NationStates Jolt Archive

Sithin, People’s Republic of Spyr

The Wang Jine Memorial Stadium in Sithin had seen much activity in recent weeks: its occasional political rallies or mass physical excercises replaced by a series of synchronised gymnastic, dance, and drill performances organised to strengthen comradeship and unity in the face of looming foreign shadows. Slogan banners and ensign of the four Strainist states still flew, interspersed with the red flag of the Revolution. At a podium outside, recently appointed chair of the Strainist Party’s Policy Committee, Sudono Gemaputra, stood ready to speak for a scheduled international press conference.

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“Our modern world is a frightening place… hulking belligerents turn and seek to swallow their smaller neighbours in orgies of violence and bloodshed… individuals find themselves and their labour reduced from personal value to the inhuman status of the commodity form… peace and personal development are now rarities indeed.

Yet, in recent weeks, the nations united in Strainist ideology have come together to re-affirm our commitment to the beauty and freedom inherent in a human position above the mere status of commodity. We have joined to share our achievements in athletics, in art, and in performance, and in doing so we have experienced anew the comradeship of the human bond and the joy inherent in our development as individuals and as a culture.

It is in the glow of this experience that we extend our hands to the rest of the world, to our brothers and sisters in the grand human community… join with us in a continued celebration of or infinite capacity for achievement.

Since ancient times, games and sport have served an important role. The annual cuju tournaments of Chinese emperor Zhao Ji, the Mongol running marathon from Dadu to Shangdu, the Apple Blossom temple of Spyr’s August Era… all these are examples, amongst numerous others, of the human quest to reach new heights of skill and achievement, to surpass their own perceived limits and move beyond.

The ancient games of Greece, the Olympics, served another role… they were a time when war between petty states was brought to an end, where conflict was channelled and released through non-violent competition. Where it was one’s drive and determination, not one’s arsenal of atomic weapons, which determined the victor in each competition.

It is the intent of the People within the confederation of Strainist states to see these two roles returned to the forefront in a new paradigm of international relations and individual achievement, one where regional and national competitions in a variety of different activities can be united through one international body, bringing them to their rightful place as activities for personal development and peace between nations. To this end, we have founded the International Competition Committee, and invite the nations of the world to join us in building a framework within which international sport and competition can take place. It is our hope that these efforts will culminate not only in the widespread unification of leagues and tournaments into the international sphere, but in a large-scale World Games event to celebrate the sure success of this endeavour.

Let all people’s of the world join together now to share in each other’s triumphs and achievements.”

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Though some more pessimistic observers might have predicted continued condemnation of the Holy League and its Russian ally over their East European invasion, invitations are extended without regard to political dispute... the list of invites does, however, include the governments-in-exile of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

[OOC: Out-of-Character discussion on this and AMW sports RP in general, is ongoing on the AMW Invision forum (http://s9.invisionfree.com/NS_Modern_World/index.php)].

ICC Members

Strainist Bloc [StB.] (PR Spyr, PR Sujava)
Hindustan [Hindu.]
Roycelandia [Royce.]
Russia [Russ.]
Beth Gellert
African Commonwealth [AC.]
Hudecia [Hud.]
United Elias
Strathdonia [Strath.]
Japan [Nppn.]
Ottoman Empire [OE.]
Neo-Anarchos [NA.]
SADR [WS.]
Baltic States [L.L.E.]

[u][b]ICC Official Policies
Amateur Athletics.
Gender-divided Events.
Performance-Enhancing Drug Testing.

Proposed Policies
Performance-Enhancing Equipment Limitation.

ICC Official Sports
Men's Cricket
Women's Cricket
Men's Soccer/Football
Women's Soccer/Football
Men's Football ('American')
Women's Football ('American')
Men's Hockey
Women's Hockey
Men's Lacrosse
Women's Lacrosse
Men's Golf
Women's Golf
Men's Tennis
Women's Tennis
Men's Badminton
Women's Badminton
Men's Table-Tennis (ping-pong)
Women's Table-Tennis
Men's 100m Dash
Women's 100m Dash
Men's 5000m Run (25 laps)
Women's 5000m Run
Men's 45000m Marathon Run
Women's 45000m Marathon Run
Men's Individual Hurdles
Women's Individual Hurdles
Men's Team Hurdles
Women's Team Hurdles
Men's 100m Freestyle Swimming
Women's 100m Freestyle Swimming
Men's 1500m Freestyle Swimming
Women's 1500m Freestyle Swimming
Men's Freestyle Relay Swimming
Women's Freestyle Relay Swimming
Men's Artistic Gymnastics
Women's Artistic Gymnastics
Men's Rhythmic Gymnastics
Women's Rhythmic Gymnastics
Men's Synchronized Gymnastics
Women's Synchronized Gymnastics
Men's Martial Arts Combat (Cage match. No weapons, no small joint manipulation)
Women's Martial Arts Combat
Men's Fencing (sabre rules)
Women's Fencing
Men's Spear Throwing
Women's Spear Throwing
Men's Relay Running
Women's Relay Running
Men's Target Shooting
Women's Target Shooting
Men's Clay pigeon Shooting
Women's Clay pigeon Shooting
Men's Distance Cycling
Women's Distance Cycling
Men's Horse Racing
Women's Horse Racing
Men's Horse Jumping
Women's Horse Jumping
Men's Horse Polo
Women's Horse Polo
Men's Camel Racing
Women's Camel Racing
Men's Camel Polo
Women's Camel Polo
Men's Rally Motosrsports
Women's Rally Motosrsports
Men's Off-Road Motorsports
Women's Off-Road Motorsports
Men's Long-distance Rowing
Women's Long-distance Rowing
Men's Sailing
Women's Sailing
Men's Yachting
Women's Yachting
Men's Competition Aerobatics
Women's Competition Aerobatics
Men's Formation Skydiving
Women's Formation Skydiving
Men's Rock Climbing
Women's Rock Climbing

