last go [in 2020]".

That decision saw him finish his Invictus career with a gold medal.

"The whole experience has just been insane, and I'm so glad I've been able to do it for so long" he said.

Now aged forty-six, Mac Carthaigh has determined the time to step aside from the sport he loves has come.

"All good things come to an end, and for me that just means my time at the Invictus has".

However, he will not be stepping away from skiing anytime soon. His presence on the slopes will continue recreationally and professionally. Mac Carthaigh will continue to work as a professional ski instructor at many of Caldia's internationally renown skiing resorts. His kids have also recently taken up skiing, and he joking said it was "entirely possible" one of them may outshine him in cross-country skiing.

"The only thing better than setting records is watching your kids smash them".

by **Azmara** » Thu Feb 13, 2020 3:55 pm

FREI AANSGAARSUN WINS GOLD IN SKATING FOR AZMARA
The 21-year-old from Jors-Hylager narrowly beat Swetania for the coveted first place.

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Aleksaander Jonssun (@aleksjonssun)
^{2 Jan 2020 | Ulan-Khol, Narozalica}

Aansgaarsun pictured in the first heat for the competition.

ULAN-KHOL, NAROZALICA – Azmara has received its first gold medal in the 2020 Winter Invictus Games in the Male Figure Skating event due to the efforts of Frei Aansgaarsun.

Aansgaarsun, 21, did not qualify for the final in the first heat, yet finished with a top ten performance, yet came top in the second heat on Monday and thus qualified for the final. His stellar performance in Monday's heat, where he narrowly beat his Swetanian competitor for first place, was repeated earlier today as he beat the country by merely 0.24 points. Gaullica trailed behind the two countries in third place with 89.38 points, winning the bronze medal in the event.

It is not the first gold medal Azmara has won by a long shot: the event has traditionally been one of the country's strongest due to its position as a traditional winter sport in much of the country, yet the win has seen an outburst of support for the athlete across social media: Azmaran Twitter saw his name top the trending list almost as soon as news of his victory reached the platform and many notable figures in the country, including President Ryginsdohter and Home Secretary Anasdohter, tweeted their congratulations to the athlete.

Upon being interviewed after his victory in the sport, Aansgaarsun said it was "a lifetime dream come true", recalling that winning a medal for the country in figure skating had been a personal dream since he first stepped on an ice rink. He gave personal thanks to his family and friends for their support, and gave congratulations to his Swetanian and Gaullican opponents on their performance.

His ventures into the sport began at a young age; raised by a single mother working as a social worker, he took up the sport at primary school to fill the time when she had to work, and at the age of 11 won the Fifth Years Groonbank Figure Skating Championships in 2009, a feat he repeated in the Seventh Year Championships in 2011. He went on to win the national championships for the sport for Bojnerside Gymnasium in 2013 and 2015, and played for Eśensted College while studying Philosophy at the institution before dropping out at the end of second year after being shortlisted for the national Invictus team.

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by **Cassier** » Thu Feb 13, 2020 4:22 pm

Invictus Games

Slow Start for Team Cassier in Week 1

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The Cassien Invictus team has gotten off to a slow start this year, though many suspect Cassier will pick up steam in the coming days.

Abelone Genest · SRC Sports · Posted: Feb 13, 2020 | Last Updated: January 13

The Cassien men's hockey team out dueled Phula this Thursday and is scheduled to play Velzemia in round 3.

ULAN KHOL - It's been a slow start for the Cassien Invictus team over this past week with Cassier placing in the middle of the pack in terms of results during the events so far. As of this Friday Team Cassier has made out with only a single silver medal in the men's 500 meter speed skating and a victory against Phula.

5.3 million Cassiens tune in to men's hockey this game day
Winter storms continue to disrupt commutes across western Cassier
6 killed in avalanche near Lac-Eloise

Over the past week the Team Cassier has competed in all events, which have included luge, speed skating, figure skating, hockey, and cross-country skiing. Despite its presence in every event so far Cassier's success on the medal board has been minimal.

On the sliding track, Cassier has yet to win a gold medal in luge. The country came closet during the 2016 games, earning silver in men's singles and bronze in team relay. Despite the lack of success so far on the track so far, most believe that Team Cassier's bobsleigh teams will perform better. Cassier won a gold in men's and a bronze in the women's in 2016, and it is expected that Cassier will be in the running throughout the contest.

