Nationstates Olympic Games Discussion Thread

[West Phoenicia]

This may have already been explained. So I apologise if it has. Plus I'm not tech minded.

On the sign up sheet we have

STD DEV and STD. DEV. USED FOR MMAB CALC

My STD DEV is currently 21 and my STD. DEV. USED FOR MMAB CALC is 20.

Should I be getting the STD DEV down to 20 to match?

[Electrum]

This may have already been explained. So I apologise if it has. Plus I'm not tech minded.

On the sign up sheet we have

STD DEV and STD. DEV. USED FOR MMAB CALC

My STD DEV is currently 21 and my STD. DEV. USED FOR MMAB CALC is 20.

Should I be getting the STD DEV down to 20 to match?

Thanks for bringing this to my attention, as that's allowed me to correct for a slight MMAB formula error which was present in the spreadsheet. So to not be penalised by the MMAB, you need to get a STD DEV of 20 or under (according to 'STD. DEV. USED FOR MMAB CALC'). Anything above will incur a penalty, which depends on how over you are. Going by your current figures, your MMAB would be roughly at 0.193.

Edit: Also removed the mixed team archery event from the entry list as I'll deem it as an automatic entry event. I've figured out how the event would work in real life.

[Electrum]

Hey all, if you're looking for an opportunity to world build, I've opened up nominations for sponsorship for the Olympic Games here, which is open until 07:00 UTC 28 July 2021. The selected sponsors will be displayed on the RP thread OP and people can choose to roleplay about your brand/business/corporation. People have already great ideas on fitness equipment, fast food, etc. Of course, there won't be any bonuses attached to submitting a brand or rping about them, but it's great to provide more material for people to work with regardless.

When I open the roster thread about a week before the Games start, I'll also be encouraging people to put up a list of umpires/judges along with names of players so that again, people have more material to work with.

[Kelssek]

Couple of observations... 1) default xkoranate only scorinates the total in weightlifting, 2) we're apparently keeping ORs for the two components, which I'm fine with, yet future hosts might not scorinate them broken out like this.

I would think it quite reasonable for a host to use the default sport file in this instance. But are we going down the road of specifying sport files to be used?

[Krytenia]

Couple of observations... 1) default xkoranate only scorinates the total in weightlifting, 2) we're apparently keeping ORs for the two components, which I'm fine with, yet future hosts might not scorinate them broken out like this.

I would think it quite reasonable for a host to use the default sport file in this instance. But are we going down the road of specifying sport files to be used?

It might be worth having a version of xkoranate with the up-to-date files (where they exist) that reflect the current/most accurate scoring systems linked somewhere, whether that be the OP here or somewhere else that makes sense (eg Olympic Council's sig).

[Liventia]

Couple of observations... 1) default xkoranate only scorinates the total in weightlifting, 2) we're apparently keeping ORs for the two components, which I'm fine with, yet future hosts might not scorinate them broken out like this.

I would think it quite reasonable for a host to use the default sport file in this instance. But are we going down the road of specifying sport files to be used?

For what it's worth, the weight categories were changed IRL and the new files which produce scores for both the snatch and C&J are for the new weight categories.

A host wouldn't be able to use the xkoranate default files with the current weight categories without modifying them anyway, so that's a moot point.

Also, on scorinating the separate rounds: unlike, say, in gymnastics (D+E score contributing to a total), the snatch and clean and jerk are two obviously separate results (with the athlete performing each separately) that sum up for a total. I don't see why we've never done it this way before when we do for so many other sports (artistic swimming, figure skating, decathlon/heptathlon, etc).

I could definitely see an argument for not doing it in gymnastics or diving, because scorinating a difficulty score would mean restricting RP freedom. But I don't see how scorinating two separate weights does that.

[Electrum]

Couple of observations... 1) default xkoranate only scorinates the total in weightlifting, 2) we're apparently keeping ORs for the two components, which I'm fine with, yet future hosts might not scorinate them broken out like this.

I would think it quite reasonable for a host to use the default sport file in this instance. But are we going down the road of specifying sport files to be used?

I've made available (most of) the files that I'm using above. If a host wanted to replicate my scores, they could by just downloading the files and inserting them into the xkoranate folder. We've done this many times before (both me and previous hosts) when it comes to say, new events like in the Winter Olympics when slopestyle got introduced.

