Mytanski sportski mediji.
Mytanar sports media.
Mytanar sports media.
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Mytanija/Mytannion is a nation that enjoys sport to the fullest extent, with the role of sport as a unifying force being discussed often by academics and politicians. The majority of Mytanars enjoy it merely for its recreational and entertainment value - although the hypothesising over its role within wider societal unity does arguably have value also.
Football in particular is the game that is played on every street in every town and city, particularly in the infamous 'cages' that can be found in inner-city areas, with deprived youths battling it out in pick-up games that are often watched by scouts from some of the nation's top clubs. In professional football, the top division is known as the Mytanar Top League and features the best sixteen teams in the country battling it out for glory. Below that there is the Druga Liga and the Treci Liga. The National Cup is the highest honour in terms of knockout football and every year the pomp and pageantry of that competition is played out across the country.
Beyond football, many other sports are important in Mytanija/Mytannion:
First and foremost in these is cycling: whether on the road or on the track, Mytanars have a great deal of pride in creating some of the best racers in cycling history. Wes van der Stijnen, a Mytanar of Waaldish heritage, was the man who conquered world cycling the last time the biggest stage race of them all was competed in: the Island Tour. He won the Island Tour twice, fending off his rivals despite not being truly rated for his capabilities in the mountains and in the time trial. Simply put, he is the greatest stage racer the multiverse has seen and Mytanar cycling continues to produce superstars of his calibre. The Tur Mytanija is one of the predominant races in world cycling and the Tur Nasto remains an excellent preparation race. The three major spring classics: Cieszin-Prizren; Thessia-Thessia; Zavolja-Sigurno form an important part of the race calendar too. It goes without saying that they are three of the toughest one-day races and can only be won by the hardest of competitors - those that can deal with sharp hills and rough cobbles, those that can put in maximum effort for minimal gain.
Other team sports that gain significant attention are basketball, handball, ice hockey and volleyball. Many of the sports clubs that are involved at the highest level of football also field teams in these sports, with varying degrees of success. Historically lacrosse and water polo have been important in Mytanija, with the national team being particularly successful in lacrosse but the participation in these sports has dwindled in recent years.
In terms of individual sports, various sports enjoy a high degree of social participation. However, there are a few sports that enjoy serious professional competition, with world-class competitors, for example: alpine and cross-country skiing, athletics, biathlon, boxing, sailing, swimming and tennis.
In swimming a noted medallist is Zuzana Spevakova: she won 2 Olympic gold medals in the 200 metre freestyle and the 400 metre individual medley along with 1 Olympic bronze medal in the 4x100 metre individual medley. Furthermore she won 3 Rushmori Games gold medals (200 metre backstroke; 4x100 metre freestyle; 4x100 metre medley); 4 Rushmori Games silver medals (50 metre freestyle; 100 metre and 200 metre butterfly; 4x200 metre freestyle); 4 Rushmori Games bronze medals (100 metre freestyle; 200 metre breaststroke; 200 metre and 400 metre individual medley). Spevakova, in winning 3 Olympic medals (including 2 golds); and 11 Rushmori Games medals (including 3 golds), is one of the most successful swimmers of all time.
The broad enjoyment and popularity of sport in Mytanija/Mytannion is an incredible thing, given the relatively small nature of the country, but the unique nature of the people fosters a competitive attitude towards sport that only engenders success.