Cassier's men's speed skating team earned silver in the 500 meter short track this year, while failing to place on the podium in the 1000 meter. "While a disappointment to be sure, we are all still very proud of our athletes," coach for men's speed skating Geoffroy Lecerf stated.

A majority of sports networks and fans of the winter games believe that the best has yet to come however, and expect that Cassier will make a strong come back this coming week. As such a majority of Cassien tourists and spectators are expected to make a large turn out this week.

The men's hockey team, which occupied a bye-slot during the first round, defeated Phula in a game today 4-1 and is due to face off against Velzemia in the next round. Tickets to the game quickly sold out after the game concluded, and it is likely that Cassiens will make their presence well known outside of the rink this coming week.

Also expected to perform strongly over the coming week are the freestyle skiing, snowboarding, and curling teams.

by **Cassier** » Thu Feb 13, 2020 4:49 pm

L'érable

@LerableJournal

Cassier to face off against Velzemia in round 3 lej.ca/5gHwEa

Ticket sales following today's game promise a "packed house" as Cassier moves forward to the next round
Team Cassier convincingly defeated Phula 4-1 this afternoon in Cassier's first hockey game in this year's winter Invictus games in Ulan Khol, allowing the men's hockey team to advance forward to the next round. Joining the team were thousands of Cassiens that were out in force today during Cassier's, with the the stands being dominated by the fans dawned in the national colours.
lej.ca

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by **Estmere** » Thu Feb 13, 2020 5:08 pm

by **Liecthenbourg** » Thu Feb 13, 2020 5:10 pm

Gaullica picks up speed as first week of Invictus Games comes to a close.
The nation, whose presence is typically noted at the Winter Games, has finally begun to accrue some medals.

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Antoinette Giroud
^{February 13th, 2020|Ulan Khol, Narozalica}

Anashe Pasquier, who won Silver in the Women's Figure Skating Final.
Photo courtesy of the secret camera I have in your house.

Ulan Khol, Narozalica - Gaullica's performance within the first week of Ulan Khol 2020 has been, frankly, upsetting. It is evoking a sense of dread amongst sports-fans who were alive to witness what is still known as the 'Victus Game': Benbaun 1996. The nation, who stumbled from typically strong event to event, found itself coming 11th. Whilst many nations would be proud of that achievement, at home, the public felt disheartened by a team who -- on average -- sits above the 5th spot.

Day 1 began in perhaps a historic moment. For the first time I, and likely most readers can recall, the Gaullican Luge men's were eliminated with a stained: DNF. The Gaullican women fared better, of course, actually advancing to a second Heat.

Day 2 began on a stronger footing, with Gaullica's figure skating teams securing 9th (men's) and 10th (women's) respectively. However, the pairs brought another sting of defeat: eliminated. And in Short Track Speed Skating, Pierre-Louis Bescond was relegated to an 11th place (though in his defence, within a fraction of the rest of the competition.)

The 3rd and 4th days birthed a new hope in our teams. Maryvonne Philidor, in the 2nd Heat for Women's Luge, rising to first. Our figure skaters, including Serge De Verley and Anashe Pasquier, both achieved fourth and advanced into the finals. Further came our victory in Ice Hockey, typically viewed to be one of Gaullica's weaker Winter Invictus Sports, with a strong 2-0 win over Satucin. The rest of the events on these days saw strong expected showings from Caldia and Narozalica. However, we were able to achieve a Silver medal in the Women's Luge through the tenacity and skill of Maryvonne Philidor.

The Sixth day has indeed kicked the nation into gear, with both our figure skaters winning bronze in men and silver in women's. Pasquier's competition was none other than a world-record-breaking Swetanian figure skater! The President congratulated all of Gaullica's athletes for a 'phenomenal' showing this opening week, but paid particular praise to Maryvonne Philidor, Anashe Pasquier and Serge De Verley. The victories have reignited a fervour in the people and sports fans, as we now at least are on track to not repeat the mistakes of 96.

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by **The Kingdom of Glitter** » Thu Feb 13, 2020 5:45 pm

Royal Family of Caldia

@CaldishRoyalFamily

TH the Earl and Countess of Barraerach enjoyed meeting with skiers from #TeamCaldia

yesterday at #UlanKhol2020

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by **Eskaeba** » Fri Feb 14, 2020 3:25 pm

DAY 7 RESULTS

by **The Kingdom of Eldmark** » Fri Feb 14, 2020 4:33 pm

AN INVICTIAN IS BORN: The Story of Steffi
Steffi Ulfblad will come home with a Bronze in Short Track 1K
^{Erika Gunnarsson}
^{Friday, 14th February 2020|Ulan Khol}

Ulfblad, seen during the third turn of the race.