[Kelssek]

Ah, I wasn't aware of the changes to weightlifting. And I suppose it prevents people godmodding the two components which is fair enough.

I'll also compile the revised sport files at some point in the near future and put them in the top post.

[Electrum]

Ah, I wasn't aware of the changes to weightlifting. And I suppose it prevents people godmodding the two components which is fair enough.

I'll also compile the revised sport files at some point in the near future and put them in the top post.

Sounds like a good plan. And we could also send this to the xkoranate-CE team for archiving on github too. I'll send out requests for updated files once the Games are over.

[Jerboistan]

Can non-human sentient races participate in the Olympics? My state, Jerboistan, is mostly inhabited by rodent people.

[Hannasea]

Can non-human sentient races participate in the Olympics? My state, Jerboistan, is mostly inhabited by rodent people.

Yes (though signups for the current Games are closed so you'll have to wait for the next ones). For example, the sapient ursines of Bears Armed have quite a distinguished Olympic history and the vulpines of Vekaiyu are competing in the current Olympics. There have been elves, ponies, robots...

[Electrum]

Hello all, I'm going to make a few minor changes to the official event list for the Games of the Olympiad so that it better reflects the Tokyo Games. Just putting it out there so people can pick up on mistakes that I've made.

In essence, sports that will be run in 2020, 2024 and 2028 will be made base list events. Event classes no longer played after Rio will be deleted. I will not be adding the Paris 2024 events yet (i.e. breaking, reductions in some sports) to the list as they are not yet confirmed and we've only had our third edition of karate/softball/baseball. The changes are:

• Swimming: Men’s 800 m Freestyle, Women’s 1500 m Freestyle, Mixed 4×100 m Medley Relay will become base list events.
• Athletics: Mixed 4×400 m Relay to become a base list event.
• Basketball: Men's 3x3 and Women's 3x3 to become base list events.
• Boxing: Deletion of light flyweight and light welterweight classes from the extended list.
• Canoeing: Deletion of the two sprint classes currently in the extended list.
• Cycling: BMX Freestyle and Madison will become base list events.
• Fencing: Men’s Team Sabre and Women’s Team Foil will become base list events.
• Judo: Mixed team will become a base list event.
• Shooting: Deletion of the Women’s 25 m Rapid Fire Pistol from the extended list.
• Table tennis: Mixed Doubles will become a base list event.
• Triathlon: Mixed Team Relay will become a base list event.

To reflect the incoming 2022 Games, the following Winter events will be included as extended list events (these changes seem permanent but I will make them extended list for the time being so that the next host can have flexibility):

• Bobsleigh: Four-woman replaced on the extended list by monobob
• Short track: Mixed 2000m relay
• Freestyle skiing: Mixed aerials, Men's big air, Women's big air
• Ski jumping: Mixed team
• Snowboarding: Mixed team snowboard cross, removal of parallel slalom from the list entirely

Also just a reminder for Olympic hosts to send their files to Kelssek in the link above. I'll be sending the files that I used (with some tweaks to be done) to him this weekend.

[Liventia]

The changes look fine from my end.

[Waisnor]

Hello)
Just wanted to ask - will NS Winter Olympics Games be held in 2022?

[Liventia]

Hello)
Just wanted to ask - will NS Winter Olympics Games be held in 2022?

Generally "yes", but when is down to whenever someone with experience or the capability puts forward a bid. (I intend to bid, with a view to holding them after the RL Olympics, but a couple of things have to fall into place irl before I actually bid.)

I would certainly not just discourage, but actively warn, those who aren't capable not to even think of bidding.

[StrayaRoos]

when is the Winter Olympics Signups open?

[Electrum]

when is the Winter Olympics Signups open?

They are open when the selected bidder, after they've won the vote, decides that they are open. As of yet we do not even have a bidder so we do not know when sign ups are open.

[Liventia]

Confirming that I intend to bid to host the Games, aiming to start towards the middle/end of March with signups overlapping the end of/after the RL Games.

A formal bid will be readied in January.

[Electrum]

Confirming that I intend to bid to host the Games, aiming to start towards the middle/end of March with signups overlapping the end of/after the RL Games.