Proposed Sports
Gliding [Hindu.]
Dodgeball (Extreme rules) [Hindu.]
Paintball Wargaming [Russ.]
Alcohol Drinking Contest [Russ.NA.] [StB.]
Grand Touring car racing
Team Fireworks [StB.]
Diving [StB.]
Synchronized Swimming [StB.]
Archery [StB.]
Horse-mounted Archery [StB.]
Horse-mounted Shooting [StB.]
Skiing [Nppn.]

[u]Host (1st World Games)

Sithin (People's Republic of Spyr)

Host Bids (2nd World Games)

While the, "visiting" likes of Hotan had put-in increasingly frequent trips to the Wang Jine Memorial Stadium to applaud the preservation of displays almost as if by design staged to remind them of home and of the Mass Games, Da'Khiem remained in abject silence following the announcement delivered by Sudono Gemaputra.

[/tag]

Mumbai quickly elects to join the International Competition Comittee, and delegates to it are eagerly searched out.

The most likely candidate to the comittee looks like Vikram Kumar Singh, a top amateur cricketer who reportedly approached A.E.J. Collins' record of runs scored not out, and farmer from Andhra Pradesh.

Parliament gives its full support for any prospective international games, and several air carriers have already started to plan routes from Mumbai international airport into Spyr.

His Imperial Majesty Emperor Royce I was had spent a thoroughly productive morning sifting through the "In" tray on his desk. He'd signed off on some expenses, given the Imperial Assent to some laws from Roycelandian Vanuatu and the Cape Verde Islands, agreed to fund a new base in Antarctica, granted an Imperial Pardon to three people convicted of crimes on technicalities or in circumstances where they really didn't deserve to be punished, and was now looking at the Memo fron the Foreign Office about the new International Competition Committee being formed in Spyr.

Roycelandia was not known as a Sports-orientated Nation.
Indeed, it was illegal to televise or broadcast sports on any channel except the Satellite TV Channel SportOne, team sports such as Rugby and Soccer were actively discouraged for encouraging "scumminess", and the "Sports" section of most newspapers was confined to a weekly round-up in the Weekend Edition of the larger circulation papers, such as the Port Royal Times, the Port Imperial Telegraph, and the Empire Herald.

However, there were six sports that the Roycelandian Empire could field international teams in:

Shooting (The Imperial Service Rifle team were amongst the world's best)
Cricket (a very popular game in Roycelandia, seen as a "Gentleman's Game")
Equestrian events (including, notably, Camel Racing)
Yachting and Boating (Roycelandia, being a largely Tropical place, had a lot of sailing and boating enthusiasts, and Jet Boat Racing was very popular)
Polo (including a version played in REA and Southern Algeria using Camels instead of Horses!)
Motorsports (Especially Rally and Off-Road Driving, and the internationally acclaimed Khartoum Sprint Championships, amongst others).

His Majesty typed up a letter to the ICC, accepting their invitation to join and offering whatever assitance they could to ensuring that the International Games would be a success, before the letter was signed by His Majesty and despatched by Diplomatic Courier to Spyr forthwith.

Meanwhile, Imperial Airways and Air Roycelandia are vying for the contract to fly the teams and legions of fans to Spyr for the upcoming games...

"The key issues before the ICC upon its inception would appear to be the following:

The first is a determination of just what sports and activities ought to constitute the roposed World Games.

The second is a decision on the restrictions which ought be placed on who can compete, and what measures are permitted for an athelete to enhance their performance through nonstandard or technological means.

And finally, proposal bids must be reviewed to select a suitable host for the first Word Games, and to work out issues of timing and funding so that the Games might proceed."

There is strong support in Hindustan for an all-amateur international games, perhaps because there isn't much in the way of proffessional sports teams, but if things look in favor of such V. K. Singh would most likely go along.

Hindustan itself doesn't submit a bid for a host city, as most sports arenas in the country are significantly too small for such a large competition, and would not at all be opposed to a location in Lyong. V.K. Singh is expected to deliver Hindustan's register of desired sports, which includes, among others, Cricket, Football, competition aerobatics, formation skydiving, long-distance rowing, sailing, gliding/soaring, and extreme dodgeball.

A grant of several tens of millions of dollars is also sent to the ICC.