Ulan Khol

It's 4 AM in North Erikstad. The gentle warm wind from the Vehemens blows through its dusty streets. The recent dry spell has taken to giving the city a brown hue, backed by the red sandstone monoliths that make up the northern end of the Great Ryggraden. For most people, this is a time to sleep. However, Invictians are not most people. At this time you can find Steffi Ulfblad, a 19 year old, fresh out of high school, at the track nearest her home. She will be there for at least 2 more hours. Contrary to what some may believe when watching the jumpsuited athletes shredding the ice this year at Ulan Khol, most training for the sport takes place off the ice. Great news for athletes living in a city where it has never been below freezing, where the average yearly precipitation is 1 millimeter, and time on the ice rink is a precious resource.

The youngest of a family of athletes, Steffi grew up expected to perform in one sport or another. As she would try her luck with various summer sports, including field hockey, football, and gymnastics, it was track and field which she fell in love with most, bringing home Allstadt trophies year after year. Though one would ask why she would pick speed skating over any other sport, the answer was simple: "Roller derby."

After getting her driving license, she immediately signed up for an independent roller derby club in Erikstad. She fell in love with the contact sport, often becoming the jammer, the skater responsible for getting past the enemy team and lapping them. Her first year on the team led to an amateur league championship and an immediate place on the map for more prestigious teams down the line. There is only one problem, however. Roller derby is not yet an Invictian sport.

So when Ulfblad tried her hand at qualifiers in Hammarvik for speed skating in October, judges and coaches alike were more than interested in how she would perform.

And perform she did, making her first tryout count. And after an amazing showing, she was selected to represent the Eldmarsk team going into Ulan Khol. Making her debut, she timed a quick finish at 1:30.745 in the 1000m, more than making up for an initially dissapointing start at 500m, at 0:46.252. She explained to us that "the icefeel is different, if that makes any sense."

The Eldmarsk team is full of new athletes after 2016's Invictus Games at Huassimont was the last showing for many top performers on the ice, including former gold medalist Ake Svensson, now an assistant coach for the hockey team.

For now, we can hope and have faith that more medals will come our way, as our talented athletes take the ice by storm at Ulan Khol.

©as.el 2020

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by **Estmere** » Fri Feb 14, 2020 4:41 pm

by **Liecthenbourg** » Fri Feb 14, 2020 4:52 pm

by **Estmere** » Sat Feb 15, 2020 6:54 am

by **Eskaeba** » Sat Feb 15, 2020 8:32 am

DAY 8 RESULTS

by **Liecthenbourg** » Sat Feb 15, 2020 10:47 am

Bobsleighers slide to victory as biathlon athletes shoot themselves in the foot.
The nation's fans are dreading the Invictus, fearing another repeat of 1996.

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Antoinette Giroud
^{February 15th, 2020|Ulan Khol, Narozalica}

Gaullican athletes of the biathlon's 'mens mass start' were expected to do well.
Photo courtesy of the 'disappoint your nation' event.

Ulan Khol, Narozalica - Gaullica advances into either the finals or the second heat of all four bobsleigh events, indicating a strong showing across the board in the two-men, four-men, two-women and four-women events. Meanwhile, Gaullica's traditionally strong biathlon teams floundered the nation's chances at picking up significant medals as we fall to fifth, behind Caldia, Azmara, Swetania and Narozalica in the medal table, yet to win a single gold.

Alceste Alarie and Benoît Durand sped ahead of the competition in the two-men's first heat, coming second only to Xiaodong. The four man team did not fare as well, coming an overall 8th, but still achieving a place in the second heat and a second chance to reach the finals. The two-women squad, Rolande Lemaigre and Maïté Jégou, came 11th -- but still have a chance to enter the finals in the second heat too. However, the four-women team inched their way into the finals, coming in sixth, 0.1 behind the Caldian team.

We spoke to Durand and to Lemaigre following the event: both of them described it as "unreal." Lemaigre emphasised the importance of "the underdogs" and aimed to inspire support amongst viewers by highlighting that they were "well on their way" to achieving a top three finish. Durand praised all four teams, indicating that he wished to see "more domestic support for bobsleigh" after the strong showing.

