farothel
2023-04-08, 10:49 AM
It's evening, and the Hall of the Ancestors is shining. All the writing, the history of the Hymenocera Expanse, 'written' with bioluminiscent algae, had been painstakingly restored so it gleamed. Extra glisterprisms brought in were used as spots and to split lights in all colours over the outside of the venue. Inside places are getting filled with all people from all nations, while in a special box the VIPs are being treated to all the creature comforts the Hymenocera had to offer. Soldiers in gala uniforms from all the regiments were standing at the entrances, the VIP box and at the entrance where the athletes would go. A larger force was standing by close to the Hall just in case.
A bit after the indicated time (as was usually the case with such big events), the spots suddenly went on a group of musicians next to the Ancestor's items. They launched a fanfare for the start of the Sealympics (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCqUESCoB1w). An applause went through the crowd in the Hall and as it died down, the music started again. A group of scribe-monks of the Uplift order came in the Hall, together with some priests and they started a short ceremony blessing the games. As the music moved to a reprise of the starting fanfare and then the head of the organizing committee came forward.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "your majesty, dear fellow Sealympians. We can only write this new chapter in sporting history, because of our gracious hosts – the Hymenocera people, whom we thank wholeheartedly for welcoming us all so warmly. Thank you, our Hymenocera friends!
A special thanks goes to all the volunteers. You make us feel at home from the very first moment we arrived. Your smiling eyes are warming our hearts. Thank you volunteers.
You have arrived here after overcoming so many challenges, living through great uncertainty. But now your moment has come: the moment you have been longing for – the moment we all have been longing for. Now – your Sealympic dream is coming true – in magnificent venues, supported by millions of sport fans.
You the Sealympic athletes – you will show how the world would look like, if we all respect the same rules and each other. Over the next weeks you will compete with each other for the highest prize. At the same time, you will live peacefully together under one roof in the Sealympic Village. There will be no discrimination for any reason whatsoever.
In our fragile world, where division, conflict and mistrust are on the rise, we show the world: yes, it is possible to be fierce rivals, while at the same time living peacefully and respectfully together. This is the mission of the Sealympic Games: bringing us together in peaceful competition. Always building bridges, never erecting walls. Uniting all peoples in all our diversity.
In this Sealympic spirit of peace, I appeal to all political authorities across the world: observe your commitment to this Sealympic Truce. Give peace a chance.
Dear athletes, we all are standing with you. We all are supporting you. We all are cheering you on.
May this encourage you to go faster, to aim higher, to become stronger – together. In this way you will inspire the world in this Sealympic Year."
An applause went through the Hall and when they were done, High King Deca V stood on the balcony and the spots went to him.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "Welcome in the Hymenocera Expanse for the first Sealympic games. We are very honoured to host the games here and we hope that you will enjoy your stay here. As a nation the Hymenocera Expanse have an abiding passion for sport, as well as a tradition of fair play and a good-natured sense of fun, which we hope we can share with you during your stay here.
In all our national Sealympic teams there is so much of which we can be proud: groups of young men and women dedicated to excellence and achievement across numerous sporting disciplines. And these teams are ably supported by thousands of organisers, volunteers, and supporters who will be following the action not just at the Sealympic venues here in the Hymenocera Expanse but throughout the world.
For all these reasons, I wish you and your countries a successful, enjoyable and memorable Games."
Another applause went up in the Hall. As it died down, another piece of music (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3kNRyh_rj8) started and a group of Hymenocera children from all races living in the Expanse came out of the entrance where later the athletes would come out of. they marched around the Hall carrying the flags of all the participating nations. On the steps of a march they went around the Hall.
Then it was time for the athletes to come on the stage. As organising country, the Hymenocera expanse was to go first. Preceded by three soldiers in gala uniform, one carrying the flag of the nation, the athletes came into the Hall to a giant applause (the majority of the spectators were from the Expanse of course). Then three more soldiers, one carrying the flag of the next country. Besides the Expanse going first, it was decided that the countries would come up alphabetically as a way to avoid any favouritism. Slowly and to big applause they moved through the Hall, waving at the spectators. From the VIP tribunes the King and other dignitaries were looking on.