The Russian government is overjoyed at the proposal, and looks to improve foreign relations by participating fully. However, the proposal for only amateur participants is troubling, as most of Russia's best sports stars are highly paid professionals. A few of them have been convinced to take a pay cut in order to boost their popularity and due to patriotism, but the Divine Russian Empire has filed a formal complaint regarding the restrictions.

"It is simply discrimination against capitalist states. Here, if you are a great athlete, you can expect to be paid a salary worthy of your achievments. And for that, we are punished."---Russian State Department

Russians will take part in most major sports, but they have suggested several of their own:

Free For All Cage Match---A brutal, one-on-one duel to unconsciousness or surrender.
Mock War---In order to relieve the normal aggression of humanity, instead of having them fight actual wars, sides act out large scale battles with paintball weaponry.
Drinking Contest---The rules are simple. Each contestant must consume as much alcohol as possible within a certain time limit.

A suggestion for the opening ceremonies includes a dancing disco duet of President Putin and Emperor Royce.

The Igovian Soviet Commonwealth has seen fairly widespread interest in the Strainist initiative as relaxed individuals talk-off hangovers, sprawled around a cricket green; or chatter excitedly while volunteers clean-up broken chariot and body parts around a dusty track before the next race.

However, since Beddgelens don't take sports with an official sort of seriousness, a good many of those competing before them on a day to day basis are deeply intoxicated by one drug or several. The Commonwealth's positive response to the ICC masks probable difficulties ahead.

Igovians laugh at the Russian Empire in its personified and offended form. While Beddgelen atheletes are also contributing members of society, the Russian Empire feels national pain at the prospect of the exclusion of its glorified leeches, as if it has no useful individuals who also play sports. Perhaps, some say, the Russian working man or woman is in too pitiful a condition for his or her devine masters to allow the world a glimpse.

Word from Kinshasa has it that the African Commonwealth appreciates the idea, and would like to contend - Donna Mzilikase of the foreign attaché would appreciate a seat. Analysts speculate that this is as much genuine interest as a ploy to distract Commonwealthers from increasing tension in Angola and Cabinda.

Considering that hunting probably isn't a sport as such, the Commonwealth has several standing teams:

Soccer - squaring off decently against good teams such as Denmark and Argentina, the African Commonwealth has several good football clubs from which it draws members.

African Football - a deliberate pun, American Football also enjoys some popularity, and a national team is being put together for the event.

Martial Arts - While ACA troops are trained in Krav Maga and AMOK! among other systems, individual interesting in MMA competition is also high. It is suggested by the African Commonwealth Mixed Martial Arts Association that the "cage match" will be a regular octagonal cage MMA fight, with the same rules - That is, combat to tap out or knock out. No weapons, no small joint manipulation.

Spear Throwing - An ancient, traditional African art has now evolved into a professional sport. The AC 'Impi warriors' spear throwing team has a row of stars and many won tournaments behind them. Although the team uses traditional weighted wood and steel spears as standard, they are also proficient with the long aluminium spears employed in modern competition.

Hudecia reacts slowly to news of the creation of a 'world games' but despite the bureaucratic nature of the Hudecian government a reply is sent within a few days.

A brief list of introductory events include fencing, rowing and sailing events; individual and team, hurdles; both sprint and distance, and other standard track events. Particular emphasis is placed on hockey and lacrosse (being the two most favoured Hudecian pastimes) and the group is urged to accept them.

Hudecia recommends that the first world games be held in Spyr, should the nation wish it, since the government of Spyr was the first to offer the idea.

"We support the Hindustani proposal of an amateur games... a 'professional' athelete and his productive energies have been reduced to the status of mere commodity... dehumanized and removed from all inherent values. The spirit of international competition ought not be the spirit of commodity excange, but the spirit of personal development.

For the committee to determine what policies to adopt, we ought take a democratic approach... a majority approval. For sporting events, a less strenuous process ought to fit well: in the spirit of competition, should two members feel an event is suited for the Games, and should none object to it, it ought be included.

We would suggest inclusion of track events such as the short dash, distance running marathon, and perhaps a middling entry of some 5,000 metre running. Distance Cycling and both competitive and synchronized gymnastics are events close to us, and many of our citizens enjoy the diversion provided by such pursuits as soccer-football, badminton, and table-tennis, and are thus eager to see those events included.

The proposal for a 'drinking contest', however, disturbs us... alcohol is a poison, after all, so why not a turpentine-guzzling contest? Or an Ebola last-man-standing marathon? The goal of these games ought not to be the demise r liver failure of its atheletes."

-------

The Spyran capital of Sithin puts forward a bid to host the first World Games. The city has a variety of stadiums, which could easily be readied for most sporting events, and a nearby river which could host rowing events. Transportation and guest accomodation infrastructure are well-maintained, with capacity to accomodate increased traffic without substantial upgrades.

Difficulties with Spyr's bid can be noticed, however... there are shortages of larger spaces available for rental, making it difficult for foreign media to coordiate on-site live coverage, and denying visiting ateletes in many sports the opportunity for environmental adjustment training before the Games. A final problem can be seen with sailing events... Sithin is not a coastal city, and the site for larger boating expeditions has been set on an artificial lake (the result of hydroelectric damming) some nintey kilometres away from the main stadiums and accomodations. Equestrian events have yet to be dealt with, as animal housing would require space outside the urban area... discussions are ongoing with the surrounding village collectives.