Traditionally, Gaullica has maintained a strong bobsleigh team and following, but it is often eclipsed in the perception of the Invictus Games by Aventine Skiing anf the Biathlon. Bobsleigh, for instance, was introduced by Gaullican and Gaullican-Cassien athletes in the Invictus Games of 1920.

The biathlon this year, however, has been described as an 'underwhelming performance.' The substitution of Hervé Rouanet in the men's individual for his secondary Florentin Allard was the 'beginning of the end', as some sports commentators have described. In a selection of sports and events typically favoured and well suited to Gaullica's team, the best position we achieved this year was sixth: in the women's individual 15km biathlon.

Emmanuel Macron, the coach for the teams, stated it simply: "It was under-performed. We had the means and the capabilities to do well and ultimately were unable to achieve the results we wanted, or indeed those expected of us. We have a lot to learn from this and I hope the athletes understand that whilst coming within the top ten on all accounts, especially with such stiff and capable opposition, is nothing to scoff at; it is not what we ourselves are capable of."

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by **Imagua and the Assimas** » Sat Feb 15, 2020 11:21 am

DISAPPOINTING RESULTS FOR IMAGUA'S MALE BIATHLETES
Imaguans place fourth for the men's 20 km individual, and sixth for the 15 km mass start

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ED SMITH (@EdSmith)
16 February, 2020 05:21 IST | ULAN KHOL, NAROZALICA

Biathlete Jerry Jackson with his wife and daughter

Imagua's biathletes come home with disappointing results today, as the men placed fourth in the twenty kilometre individual start, and sixth in the fifteen kilometre individual start, while the women placed thirteenth in the individual fifteen kilometre biathlon, and fifth in the 12.5 kilometre mass start.

In the men's twenty kilometre individual start, they finished in fourth place, with a time of 51:38.2, just twenty-two seconds behind that of bronze winner Werania, and 7.4 seconds ahead of the Azmaran team, but were behind Chervolesia by 1:47.7, who obtained the gold medal.

In the men's fifteen kilometre mass start, they finished in sixth place, with a time of 36:07.1, just 1.7 seconds behind Swetania, and ahead of host nation Narozalica by 2.8 seconds, but were 18.3 seconds behind gold medal finishers Caldia.

In the women's fifteen kilometre individual start, they finished in thirteenth place, with a time of 45:43.6, 7.4 seconds behind Hennehouwe, and 0.3 seconds ahead of Amathia, but were 4:09 behind gold medal finishers Caldia.

Finally, in the women's 12.5 kilometre mass start, they did somewhat better, with a time of 35:43.5, eight seconds behind of Velzemia, and 2.1 seconds ahead of Werania, but were 25.2 seconds behind host nation Narozalica, who gained the gold medal.

After hearing of the results, DLP leader Douglas Egnell expressed his disappointment, saying that "while the results are impressive, especially for a nation from the tropics, the fact of the matter is that we need to do better, and my hope is that in 2024, we Imaguans will win a gold in the winter Invictus games."

"Now is the time," Egnell said, "to return home, to reflect on what went well, and what went wrong, so we may perfect what went well, and learn from our mistakes this Invictus games, so that we may return faster, higher, and stronger."

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© GOVERNMENT OF IMAGUA AND THE ASSIMAS 2020

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by **-AlEmAnNiA-** » Sat Feb 15, 2020 12:06 pm

Federation Picks up Gold in 20km Biathlon to Open Second Week of Invictus 2020

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Larion Tatarintsev
^{Volosovo, Chervolesia
9 February, 2020}

Ulan Khol, Narozalica — Chervolesia picked up its second gold medal on Saturday as Dmytro Stepanyuk earned first place in the Men’s Individual 20 km Biathlon with a time of 49:50.5; a full 3 seconds ahead of Caldia’s Colm Kavanagh and nearly two minutes ahead of third place.

Stepanyuk’s victory was the highlight of an otherwise lacklustre day for Chervolesian athletes at the Invictus 2020 games. The Men’s Mass Start Biathlon saw Chervolesia earn 8th, narrowly losing to Narozalica and narrowly beating Gaullica by a tenth of a second. Women’s biathlon saw Chervolesia give an uncharacteristic poor showing. Sofiya Solovej placed only 15th in the Women’s 15km Individual. The Women’s Mass Start saw some improvement with Chervolesia finishing in 9th.