When all athletes had passed, High King Deca V came once more to the balcony.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "I declare the first Sealympic games Opened."
region: Hym (3)
-Venue write-ups:
*opening and closing ceremony: Both opening and closing ceremony will be held in The ancient's site. This large site with some old Ancient Artefact can house many spectators. A spectacle will be provided with the Ancient artefacts in the background as all delegations march past.
*Training Grounds: the old training grounds of the military will be remoddeled for training. Each delegation will receive sufficient accomodation near the training facility, to be remodeled according to their needs
*Main Stadium. A large facility for the main athletics events. It will still need to be build. Using the hard metals and the branch coral the Expanse has access to to set the sponges that will be the main part of the stadium, it will be an enormous building that can seat between 90 and 100 thousand spectators. The building will also be a work of art with grafts on the sponges made by the best Hymenocera artists. Bioluminous algea will be used to depict landscapes in the Expanse.
*equestrian events. Both a stadium and an outdoor path will be forseen for different equestrian events. The stadium will be on the location of an old cavalry exercise ground and the outdoor path (for the steeplechase-like race for instance) will have many interesting features
*Long distance race. This will take place over existing paths, so nothing much to do there. The race will start at the royal palace and end at the main stadium and run through the city of Cerapolis.
-Attraction write-ups: There are many interesting location in the Expanse that can be visited while you're in the Expanse. Here are a few of those.
*the Ancient's Site. The location of the opening and closing ceremony, it is also a very interesting location to visit beyond those two moments. See the remains of the ancient's artefacts and read the history of the Expanse written on the site of the sponges that surround the site.
*The Royal Palace. During the event, parts of the palace will be accessible for the public. Again, parts of the history of the Expense are written on the outside, but during the event, there will also be a tour inside the palace. This will be a guided tour and has to be pre-arranged as there are only so many tours available. Book early as this will be sold out quickly
*HISAR (Hymenocera Institute of Sponge and Algae Research). While this is a research institute, it also has a very large sponge garden that is well worth visiting. Here samples of all sponges and algea used in the Expanse are visible. There is also a new part where the more toxic environments of Belosa, Lupomata and Raninoida are presented. Not to worry, breathing apparatus are provided where needed, or the sponges are behind glass and visible that way.
-logistics: roads are very good in the Expanse and we will be upgrading them so they can handle the anticipated volumes of traffic. In the stadiums sky boxes will be forseen for distinguished guests, so you can use the opportunity to try and make some deals while you're at the games.
There will be allowences made for those people who have special needs. If you want to send a delegation and need a special food, or come from a region that has certain chemicals in the water which aren't present in Hym, the government of said region can contact our nearest ambassador and we will work with you to make sure that your athletes and specators are able to compete or watch the Games. While we do realise that not everything can be provided for as you are used to things at home, we will do our very best to make sure everybody can join or watch the games.
While the art on the main stadium will be done by Hymenocera artists, we want this to be a really global event and on the other buildings, art from around the world will be shown. Each country can nominate a small number of artists to decorate the various buildings with art of their homeland.
There will be plenty of food and drink as well. We have many things to offer. Between our delicious rockstars, spinecrab, tiny turtles and young Eye Weed shoots, there should be something for everyone. All this salted with some flowersalt or not, as the individual's taste goes. We will also see with our main trading partners on importing extra goods during the games and we will be sending teams into the contaminated region 33 to hunt for Abalone meat.
The medals will be made out of metal with a crystal inset, the colour of the crystal depending on place.
Communications will be provided through the Hymenocera Network, with extra towers build near the stadiums and other venues. Specific lines will be set aside for journalists.
-safety: next to the police forces, regiments of the army will also be used to make sure the games are secure. Our intelligence service will also work day and night to ensure that treats are identified before they become a problem. We will also use a group of volunteer stewards to guide people around in the stadiums and to try to offer solutions to small problems that will always arise when large crowds gather before the police or the military will have to be involved.
Poison will not be tolerated at the games, unless you can prove that you need it for your survival and then only in special locations. Most of these will be covered in the agreements with the various governments prior to the Games. Weapons will also not be allowed in the stadiums and other venues.
The Hymenocera army is quite large and will be ready to repel all invading forces. But while the Hymenocera are maybe not good friends with all other nations, they are certainly not the enemy of anybody. With some there is simply not much contact, something these Games can also change.