The Honourable Mahmud Farhad Othman, Minister of Culture for the Federal Dictatorship of United Elias, had finally found something that would bring his rather sidelined portfolio to the international stage.

Despite the regime's opposition of Strainism, in the interests of sportmanship these differences could be overlooked. Taking a similar view of sport as Roycelandia, it would seem UE would that there were many events the two nations would be perhaps the only competitors in:

As well as applying for membership of the ICC, the following events are also highlighted as ones where UE citizens would be willing to partake:

Cricket
Sailing/motor yachting
Shooting
Camel Racing, Polo, Camel Polo (these being the main competitive sports of UE, we definately would be the favourites)
Rally and Off-Road Motorsports
Competition Aerobatics
Formation Skydiving
'American' Football
Fencing
Badminton

We would also like to propose the following additional events:

Clay pigeon shooting (as opposed to just rifle target shooting)
Grand Touring car racing
Tennis
Golf

UE also feels that it should be considered as the host for all equestrian and camel based sports due to the excellent facilities that exist with the nation, unless the ICC decides that all events should take place in one host nation.

The Prospect of International sporting events has generated a fair bit of interest and excitment within Strathdonia and the Gvenrment have little option but to petition for membership of ICC.

As for the events that Strathdonian competitors might be found the list is long in terms of people who like to take part but as for events where someone of international standard the list is drastically shortened.
Despit this it is proposed that the Strathdonian Sports And education ministry (SEM) under the working title of Team Strathdonia should be able to feild full teams for most shooting, equestrian (non camel) and general track and feild events, a few more or less accomplished individuals have expressed an interest in representing the country in Football, rowing and oddly enough aerobatics...

Now All the SEM needs to do is find some one to sponser them and persade Air Strathdonia to transport them...

Ever eager to reintegrate into the international community, the Empire of Japan formally announces its membership petition for the ICC amidst an air of optimism and excitement.

The Japanese government appoints a 'Sports Tsar' to oversee Japanese sporting development and funnel efforts into events that the Empire has a chance of winning. It is predicted that Japanese citizens will be able to participate in the following sports:

Martial Arts Combat
Fencing
Ping-Pong
Competitive Gymnastics
Synchronized Gymnastics
Equestrian events
Soccer/Football

It is also asked if there is any possibility for the inclusion of winter sports, such as ski-jumping and skating.

The Ottoman Empire, ever interested in pretending to be a major world power will be interested in joining the ICC with much pomp and fanfare (due to the fact that nothing occurs in Ankara without pomp and fanfare, the obvious problem with an Ottoman style bureaucracy.)

They will field teams in the following events:

Cricket
Soccer/Football
Gymnastics (all kinds)
Standard Track and Field Events, including relays
Equestrian Events (where the Ottomans have a certain prestige, being almost statically locked in the old days of Ottoman power. Since they do practice with horses very often, they will probably do well, if they do participate)
Sailing (see above to learn more)
Fencing (see above)
Rock Climbing (in that much of the Empire is mountainous)

The Ottomans may also be interested in joint hosting bid with another nation.

OOC:I haven't been very active in AMW, so partly hosting an event like this might be the least I could do.

Vikram Kumar Singh is sure to say that, as things now stand, Hindustan can field teams in all the running events and Long Distance Cycling, with a national table tennis team being cobbled together from the very many gifted Hindustani table tennis players.

Hindustan also supports Spyr's bid for host city.

With the field of athletics being widely popular in the tribal areas of the commonwealth, AC also wishes to field teams for all types of dashes, cap-walk, jumping and the like.

The Neo-Anarchan sport collectives rejoiced, well, collectively; and immediately the foreign councils of the nation requested ICC membership.
Non-lethal competition is considered the hope for a better future in the Anarchan counties, and sports teams are enthusiastically being assembled even in sports which Anarchos does not normally indulge in(camels are being imported aplenty!).

However, favorites include:

Athletics and dashing: Many good runners come from Colombia and Ecuador - although not elite, they get the job done.

Bicycling: With motor vehicles viewed with extreme distaste, most people build or scrounge cycles they ride with impressive skill in the anarchist federation. Many speed-riders terrorize the Anarchan highways; and the yearly "Bike Wars" in which contestants build armoured tanks using only discarded bike parts and ram one another till only one remains standing is quite the spectacle.

Martial arts: Many kinds of boxing, chinese martial arts and wrestling arts(like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) are encouraged in the federation; and several quite proficient cross-training fighters are getting ready for the competition.

Soccer: After the revolution, hooliganism and scumminess abounds! Anarchan citizens have even pooled their dollars together to buy players from Argentina and Brazil in their fervour. Team discipline is still poor, but the team is fired up by popular expectation.

Shooting: The People's Army Special Forces divisions are likely barred from entering, but the amateur infantry shooting team remains one of the continents finest(save of course the Roycelandians).

Drinking bout: Home brewing and distilling remains a popular sport all over Neo-Anarchos, and many fine brews never seen before(and some that should probably never have been) originate from the country.