The bobsleigh heats were not much of an improvement than the biathlon. Aside from a shocking first place finish in the Four-Men Heat, Chervolesia performed mediocre. The Two-Men team placed 10th, Two-Women placing 7th, and Four-Women sheepishly earning 13th. Despite the placements, all bobsleigh teams will continue on to the next heats.

On Friday night, the Chervolesian Men’s National Team beat Etruria 1-0. Leftwinger Ilya Kovalchuk scored the lone goal halfway through the second period. Men’s Coach Artem Panasenko was cautious following the victory, saying that the team still had “lots of work to do.” Chervolesia outshot their opponents 39 to 26. Chervolesia faces historic rivals Narozalica in the next round. Narozalica beat a strong Caldish side 1-0.

by **Cassier** » Sat Feb 15, 2020 2:58 pm

Invictus Games

Team Cassier Faces More Ups and Downs

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While the Cassier has found some success in biathlon and women's bobsleigh, the elimination of the men's bobsleigh teams have raised some major eyebrows back at home.

Abelone Genest · SRC Sports · Posted: Feb 15, 2020 | Last Updated: January 15

Normally a strong competitor in bobsleigh, the men's team faced an upsetting early elimination in heat 1 today.

ULAN KHOL - It would seem that Team Cassier has yet to fully gain traction in this year's Invictus games. After a disappointing first week in Ulan Khol a gold medal for Cassier continues to remain allusive.

As of this Saturday, Cassier is 7th on the medal table behind Gaullica and ahead of Zorasan with two silver and one bronze finish.

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Today's Invictus events started with heat one of the men's two man and four man bobsleigh, one of sports Cassier has historically excelled at. High hopes and expectations for the men's team were quickly dashed following what two-men's coach Alarie described as "an embarrassing upset".

The men's teams, which placed 23rd and 24th respectively, were eliminated which has raised serious questions regarding the team's coaching staff and athletes. Though official statements from the team have yet to be made coach Alarie has stated his intention to resign from his position after the games, which many others being suspected to follow suit.

"We should expect to see some serious rethinking and reshuffling when the team gets home," sports commentator and Invictus bobsleigh veteran Lou Gaubert commented on SRC Sports Radio. "It would be wrong of me, or anyone for that matter, to point fingers. After all we should commend the team for all the hard work that went into getting to Ulan Khol in the first place. I do, however, believe that the men's bobsleigh team is going to have a hard look back at what happened today and think that we'll see some changes being made."

On the flip-side both women's bobsleigh team were able to advance to heat 2 today, placing an impressive 2nd in the two-women's and a middle-of-the-pack 12th in the four-women's.

The other major event in the games today was the men's and women's biathlon, which yielded two first podium finishes. Men's mass start 15km athlete Ange Cuvier fought hard for a third place finish while women's mass start 12.5km athlete Madeleine Bullion was able to earn a silver.

While Cassier placed in the middle of the longer and more arduous individual men's 20km and women's 15km competition, Team Cassier found more success in the mass start biathlon.

by **Cassier** » Sat Feb 15, 2020 3:52 pm

Le Habitant

@LeHabNews

Saint-Marie flights hampered due to cold snap LeHabitant.ca/2LaHe3

Several flights have been delayed or cancelled due to the harsh winter conditions, including those bound for Ulan Khol
This year's February cold snap continues to be a source of inconvenience for travelers and would-be Invictus spectators alike as strong gusts and frigid chills grounds more flights.
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L'érable

@LerableJournal

What does the heat 1 eliminations mean for the men's bobsleigh teams? lej.ca/8EaeHg

Uncertainty and rumours regarding the future of the team are abound following coach Alarie's announcement
Day 8 of this years Invictus games saw gave us a mixed bag of results, though by far the most controversial outcomes were those of the men's bobsleigh teams. Their heat 1 elimination and two-men's coach Alarie's plan to resign has called the team into question.
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YourAverageCassien

@YourAverageCassien

A leaked image of #TeamCassier 's 2024 men's bobsleigh design. #Invictus2020

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by **The Kingdom of Glitter** » Sun Feb 16, 2020 8:42 am

DAY EIGHT: CALDIA PULLS AHEAD IN THE MEDAL COUNT AFTER PERFORMING WELL IN THE BIATHLONS

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Colmán Mac Gobhann (@colmacg)
^{16 February 2020 | Ulan Khol, Narozalica}

Caldia clinched a medal in all four biathlon competitions, including gold in the men's mass start.

