Bianjie

[journey]

Bianjian Olympic team greeted at the Piyalciyak Airport as national heroes, after successful second place in the Valruzia 5710 Games
28 June 5710



Twenty-five gold medal winners and history-makers were on the flight into the Piyalciyak Airport today, alongside twenty-four silver and seventeen bronze medalists on the board from the Valruzian capital city, Nowogard, as the Bianjian national Olympic team return triumphant from the Summer Games, finishing second in the medal table, just behind the hosts, Valruzia, themselves. "For a nation of just 13 million people, in the middle of Dovani, this result is a grand surprise, but also it shows that if we are determined, if we are ready, we can achieve anything", said the president of the Bianjie Khanate Olympic Committee (BKOC), Babuhai Jebe. Bianjie's athletes have overcame the teams and Olympians of such big and powerful nations like Dundorf, Luthori, Egelion, and Bianjie's own neighbours, Xsampa, who have finished at the 12th place, out of fourteen participating countries total.

Congratulating the national team were also premier Semken Tan, and Khan Nilhuma. "The determination, skills and the very hard work that the athletes along their supporters have shown throughout these very unique times and Games themselves, have been nothing but a big inspiration to us all, to continue believing, and working hard to achieve the dreams and all the victories we want", said the Khan. Premier Tan, alongside members of her government, held a press conference, congratulating all the Bianjian Olympians at their success, including the announcement that the State Council will be reorganising the current Ministry of Culture, Youth and Tourism into two separate departments: the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, as a new strategy of increased focus towards the sports in the country, following the "increased interest in sports", as a result of the "tremendous success" of the Olympic team.

Among the Bianjie's gold medalists are the nation's swimmers, who managed to grab 9 gold medals out of the 26 possible, just falling by two behind the hosts, who won 11 gold medals in the swimming. "There were just too many emotions at the moment, but now, looking back at it, I think it is just one of happiest minutes in my life", said Hua Kang, who won a golden medal in 100m freestyle swimming race, and set the national record with his finish time. Alongside the swimmers, Bianjie's fencers and gymnasts won the gold medals in the first week of the Games. "Getting that last hit, throwing the helmet, and just screaming, it feels so great, and it feels even greater that I won the medal for myself, for my family, and our country. I showed everyone: Bianije is here to win", said the foil fencing winner Eje Tumot.

In the second week of the Summer Games, Bianjian Olympians were not as succesful, however, they still managed to surprise many with their big victories in the archery, winning 3 out of 5 golden rewards possible, despite the fact that prior to the results, the Vanukean archers were considered the favourites to win. Makata Selje, who was a part of the women's team, that won the medal, coming first ahead of Vanuku, said to the journalists that it is the fact that Bianjie were considered the underdogs of the competition only motivated them more, pushing to the limits, and "practically stealing" the medals up the Vanuku's nose. "But I hope you know it is all jokes and stuff, we befriended Vanukean athletes, and many of them are very nice and good people, and it is all in the spirit of competition", said Selje. Bianjie's male runners also managed to grab two golden medals: Tayiji Giri in the general 100m race, and the national relay team coming out victorious in the 4x100m race. To finish the second week on a high note, the Bianjian Olympians won one of two golden medals in a surprising, and yet somehow so close to heart, mountain biking (cycling), with male team winning gold, and women's team finishing at silver.

For the last week of the Games, Bianjian Olympic team brought another seven golden medals, bringing up a total to 25 golden medals from three weeks of the Olympic Games in Valruzian capital city, Nowogard. Professional tennis players joined the list of gold medalists from Bianije, as the male table tennis squad won their golden medal in a final match against the Narikaton and Darnussia, while Oboi Esuri won Bianije's first gold medal in tennis, against the opponent from Mordusia. "You saw me sweaty, playing for a third hour at this point", Esuri laughed as he told reporters, "but winning against such big professionals, especially like my Mordusian counterpart, is both an honour, and a huge victory and proud moment for me". Football also brought Bianjie a golden medal, with Bianjian men's national team winning the Olympic tournament, with women's team coming in third for a bronze medal. At the same time, volleyball, despite its popularity and following, sadly, did not bring any gold, however, a silver for female team, and bronze for both men and women team in beach volleyball. "We simply have to try better, but the competition was not weak either, but it was a disappointing result for us", said the men's national volleyball team coach, Kai Jikumae. And for the final phase of the third week, and Olympic season as a whole, Bianjian strongmen in weightlifting and wrestling brought the final four gold medals, thus wrapping up the Olympic Games in Valruzia, with Bianjie ending in the second place by both gold medals and total medal number, 25 and 66, respectively.



カトウレブン (Katuebun) is a Bianjian daily sports newspaper, founded in 5453 and published in Gemun