Golf: The People's Golfing Association are a curious half protesting league/half sports club that invade rich people's country clubs during international demonstrations and protests and play their greens to hell! A rather unruly bunch(they have their own fan club of golf hooligans!), they expect to give other nations a run for their money. Well, that or they get disqualified.

"Perhaps, as an additional competitive event, we ought to use the skies above the Games as a tableau, to celebrate the ancient art of the fireworks display. Such a competition, spread out over the course of the Games to fill evenings when darkness calls other atheletes away from their endeavours, would surely be a delight for those who have travelled to observe the Games.

As for professional atheletes, a compromise may be reached... certainly those who seek to develop themselves through the labours of the soldier, of the sailor, of the farmer, ought not be excluded. They are not professionals of athletics, even commodified their prowess can be seen as a personal endeavour which complements their chosen vocation. These are amateur atheletes... though certainly the idea of public servants being conscripted into participation defies the ideals of these Games.

As for the athelete who sells his sportsmanship on the commodity market... it can be hoped that he too can grasp the concept of human development outside market values... perhaps if he were to remove the commodity of his skill from the market for a period before the Games, he too could be considered to have true motives."

OOC: BTW Spyr, you can put horse polo on the official list, that was one of the sports we wanted to enter for.

The Russian government has managed to convince several of our top athletes to remove themselves from the commercial market. This was mainly achieved by promises of sky high popularity and thus a boon in advertising following the Olympics.

The Spyrian rhetoric of "commodities" is viewn as absurd. Some people are simply excellent athletes, and thus are paid accordingly. How does this make them a "commodity"? Would a skilled politician be a "commodity"? Would a veteran sailor be a "commodity"?

The Divine Russian Empire has produced at least one participant for each event. Obviously, most Russians expect that in many events they shall be crushed easily (especially cricket!), but effort is what counts. (Along with advertising contracts! ;) ) If they have not already been proposed, the Russian people (through their yearly referendum) have suggested swimming and running events as well.

A Hudecian soccer team as well as a football team were assembled although Hudecia didn't excell at those sports.

Additionally, Hudecians were found to compete in target shooting, table tennis and cycling (should it become an event). Although for some events, finding competitors from Hudecia would be a challenge, such as fireworks displays, camel racing and clay shooting.

[OOC: You might be surprised... Top three fireworks competitors in RL are China, Sweden, and Canada ^_^]

OOC: REALLY?! Wow... I guess I assumed from my experiences in Japan and from the word of my friends from China and Korea that Canadian fireworks displays were second rate...hmmm.. no problem though. Hudecia is culture-less so it doesn't matter =D

*BUMP*

(OOC details continue to be examined/worked out here (http://s9.invisionfree.com/NS_Modern_World/index.php?showtopic=131&st=15&#entry783792) on Invision).

"As efforts to form these World Games proceed, we must look at the administrative aspects of the ICC. It would be most helpful for member nations to form lists of possible judges and referees who can be trusted to discharge their duties in a just and fair manner.

While a number of Spyran scientists have been recruited to assist in the identification of performance-enhancing drug use, addition of other scientists would help assure fairness and internationalism to this effort as well. Many thanks go out to the people of Hindustan, whose monetary grant to the ICC is being used, in part, to acquire the specialized lab equipment neccesary to the task of purging illicit substances from the Games."

"There are several issues which we ought to examine, in addition to those already on the table."

"Perhaps most important, the issue of gender. Some leagues or teams divide their atheletes into male and female competitors. It is sometimes said that women are disadvantaged against men due to the natural tendency of the male to posess greater physical prowess, or perhaps more accurately, the tendency of pre-modern societies and some modern ones to be heavily patriarchal, and restrict female access to physical training and sport readiness, which has rendered the female athletics pool far more dry than its male equivalent. Those who hold such points true advocate divided gender events to grant opportunities to women as a disadvantaged sex, which circumstances beyond their control would otherwise deny them.

Others have said that gender divisions demean the athletic achievements of both sexes... that two seperate categories create two champions, niether of which has truly proved themselves fully against all competitors. Only a unified, single event for all competitors can do justice to the efforts of each athelete and allow a true victor to be determined.

These two sides reflect the long historical debate of the philosopher... what reigns supreme, the subjective or the objective? It may be a heated discussion, but we must decide how the issue of gender division shall be approached by the ICC."

"On the matter of Fencing as a sport. Traditional fencing is a wonderful test of agility and skill, but it emerges from a specific geographic area in which most of the world has no roots. While well suited for fighting with the European epee, the rules of fencing are ill suited to duelling with the traditional blades of other regions, such as the Ottoman kilij scimitar, the Japanese katana, or the heron-ta of Lyong. For such weapons, a different style of fighting, suited for the full-body sabre movements of their respective styles, ought perhaps be considered. A ruleset and event based upon the modern adaptation that is Japanese 'kendo' might also allow the introduction of more diverse styles... dagger fighting, halberd, claymore... with which the fencing rules of the foil are incompatible."

