Valruzia

[Aethan]

Let the 5710 Terran Olympics begin!

The most eagerly awaited sporting event kicks off with the parade of national delegations in the capital of Valruzia; the country is ready for the influx of millions of visitors.

June 5710

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After a long wait and years of preparation, Valruzia has officially welcomed millions of tourists, fans, and visitors accompanying their countries' delegations competing in these Olympics, or from other non-participating countries who simply come to enjoy Terra's sporting elite.

In Nowogard, the nation's capital, the atmosphere had been electric since the day before, with workers and security forces rushing around, checking every last detail to ensure that everything would go perfectly.

And finally, the big day arrived. The streets of Nowogard, decorated with the logo of these Olympics and the slogan "One Terra, One Spirit, One Game", were filled with lights, flashes, colors, and above all, the hustle and bustle of people traveling from one end of the city to the other, visiting venues, museums, facilities and historical sites, killing time until the time for the climax: the starting gun for these Terran Summer Olympics.

Even among locals, people were surprised by the large influx of visitors. The vast majority of hotels in Nowogard – but also in Szary Kamien and Gryfitów, the other two host cities – have hung up the "no vacancy" sign, and thanks to anti-inflation measures, accommodation prices have remained moderately affordable for the vast majority of visitors.

"The city is completely crowded" says Urszula Konizcky, 65. "It's been a long time since I've heard so many different languages at once!" says Józef Gluzc, a 34-years old hotel receptionist.

As the time draw close, and prior to the official start of the opening ceremony, each quarter of an hour drawing to the ceremony the skies of Nowogard lighted up with a drone spectacle showcasing the flag of each nation competing in the games: DING, Amudim; DING, Bianjie; DING, Dundorf; DING, Egelion; DING, Jelbe; DING, Kalistan; DING, Kundrati; DING, Luthori; DING, Mordusia; DING, Narikaton & Darnussia; DING, Trigunia; DING, Vanuku; DING, Xsampa; and finally, just fifteen minutes before the doors of the Nowogard Monumental Stadium opened: DING, the Valruzian flag over the night sky.

Józef Nowik, Mayor of Nowogard, had already announced that, in anticipation to what may happen, the frequency of underground services and buses would be doubled, and the measure proved to be necessary as thousands of people started to come in huge amounts to take the public services in order to reach the stadium in time.

As the ceremony started, the group ATOM—which will represent Valruzia at the upcoming FOMAT—was in charge of entertaining the audience during the first few minutes. After their performance, the flag parade began, with all participating athletes grouped by the country they represented marching toward the stadium, proudly carrying their national emblem. As they entered the main entrance to the stadium, spotlights projected the flag into the sky.

Following the parade, the stadium floor was transformed into a living tapestry of Valruzian heritage. Hundreds of local performers, dressed in the traditional attire of the five Valruzian Voivodeships executed a massive choreography that mixed the national ancestral folklore with contemporary electronic beats, bringing everyone to dance to the rhythm. The dancers' acrobatic leaps, synchronized with laser projections on the stadium turf, represented the flowing rivers of Valruzia, symbolizing the union of all peoples through sport "as if they were all water", while also symbolizing Valruzia's own union with the water element.

The atmosphere reached a fever pitch when a thousand-voice children's choir from Nowogard performed the "Hymn of Concord" while giant kinetic sculptures representing the native fauna of the Voivodeships – mountain goats, Konik horses, Valruzian bears and eagles, Valruzia mooses and buffalos – paraded around the track amidst cold pyrotechnic effects, all before making way for the official protocols.

As a grand finale, with all delegations now present in the stadium, the newly re-elected chancellor Judyta Kram gave the official welcome speech, celebrating "diversity" and "collaboration between peoples" in a "civic and sporting" manner.

To conclude the opening ceremony, paraplegic athlete Tomasz Kawic lit the Olympic flame at the top of the stadium by shooting a flaming arrow, which spectacularly ignited the cauldron and captured everyone's attention.

And just like that, the 5710 Terran Olympics Games are officially ON! This is the calendar for the Games:

• Week 1: Swimming, Fencing, Canoeing, Rowing, Gymnastics, Sport climbing, Triathlon, Judo and Taekwondo
  

• Week 2: Diving, Artistic & Marathon swimming, Archery, Athletics, Boxing, Cycling, Surfing
  

• Week 3: Waterpolo (finals), Badminton (finals), Table tennis, Basketball (finals), Football (finals), Handball, Volleyball, Beach volleyball, Field hockey (finals), Rugby sevens (finals), Tennis (finals), Weightlifting, Wrestling, Pentathlon
  

Tell us, which sports are you most eager to see?