-funding: as a merchant nation, we have sufficient funding to make sure that everything can be build on time. We also expect a huge influx of capital during these games. We are thinking to join the Polar-Confederate International Bank so that members of this group can use their currency as they would at home.
A bit after the indicated time (as was usually the case with such big events), the spots suddenly went on a group of musicians next to the Ancestor's items. They launched a fanfare for the start of the Sealympics (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCqUESCoB1w). An applause went through the crowd in the Hall and as it died down, the music started again. A group of scribe-monks of the Uplift order came in the Hall, together with some priests and they started a short ceremony blessing the games. As the music moved to a reprise of the starting fanfare and then the head of the organizing committee came forward.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "your majesty, dear fellow Sealympians. We can only write this new chapter in sporting history, because of our gracious hosts – the Hymenocera people, whom we thank wholeheartedly for welcoming us all so warmly. Thank you, our Hymenocera friends!
A special thanks goes to all the volunteers. You make us feel at home from the very first moment we arrived. Your smiling eyes are warming our hearts. Thank you volunteers.
You have arrived here after overcoming so many challenges, living through great uncertainty. But now your moment has come: the moment you have been longing for – the moment we all have been longing for. Now – your Sealympic dream is coming true – in magnificent venues, supported by millions of sport fans.
You the Sealympic athletes – you will show how the world would look like, if we all respect the same rules and each other. Over the next weeks you will compete with each other for the highest prize. At the same time, you will live peacefully together under one roof in the Sealympic Village. There will be no discrimination for any reason whatsoever.
In our fragile world, where division, conflict and mistrust are on the rise, we show the world: yes, it is possible to be fierce rivals, while at the same time living peacefully and respectfully together. This is the mission of the Sealympic Games: bringing us together in peaceful competition. Always building bridges, never erecting walls. Uniting all peoples in all our diversity.
In this Sealympic spirit of peace, I appeal to all political authorities across the world: observe your commitment to this Sealympic Truce. Give peace a chance.
Dear athletes, we all are standing with you. We all are supporting you. We all are cheering you on.
May this encourage you to go faster, to aim higher, to become stronger – together. In this way you will inspire the world in this Sealympic Year."
An applause went through the Hall and when they were done, High King Deca V stood on the balcony and the spots went to him.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "Welcome in the Hymenocera Expanse for the first Sealympic games. We are very honoured to host the games here and we hope that you will enjoy your stay here. As a nation the Hymenocera Expanse have an abiding passion for sport, as well as a tradition of fair play and a good-natured sense of fun, which we hope we can share with you during your stay here.
In all our national Sealympic teams there is so much of which we can be proud: groups of young men and women dedicated to excellence and achievement across numerous sporting disciplines. And these teams are ably supported by thousands of organisers, volunteers, and supporters who will be following the action not just at the Sealympic venues here in the Hymenocera Expanse but throughout the world.
For all these reasons, I wish you and your countries a successful, enjoyable and memorable Games."
Another applause went up in the Hall. As it died down, another piece of music (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3kNRyh_rj8) started and a group of Hymenocera children from all races living in the Expanse came out of the entrance where later the athletes would come out of. they marched around the Hall carrying the flags of all the participating nations. On the steps of a march they went around the Hall.
Then it was time for the athletes to come on the stage. As organising country, the Hymenocera expanse was to go first. Preceded by three soldiers in gala uniform, one carrying the flag of the nation, the athletes came into the Hall to a giant applause (the majority of the spectators were from the Expanse of course). Then three more soldiers, one carrying the flag of the next country. Besides the Expanse going first, it was decided that the countries would come up alphabetically as a way to avoid any favouritism. Slowly and to big applause they moved through the Hall, waving at the spectators. From the VIP tribunes the King and other dignitaries were looking on.
When all athletes had passed, High King Deca V came once more to the balcony.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "I declare the first Sealympic games Opened."
region: Hym (3)
-Venue write-ups:
*opening and closing ceremony: Both opening and closing ceremony will be held in The ancient's site. This large site with some old Ancient Artefact can house many spectators. A spectacle will be provided with the Ancient artefacts in the background as all delegations march past.