"For an event such as these 'World Games', the physical realm might be considered too restrictive. The spirit of personal development, of skill display, of friendly competition, can be seen to spread across the artistic, intellectual, and other realms as well. One might imagine events such as spontaneous poetry competitions, boad games such as chanturanga (which spread east as xiangqi and west as chess), the arrangement of flowers, the chopping of wood or the assembly of objects from diverse components. Surely many of these can be considered as worthy as the speedy running of a hundred metres?"

The Federate Anarchist Communes suggest that we hold world championship in chess some other time. While it is easy to get carried away, as the Anarchans know all too well, we're talking about one event, here. It could get too big.

Also, Neo-Anarchos fully supports no gender discrimination in the event as a matter of course.

On the matter of Fencing as a sport. Traditional fencing is a wonderful test of agility and skill, but it emerges from a specific geographic area in which most of the world has no roots. While well suited for fighting with the European epee, the rules of fencing are ill suited to duelling with the traditional blades of other regions, such as the Ottoman kilij scimitar, the Japanese katana, or the heron-ta of Lyong. For such weapons, a different style of fighting, suited for the full-body sabre movements of their respective styles, ought perhaps be considered. A ruleset and event based upon the modern adaptation that is Japanese 'kendo' might also allow the introduction of more diverse styles... dagger fighting, halberd, claymore... with which the fencing rules of the foil are incompatible."


OOC: What about European sabre rules, where you can strike with any part of the blade rather than just the tip? Not that anyone should be particulaly interested but I actually have two Ottoman Shamshirs (scimitars with a thin blade) handed down from my great grandfather who was a Pasha in Mesopotamia. Their weight makes them rather unwieldy as weapons but the quality of the Arabic engraving on the blades is amazing. Despite being sheathed for a century, the blades are remarkably keen...

Let's not be politically correct here, ladies and gentlemen. Let's face the hard, biological facts that on average, women have around 10% less muscle mass than men. It is not discrimination; it is fairness. A man competing against a women is given an unfair advantage simply due to his gender. Therefore, it is only fair to have seperate categories.

And the day any Russian considers flower arrangement or spontaneous poetry a sport is the day Stalin ascends from the heavens, proclaims himself Jesus Christ, and dances the hokey pokey.

"Ah, yes, but one might also argue that one individual has less muscle mass than another, and thus it is unfair to place them in the same category. When deciding on a division such as gender, careful contemplation is in order, less great hypocrisy should ensue.



If there is strenuous objection to the more cerebral arts, then perhaps the ICC's next task may be to oversee an international competition of the artistic and intellectual, as the World Games are for the physical.

Perhaps in addition to Spear Throwing and Shooting, we might consider archery, both on foot and mounted... various lengths of swimming as well as diving and synchronized water sport also come to mind as possibilities.

Iihana an utahe deshuu michi-sumi... Roken no toh deshuu geren-ba yo."

"Yes, but on average there is a clear biological difference between men and women. We are not being discriminatory; we are being fair. Men, whether we like it or not, start off with a clear biological advantage---so if a woman trained equally as hard, she still would be 10% behind."

"We are not opposed to intellectual events. (Although we doubt flower arrangements will find much support in Russia) They just don't belong in the Olympics. They aren't sports, after all."

"We agree with the Russians. Women have no place in these games. Let them compete against other women (though the Ottomans will send to women teams) but not against men. That would be dimeaning to us."

OOC:You must remember, Ottoman society forbids women from many things. This would just be another.

Roycelandia feels that women should be allowed to compete on the same level as men, and vice versa.

"Take Rifle and Handgun Shooting, for example" explains the Hon. Nwadala Johnson, the Roycelandian representive on the ICC. "How strong you are has absolutely no bearing on your ability to fire a rifle or handgun accurately. This sort of thing needs to be taken into account, I feel. And besides, those damn FemiNazis are always going on about how women are equal to men. If that's the case, then they can compete on the same levels- an equal chance for all."

"Of course there are some categories where they can compete equally. We're referring to physical events, such as swimming, weight lifting, etc."

Being composed largely of equality-conscious men and raging FemiNazis, Neo-Anarchos takes great distance from the sexist comments made by the Ottomans, Russians, and to a lesser extent, the Roycelandians. As the point is ably started by the Spyrian initiative-takers, we suggest to the sexists that you would then also need to separate participants in races, sexualities, jobs and religions; the divisions all good capitalists take so much pride in placing between people.

(OOC: Don't lump me in with the Ottomans, NA!)

"Clearly, the NeoAnarchans have misunderstood our point. Russia is not a sexist nation, and has not been so for a long time. In areas of mental prowess and in contests of skill, women are welcome to participate equally with me. We do not share the Ottoman view; we simply believe that women and men are physiologically different, and that men are given an unfair advantage by their biological makeup."

"And the capitalist remark was in poor taste. Racism, sexism, and religious intolerance can be or not be present, irrelevant of the economic system."

"An analysis of the cultural differences between Neo-Anarchos and that of other nations would suggest otherwise. However, we are not here to debate; and in the spirit of non-dangerous competition, camraderie and international solidarity the people of our nation submit our sincerest apologies.

We humbly suggest gender separations are kept from the competition, although we are agreeable to -voluntary- sepration, so that any female athlete can decide which gender division she wants to participate in."