ULAN KHOL - After a series of strong performances in the biathlon competitions, Caldia has moved to the forefront of the medal count at the Ulan Khol Games. With six unique medals and 14 earned points, Caldia pulled ahead of host Narozalica and emerged first after a mediocre start at the 2020 games.

Yesterday saw Team Caldia win a total of four medals in the carious biathlon competitions. Caldish athletes took gold in the men's mass start 15km biathlon and the women's individual 15km biathlon. Team Caldia also took silver in the men's individual 20km and bronze in the bronze women's mass start 12.5km biathlon.

Bhioctoria Nic Ghille, whose performance at Ulan Khol was being closely followed by many fans in Caldia, met expectations and won her second gold medal at the Invictus Games. Nic Ghille topped the women's individual at Haussimont in 2016. At the time, she was just twenty-one years old and it was her debut at the Winter Invictus.

A strong performance at Ulan Khol allowed her to take the top spot in her competition. Beating out athletes from Azmara and Werania, Nic Ghille helped Caldia maintain its edge in the biathlon.

Fellow Caldish athlete Filib Mac Càba took the gold in the men's mass start 15km, finishing ahead of Velzemia and Cassier. A second place finish in the men's individual 20km and third place finish in the women's mass start 12.5km saw Caldia dominate the biathlon competitions.

Having originated in Caldia, the biathlon often see's Team Caldia perform well. The sport has ancient origins in Caldish mythology and overtime evolved into a military-sponsored competition that was exported to other countries. The strong finish in the biathlon has boosted Team Caldia in the overall competition.

Caldish athletes hope to maintain that lead and beat expectations. The team is predicted to finish within the top five at the Ulan Khol Games. Estmerish-based sports analysis company Sportsnet has predicted a third-place finish for Caldia in the medal count.

Elsewhere on day eight, Caldia finished third in the first heat of the two-men and four-men bobsleigh contests. It also had a fifth place finish in the first heat of the four-women bobsleigh but was disqualified in the two-women competition. Strong finishes in the bobsleigh could materialize into three more medals, helping Caldia maintain its lead.

by **Eskaeba** » Sun Feb 16, 2020 12:37 pm

DAY 9 RESULTS

by **Cassier** » Sun Feb 16, 2020 1:57 pm

Invictus Games

Day 9: One step forward - One step back

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Cassier defeated Velzemia 1-0 in men's hockey today to advance to the semi-finals, but dipped back another spot on the medal board.

Abelone Genest · SRC Sports · Posted: Feb 16, 2020 | Last Updated: January 16

Cassier's 1-0 victory today sets it up to play against host nation Narzolica which is expected to be the most intense match seen on the ice yet.

ULAN KHOL - Cassier's men's hockey team pushes forward once again following a 1-0 victory over Velzemia on the ice today. Though this allows the men's team to advance to the semi-finals, it means the Cassier will have to face off against its toughest opponent yet; the host nation Narzolica.

Though a majority of hockey fans and analysts predicted that such an event would take place after the brackets were announced this year, Cassiens will certainly be holding their breaths when the puck drops. Eyes will also be focused on the other match scheduled to take place which will see Azmara up against Gaullica, with either of them potentially competing against Cassier should the men's team push forward to the final.

Cassier vs. Narzolica match cause tickets sell out once again
Reprieve from cold weather allows flights to resume
9 days in, but there are still many contests left to go

Tickets to the upcoming game due to take place in Chashka Stadium sold out almost immediately following the match's conclusion, though the number of Cassiens expected to be present is unknown. With the cold front that grounded many flights moving away and allowing more temperate weather to move in it is expected that thousands of Cassiens will be making their presence known in Ulan Khol.

"We're both nervous and excited," men's hockey coach Robert Gicquel stated in a press conference after today's win. "Expectations are high, but we are going to make sure the team is ready for action when we hit the ice."

"This will probably be the most intense game we've seen in Invictus hockey yet," Hockey Night in Cassier commentator Ange Rochefort said today in the post-game show. "Team Narzolica has made an excellent showing in the rink this year, and their victory over Chervolesia today shows that they're certainly not going to be a push over. No matter the case however, it should be a fantastic game of hockey."

Day 9 also saw the the Aventine skiing events and Heat 2 of women's bobsleigh take place.

Cassier's Aventine ski team placed solidly in the middle of the men's and women's slalom and downhill competitions today, with the replacement skier for the injured Lola Duverger - Lydia Cormier - managing to earn bronze in the women's slalom at an impressive 52:08.