*Training Grounds: the old training grounds of the military will be remoddeled for training. Each delegation will receive sufficient accomodation near the training facility, to be remodeled according to their needs
*Main Stadium. A large facility for the main athletics events. It will still need to be build. Using the hard metals and the branch coral the Expanse has access to to set the sponges that will be the main part of the stadium, it will be an enormous building that can seat between 90 and 100 thousand spectators. The building will also be a work of art with grafts on the sponges made by the best Hymenocera artists. Bioluminous algea will be used to depict landscapes in the Expanse.
*equestrian events. Both a stadium and an outdoor path will be forseen for different equestrian events. The stadium will be on the location of an old cavalry exercise ground and the outdoor path (for the steeplechase-like race for instance) will have many interesting features
*Long distance race. This will take place over existing paths, so nothing much to do there. The race will start at the royal palace and end at the main stadium and run through the city of Cerapolis.
-Attraction write-ups: There are many interesting location in the Expanse that can be visited while you're in the Expanse. Here are a few of those.
*the Ancient's Site. The location of the opening and closing ceremony, it is also a very interesting location to visit beyond those two moments. See the remains of the ancient's artefacts and read the history of the Expanse written on the site of the sponges that surround the site.
*The Royal Palace. During the event, parts of the palace will be accessible for the public. Again, parts of the history of the Expense are written on the outside, but during the event, there will also be a tour inside the palace. This will be a guided tour and has to be pre-arranged as there are only so many tours available. Book early as this will be sold out quickly
*HISAR (Hymenocera Institute of Sponge and Algae Research). While this is a research institute, it also has a very large sponge garden that is well worth visiting. Here samples of all sponges and algea used in the Expanse are visible. There is also a new part where the more toxic environments of Belosa, Lupomata and Raninoida are presented. Not to worry, breathing apparatus are provided where needed, or the sponges are behind glass and visible that way.
-logistics: roads are very good in the Expanse and we will be upgrading them so they can handle the anticipated volumes of traffic. In the stadiums sky boxes will be forseen for distinguished guests, so you can use the opportunity to try and make some deals while you're at the games.
There will be allowences made for those people who have special needs. If you want to send a delegation and need a special food, or come from a region that has certain chemicals in the water which aren't present in Hym, the government of said region can contact our nearest ambassador and we will work with you to make sure that your athletes and specators are able to compete or watch the Games. While we do realise that not everything can be provided for as you are used to things at home, we will do our very best to make sure everybody can join or watch the games.
While the art on the main stadium will be done by Hymenocera artists, we want this to be a really global event and on the other buildings, art from around the world will be shown. Each country can nominate a small number of artists to decorate the various buildings with art of their homeland.
There will be plenty of food and drink as well. We have many things to offer. Between our delicious rockstars, spinecrab, tiny turtles and young Eye Weed shoots, there should be something for everyone. All this salted with some flowersalt or not, as the individual's taste goes. We will also see with our main trading partners on importing extra goods during the games and we will be sending teams into the contaminated region 33 to hunt for Abalone meat.
The medals will be made out of metal with a crystal inset, the colour of the crystal depending on place.
Communications will be provided through the Hymenocera Network, with extra towers build near the stadiums and other venues. Specific lines will be set aside for journalists.
-safety: next to the police forces, regiments of the army will also be used to make sure the games are secure. Our intelligence service will also work day and night to ensure that treats are identified before they become a problem. We will also use a group of volunteer stewards to guide people around in the stadiums and to try to offer solutions to small problems that will always arise when large crowds gather before the police or the military will have to be involved.
Poison will not be tolerated at the games, unless you can prove that you need it for your survival and then only in special locations. Most of these will be covered in the agreements with the various governments prior to the Games. Weapons will also not be allowed in the stadiums and other venues.
The Hymenocera army is quite large and will be ready to repel all invading forces. But while the Hymenocera are maybe not good friends with all other nations, they are certainly not the enemy of anybody. With some there is simply not much contact, something these Games can also change.
-funding: as a merchant nation, we have sufficient funding to make sure that everything can be build on time. We also expect a huge influx of capital during these games. We are thinking to join the Polar-Confederate International Bank so that members of this group can use their currency as they would at home.