A formal bid will be readied in January.

Thanks, that's great to hear. Now that we've received a notification and timeframe, I won't be waiting that long for opposing bids so if you do want to bid please keep that in mind.

[Liventia]

Host City Candidature: City Centre–Altimarus North Coast Region–Lox Land bid for the XVI Olympic Winter Games
The bid team wish to note a Games logo is being planned, but is not currently available.

ABOUT CITY CENTRE, ALTIMARUS NORTH COAST REGION, LOX LAND ISLAND
City Centre will be the focal point and main host city of the Games, should the candidature be approved. It is an Olympic host city in its own right, having hosted the XIII Olympic Winter Games.

The former capital of Liventia and the oldest city in the country, City Centre, remains a bustling locale in the north of the country in an area generally referred to as the Altimarus North Coast Region, reflecting its geographical location along the country's northern coast which borders the Altimarus Sea in Rushmore.

While the region is not an official political entity, the mayors of its major cities and towns do meet annually as a cultural exchange, and it was at one of these that the idea for a joint Olympic bid was formed.

The bid includes two former Olympic host cities – City Centre and Neverend. Lox Land Island, which is not part of the Altimarus North Coast Region and lies to the southeast, will also form part of the bid – it is also a former Olympic host location, serving as the site of sailing at two Summer Olympics.

There is a total ban on outdoor public smoking and outdoor public drinking, including in bars and restaurants, although the ban on drinking does not extend to outdoor sporting events. In Neverend, there is a (redundant) specific ban on smoking within 500 metres of an educational institution, and a ban on drinking within 1 km of one. The drugs trade is banned, although casual use is not actively policed. The minimum age for smoking and drinking in the country is 17. Firearms are banned, although athletes requiring the use of firearms for biathlon events are granted a waiver to carry and import their weapons.

BID SPECIFICS
As this bid proposes to hold the Games following the completion of the real-world Olympic Winter Games of Beijing 2022, the all events on the post-Beijing base list – that is, including the new events (women's monobob, various mixed team events) – will be held, in addition to extended list events for gender balance (women's events in Nordic combined and ski jumping).

A Demonstration Event Festival featuring snow volleyball and bandy will also be held, with no medals awarded for these performances.

The planned signup window runs from February 18, 2022 through March 11, 2022 – a period of three weeks – with scorination beginning no earlier than March 14, 2022. Importantly, as part of this bid, qualifications are planned. Therefore, I will not put an end date on scorination.

Each user may enter a maximum of two delegations, with the main and the puppet delegation clearly marked. There is no maximum limit for one delegation but puppet delegations may not enter more than 120 entries – sufficient to enter at least one entry in each event. Skill ratings will range from 0 to 100, inclusive, but the overall delegation average must not exceed 50 points.

Combined delegations with multiple NOC codes may be entered only when made up of nations controlled by multiple users. Individual users wishing to enter multiple teams may do so in a single combined delegation with a single NOC code (e.g. the Vilitan Union, VLT) or in the traditional main/puppet format. Users may also enter as part of a combined delegation, which would count as the main delegation, in addition to a puppet with the applicable entry limit. Combined delegations with multiple NOC codes must represent countries which each have their own NationStates account and which have a compelling regional or cultural link between them.

Scorination will take place using xkoranate with sports files updated, where necessary, to use the Beijing 2022 results and formats. RP bonus will be degrading, but never to zero. Roster/information thread bonuses will count separately and permanently without degradation. MMAB will apply, with demonstration signups also included in the calculations, as follows:

1–10 entries: Full MMAB for any STDEV
11–30 entries: Full MMAB for STDEV of 33.0 or less
31–99 entries: Full MMAB for STDEV of 30.0 or less
100–150 entries: Full MMAB for STDEV of 27.0 or less
151+ entries: Full MMAB for STDEV of 24.0 or less

MMAB will scale proportionally to how far over the acceptable each delegation is. The 33% RP bonus penalty instituted by Kelssek for the last Winter Olympics will apply to delegations with a standard deviation more than three points above the limit, or for any delegation with 11+ entries with a standard deviation over 33.