"Hudecia feels that gender seperation is not a repressive issue for women, rather, it is an understanding that men and women are different and not the same. Physiologically men and women are different, and we are sure we do not need to go into the specifics.

Establishing some sort of 'all-women's' events but still allowing women to compete in the 'men's events' seems to portray the 'all-women events' as second-rate and Hudecia fears that women will feel compelled to compete against men or not bother competing at all. Should this occur, the pressures that women will face in their competitions will be extraordinary and we worry that many will abuse drugs in order to win or do well.

Although this may occur anyways, we would be creating an environment which is more conductive towards indirectly encouraging it."

"For these reasons we strongly oppose any ideas that unfairly require women to compete against men."

"Instead of vainly attempting to qualify which events men and women can easily compete against one other, it would be better to establish the first games as having completely separate men's and women's events. Then, if it becomes obvious that men and women are faring equally well in particular events, then the issue can be revisited."

"We agree to the Hudecian proposal. We're spending so much time debating senseless details; let us go on and compete! (We have endorsed Spyrian proposals for swimming competitions to be added, by the way)

Roycelandia also accepts the Hudecian proposal, but only in the spirit of getting things moving along...

Japan also endorses the Hudecian proposal, and is eager to see the competitions begin as soon as possible.

(OOC: Sorry for the recent inactivity, my computer needed an upgrade)

"While we do not feel this division to be entirely in woman's interest, we are in agreement. Let us move towards the games!"

"It is most gratifying to see consensus emerge despite differences between us. Truly, the ability of these Games to improve international relations in peace and comeradeship has been demonstrated. We shall also support the Hudecian proposal.

We shall also support additon of lacrosse and hockey to the Games... while I personally can make heads nor tails of it, I am reminded of history where it served as an avenue of competition between Hudecia and the former Soviet Union*, and thus it would seem fitting to see it here at these Games."

[*OOC: Or, perhaps it wasn't... hopefully not too horrible an assumption there.]

"One more issue to be approached is the role of performance-enhancing technologies. There are those which are generally rejected from sport... chemical substances, for example, steroids and the like. Then there are also those borderline approaches (such as pre-competition injections of oxygenated blood), technical enhancements (such as a hand-cooling chamber to lower core temperature and boost performance), personal equipment (such as ultra-streamlined cycling or swimming suits), and finally the performance-enhancers most commoly accepted in sport, those of vehicle (the cars for motor racing or the aircraft for aerobatics).

Ought we attempt to equalize enhancements amongst competitors to give more influence to personal performance, or ought we allow technological achievements outside the Games to be used in determining victors? Where should a line be drawn between cheating and acceptable use of technical advantage?"

[OOC: Updated first post again, to reflect gender-divided sport and new additions]

The Strathdonian delagation points out that most organised sports and activities generally already have some sort of giudeline as to standards and specifications that equipment must conform to. Of course the usefulness of such giudelines can vary tremedously (ie one top class shotgun is much the same as any other but thigns get more complicated when you get into cars, unless we opt for very restricted stuff like Formula Porsche (everyone has a porsche 911 with only slight tweaks allowed). Bicylces are another interesting area, you could spend millions developing the perfect bike only to get beaten by someone who biult thiers at home from a washing machine).

Strathdonia has limited knowledge about many areas but does make a random suggestion that rifle competition perhaps revolve around rounds in the .30 calibre region (ie .30-06, .308, .303, 7.62x54 perhaps even .300Win Mag).

Quinntonia would very much like to forward teams in every single event. We may put forward a list of favoured events, however, I do think that we should seriosuly look at having the BEST athletes of the world there, and not just those that fir some sort of bill. I am a little confused as to why someone would argue that there should be no gender seperation, and in the same breath disallow anyone who wanted to compete but was paid for their skill under certain political systems.

If this is allowed to go forward, the capitalistic systems might be unfairly penalised. I know that Quinntonia, who has a burgeoning sports program, would not be allowed to send their best athletes in almost every field, whereas, the term ametuer could be applied to every single competitor from the Progressive Bloc, since their political system precludes payment.

Quinntonian athletes should be able to compete at the same level as everyone else. That being said, we will enter athletes regardless of the decision, but will be understandably unamused.


WWJD
Amen.

While the silly radicals in the Anarchan counties favour the "everybody against everybody else" system, Quinntonia makes important points on the subject of equality and fairness.

While voluntary labour in the sense of material products and services is an integral aspect of anarchist society, there are Anarchans who train and play all the time, playing "professional" tennis, soccer or whatever; their labour and passion becoming societal value by entertaining everyone else with their excellent level of athletic skill. Such an athlete might well reach the performance level of a paid proffessional capitalist athlete, and would thus not fairly be able to participate against an amateur from a profit-driven society.

Thus, standards are likely in order; to be defined, perhaps, as how much time a person spends training?

An example could be that only people who train in their time away from another occupation may participate? Thus, anarchist and communist labourers who play when not working "regular" jobs could be admitted, while those who train non-stop may not be.

This is comparable to capitalist nations who have amateur athletes who play out of love for sport in their spare time, and pro athletes who do nothing but train and perform.