Off the slopes the Cassien Four-Women's bobsleigh was able to stay in contention, placing 5th at 52:10 and just barely behind Buckland. The Two-Women's team on the other hand were not on the sliding track today, their second place finish earning them an automatic position in the second heat.

In the days to come Cassier will be competing in the several competitions that have yet to take to the stage including freestyle skiing, snowboarding, and curling among others. High hopes have been placed in the Cassien freestyle skiing teams in particular, with a majority believing that the team may yield Cassier's first gold medals in Ulan Khol.

Team Cassier has yet to earn a gold medal in the games, much to the disappointment and embarrassment of the organization. Cassier has dipped to the 8th place spot on the medal board with two silver and two bronze medals, which has made the Cassien Invictus Committee the target of angry fans.

"We must stress that the Winter Invictus games are not about the number of medals a country earns but rather the teams, sports, and the spirit of competition they were founded upon," Cassien Invictus Committee president Marine Thibodeau stated after the widespread backlash the men's bobsleigh teams received yesterday. "While upsetting to be sure, we shouldn't lose sight about the game's true purpose."

"Cassiens need to accept that the Winter Invictus games aren't just 'theirs' anymore," former men's speed skating coach William Cazal commented on SRC Sports Radio last week. "These aren't their parent's games, and the competition is far steeper and balanced than it used to be. The results of Ulan Khol should be seen as a sign that Team Cassier must adapt to this new era of winter sports."

by **Azmara** » Sun Feb 16, 2020 2:32 pm

AZMARAN ICE HOCKEY TEAM THROUGH TO SEMI-FINALS
Azmara's ice hockey team beat Dezevau 2-1 to progress to the semi-final against Gaullica.

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Aleksaander Jonssun (@aleksjonssun)
^{2 Jan 2020 | Ulan-Khol, Narozalica}

Defencemen Edmund Jonssun and Þurisas Markssun pictured at the call of victory.

ULAN-KHOL, NAROZALICA – The Azmaran ice hockey team have beat the Dezevauni team to progress into the semi-finals of the Ice Hockey Tournament at the Winter Invictus Games, beating the team 2-1 in today's quarter-final match.

After having beaten Baekjeong in their first match of the tournament 1-0 due to forward Wiljâm Alekssun's well-timed goal in the last five minutes of the match, it appeared that the Azmaran team would be relegated to defeat after Zaguangi Doubinhezi was able to usurp goalkeeper Mâþijas Hankssun and score a goal for Dezevau in the first twenty minutes of a match.

The second portion of the match saw little change to the overall result and after fourty minutes' playing time, the match's score still read as 1-0 in Dezevau's favour despite numerous attempts by the teams forwards Freidrik Jorśsun and Wiljâm Alekssun to break the Dezevauni lead were blocked by the defence. It seemed more apparent that Azmara would be knocked out, yet this would all change in the third portion of the match.

It is hard to tell what led to the sudden turnaround in Azmara's fortunes in the match, but it is certain that radical change had come from the first sound of the whistle. Three minutes into the third part, a joint offensive by Jorśsun and Alekssun led to Alekssun successfully piercing the opposition defencemen and scoring Azmara's first goal of the match, evening out the score of the match. These improved fortunes in forward were matched in defence as two successive attempts by the Dezevauni team to score another goal were intercepted, one by both Edmund Jonssun and by Þurisas Markssun.

Repeating their knack for last-minute goals displayed in the previous match, at four minutes to spare Jorśsun was able to shoot the puck past both the defencemen and the goaltender of the Dezevauni team, scoring the third goal of the game and tipping the score 2-1 in Azmara's favour. A final attempt by the Dezevaunis to score in the last minute of the match was intercepted and defeated by Hankssun and led ultimately to the declaration of an Azmaran victory in the match.

Like with Leif Aansgaarsun's victory in male figure skating, the victory in the quarter finals set Azmaran Twitter ablaze as the Azmaran victory topped the trending list on the microblogging site and Prime Minister Jorśsun publicly issued his congratulations on the site, commending the efforts of the team and referencing his own participation in the sport while studying Economics at Sloh College, where he served as a goaltender on the official college undergraduate and postgraduate teams as he studied at both levels.