QUALIFICATION SYSTEM
Following the closing of signups, all entered entries will be split into pre-Olympic qualifiers, to be branded under a single Qualifiers for the 16th Winter Olympics banner. Only the defending champions in each event (if entered), the reigning world champions in ice hockey (applies to both genders), and one host entry per event, will receive automatic qualification to the Games proper. This reflects the real-world precedent (minus the defending champions).

The rationale behind this is this: the number of signups for the Olympics are beyond any realistic numbers now. No one expects to have to take part in a downhill race with 250 skiers. By running pre-Games qualifying, aside from cutting numbers to a realistic, manageable number, it gives other users hosting experience in an Olympic setting. We are running low on capable Olympic hosts, and this should in theory help increase the pool.

Any user with a hosting background on NSS would be welcome to apply to host a qualifying series in any sport (although the final decision on which nations will host qualifying events will be taken by me). These series will last no more than a week. Should all the athletes from a delegation fail to qualify by merit in an event, the top-ranked athlete (by performance, not by skill rating) will be advanced to the Games proper. This provision will not apply to Liventia should the bid be accepted, as Liventia will have an automatic entry in each event regardless. This provision will also not apply to team events (mixed team events, relays, curling, and ice hockey).

Such qualification would reduce alpine skiing races to roughly 60 starters, biathlon and cross-country races to around 100 starters, the curling and ice hockey events to around 12-16 teams, the figure skating events based on a minimum score, the sliding events to around 40 starters, Nordic combined and ski jumping to around 60 starters, short track races to around 30 starters, speed skating races to around 40 starters, and freeski and snowboarding to around 40 starters.

Qualifying would not apply to the Demonstration Event Festival.

VENUES
CITY CENTRE ZONE:
National Olympic Stadium – Ceremonies, medal plaza
National Curling Centre of Excellence – Curling
Mount Konshua Ski Centre – Ski jumping, Nordic combined, freeski big air, snowboard big air, snowboard parallel giant slalom
Michael Harley National Indoor Arena – Men's ice hockey (groups, semis, medal finals) (medals awarded on-site)

NEVEREND ZONE:
Stade Grande Olympique – Medal plaza
Neverend Ferrandieu Ski Resort – Alpine skiing, ski cross, snowboard (except big air and PGS)
Ferrandieu Ski Sports Centre – Freestyle skiing (except big air and ski cross)
National Sled Centre – Bobsleigh, skeleton, luge
James Thornton Centre – Men's ice hockey (groups, early playoffs), women's ice hockey (medal finals) (medals awarded on site)

ALTIMARUS NORTH COAST REGION:
Coville – Snow volleyball
Coville Curling Club (Coville) – Speed skating (medals awarded on-site)
Boister Arena (Boister) – Women's ice hockey (including playoffs, up till semis)
Montrefier Outdoor Sports Centre (Montrefier) – Biathlon, cross-country (medals awarded on-site)
Montress – Men's bandy

LOX LAND ISLAND:
Schimpol Indoor Centre – Figure skating, short track speed skating
Island Cricket Arena (Schimpol; open-air temporary rink) – Women's bandy, Medal plaza

[Banija]

I support this bid! We obviously know Liventia's skills as a capable Olympic host, one that I've witnessed first hand as his junior co-host at an Olympics. I also am in full support of the Qualification provisions, both for realism purposes and a change to expand the host pool.

[Electrum]

Bid acknowledged. The host bids deadline for the XVI Olympic Winter Games will be noon UTC 5 February 2022, a month from now.

[StrayaRoos]

I know I’m inexperienced with the Olympics but just asking What percentage of NOCs that enter will qualify as PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022 has around 50% of the Tokyo 2020 Nations in them or do you have an Target of Qualifications

[Liventia]

I know I’m inexperienced with the Olympics but just asking What percentage of NOCs that enter will qualify as PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022 has around 50% of the Tokyo 2020 Nations in them or do you have an Target of Qualifications

As stated in the bid, every entered delegation will have at least one entrant in each event qualified (excluding team events), even if they do not do so by merit.

Meaning: If you enter (for example) every event (excluding the team events), and do not make the qualifying cut-off at all, your best-performing qualifier in each of those events will still qualify.

No one who enters will be excluded entirely.

[Natanians and Nosts]

Will the qualifiers be region-based as they were in Aeropag (Summer XI)?