The team now faces a gruelling match against Gaullica to progress to the final of the competition. The Narozalica v. Cassier match has definitively been the more anticipated of the semi-finals as it pits the home team well-known for their prowess in the sport against another one of the world's top teams where the sport is ingrained into the national conscience, yet it is projected that the semi-final against Gaullica will see a very high viewership figure within Azmara itself and the hashtag of #AzmaravGaullica reached number 2 on trending.

When asked about his teams prospects for defeating Gaullica and progressing to the final, Freidrik Jorśsun said that the match would almost certainly be an "uphill battle" but that he was "optimistic" about his chances overall, and said that he was simply "thrilled" for a team that he played for reach the top 4 in the tournament.

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by **The Kingdom of Glitter** » Sun Feb 16, 2020 2:38 pm

Royal Family of Caldia

@CaldishRoyalFamily

HRH the Duke of Clane and HM the King extended their congratulations to biathlon gold medal winner Bhioctoria Nic Ghille #TeamCaldia

following her success at #UlanKhol2020

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11:24 EST - 16 Feb 2020

by **Cassier** » Sun Feb 16, 2020 2:45 pm

SRC

@SRC

Cassien police departments preparing for hockey crowds SRC.ca/1DhoPx

Win or lose - many Cassiens are expected to take to the streets following this week's men's hockey games
It's a commonly known fact bordering on stereotype that Cassiens treat hockey very seriously. With a tough match that will pit Cassier against Winter Invictus host Narzolica this week, the police departments in major cities across Cassier are preparing the handle the crowds expected to take to the streets either in celebration or defeat. "We're not going to have a repeat of what happened in 2012," Andade police agency executive Pierre Baillieu stated, recalling the pandemonium that took place after Team Cassier's defeat in the 2012 Winter Invictus games in Rayenne.
SRC.ca

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13:45 - 16 Feb 2020

L'érable

@LerableJournal

9 days in - a look back on the games so far lej.ca/2QcgLz

As Team Cassier continues to take a dive in terms of medals, the results of Ulan Khol may mean massive but positive changes will come in the near future.
Now 8th on the medal board and still without gold Team Cassier has struggled more than expected in this year's Winter Invictus games. Though many are still hopeful for the competitions to come, the results of the teams in Ulan Khol hint that an overhaul may be in order. Though such an overhaul could potentially see many of Cassier's veteran athletes depart or retire it could also be the change Cassier needs to be more successful in 2024.
lej.ca

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12:15 - 16 Feb 2020

Anatole Leavitt
AnatotallyLeavitt

Listening to my folks grumble at the results of this year's #WinterInvictus and calling for heads. What ever happened to the stereotype of the overly nice Cassien, eh?[size]

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[size=120]2456

14:20 - 16 Feb 2020

YourAverageCassien

@YourAverageCassien

CIC: "We're sending our strongest team ever!"
[Day 9 and no gold. Team massively under performs.]
CIC: "It isn't about the medals!"
#Invictus2020

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by **The Kingdom of Glitter** » Sun Feb 16, 2020 3:58 pm

SILVER MEDAL IN AVENTINE SKIING KEEPS CALDIA AT FRONT OF THE PACK

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Ruadhrí Ó Ceanndubháin (@raudhrioceann)
^{16 February 2020 | Ulan Khol, Narozalica}

Nóra Nic Innes earned a silver medal in the women's Aventine slalom conpetition for Team Caldia.

ULAN KHOL - A second place finish in women's Aventine skiing has kept Caldia at the top of the medal count for the 2020 Winter Games.

The silver medal earned by Nóra Nic Innes has Caldia tied for first place for the number of points earned at the games. Narozalica and Caldia are tied with 16 points each. One additional gold medal for Narozalica technically puts them ahead of Caldia. However, with seven total medals earned Caldia is ahead of all other nations at the Ulan Khol Invictus.

After Nic Innes' performance today, Caldia has three gold medals, three silver medals, and one bronze medal.

In her contest, she placed behind Gaullica and ahead of Cassier.

This is the first time Nic Innes has competed for Team Caldia at the Invictus. With a second place finish at her debut games, Nic Innes is liable to begin a multi-games tenure for her.

Elsewhere in the Aventine skiing contests, Caldia finished fourth in the men's downhill, fifth in the women's downhill, and tenth in the men's slalom.

Nic Innes is the only Caldish athlete to secure a medal in Aventine skiing at Ulan Khol. The Caldish team typically performs well in the competitions as a result of Caldia's ski culture. However, this year's showing did not translate into additional medals.

2020 Winter Invictus Games [Kylaris Only|Canon|IC]

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