The amount of effort and the number of hours spent on learning and practicing sports is one thing that binds capitalist and socialist athletes together, and here we might find common ground.


- The Anarchan spokescouncil on Collective Sports.

The Roycelandian Delegation have had a few minor disputes amongst themselves about what rifles should be allowed for the Rifle Shooting competitions.

In Roycelandia, pure target guns are generally seen as "Silly". The Imperial Service Rifle Match rules state that the only guns that may be used are bolt action, lever action, falling block action, or self-loading rifles, in original military configuration (some trigger work is permitted) in the calibres of: .303, .308, 7.62x54R, .30-06, 6.5x55, 7x57, 8x57, .223, .450/577, 7.5mm French, 7.62x39, 5.45x45, and one or two other service rounds that are in use in places like India...

The Quinntnonina Gaming Commsions, however, in conjunction with teh Council of Bishops, highly subsidizes even amatuer athlets who compete at a high level. So, in effect, they are given food, shelter, clothing, trainers and equipment, and maybe even a stipend, though stipends would only come from their churches. So, by the Anarchan definition, the only people in Quinntonia able to compete would be the hobbyists, and not athletes. Even students would not be able to compete, as they most often do not work if they are athletes.

Now your arguement would place even greater restrictions on the athletes that we could send, unless they submitted to some small form of capitalistic enterprise.

I don't mean to be a pain, but when I define what an athlete is, I think of someone who spends most of, if not all of their time competing or training. If they were a construction worker who competed, "in their spare time" then they would not be an athlete, they would be a construction worker.

Under this system, we would only be able to put forward a midget class hockey team. Ok,maybe a double A or something, but what would happen would be, everyone sends their best, and Quinntonia sends their national High School champs to be smashed.

The RL Olympics allows pro athletes in several sports, because the piont is to have every nation put forward their best. Faster, Farther, Stronger.

WWJD
Amen.

Well, if it suits the Quinntonians Neo-Anarchos will agree to a free-for-all amateur/pro competition formula, but we don't suspect the rest of the ICC will agree to this.

I guess I am just saying that you seem to be penalising certin grops by teh definition of what a "professional athlete" is. If a pro is someone who gets paid, then all the best athletes in most capitalistic nations are out.
If it is someone who spends a certain amount of time at it, you are now penalising a good work-ethic.
If it someone who does not have any gainful employemtn other than athletics, then that discludes a whole group of people all through any nations that reward their most talented players by allowing them to be able to concentrate full time on their particular fields.
WWJD
Amen.

The Ottomans, for one, will never agree to the "construction worker idea". This is because, to make it clear, AMW is not Real Life. Not every country has a domestic soccer/football league (the Ottomans have a partially organized, fairly less-important league). The Ottomans also, to add to the problems, do not even have a job of "sportsman", per se. Thus, what we are essentially doing is barring the Ottomans from all events except...say...fencing, swimming, running, and mayve cricket or rock climbing (if it's an event).

Therefore, the Ottomans would never accept something like the "construction worker idea". They would never accept what Quintonnia said, that a sportsman has to play sports. Many Ottoman sportsmen, who are excellent at what they do, also have other jobs to make money. I'm sure it is like that in other, poorer, countries. So what you would be doing is forcing out much of the ICC and much of the good feeling in the world. If the "construction worker idea" was passed, then the Ottomans would probably not participate in the Olympics, be pissed at everyone, and Turkey would be volcano, seething to get revenge. Then guess what would happen.

So what the Ottomans would propose is this: let every nation send who they want to. If Quintonnia want to send their High School hockey team, that's their perogative. Let everyone send who they can and let the best team win. It's as simple as that.

((Iffy subject, this is. Try to keep OOC reasoning in the invision thread))

Neo-Anarchos agrees with the obstinate, if wise Ottomans and Quinntonians. A free-for-all will ably show just who has the best athletes, and concisely at that. Our nations sporting collectives were merely trying to define a common ground for top-seeded capitalist athletes, and the amateur athletes of communist states, lest we end up with a situation like the old soviet union, where athletes were forced into hard training against their will.

[OOC: Yeep... its a bit hard to know whats in- and out-of-character in first-person posts ^_^.]

"It might be best to define amateur for the sake of the World Games as a voluntary participant not drawing salary for joining in the Games, rather than a definition based upon their status at home. In this manner, nations would be responsible for upkeep and expenses, but could not be drawn into 'bidding wars' or forced to reduce participation due to lack of funds. It would be a shame to see atheletes who could not participate due to quibbles over their regular employment, just as it would be shameful to see capital-wealthy nations monopolize victory over those with differing economic systems or who were less fortunate in geographic location."

The Ottomans, for one, will never agree to the "construction worker idea". This is because, to make it clear, AMW is not Real Life. Not every country has a domestic soccer/football league (the Ottomans have a partially organized, fairly less-important league). The Ottomans also, to add to the problems, do not even have a job of "sportsman", per se. Thus, what we are essentially doing is barring the Ottomans from all events except...say...fencing, swimming, running, and mayve cricket or rock climbing (if it's an event).

Therefore, the Ottomans would never accept something like the "construction worker idea". They would never accept what Quintonnia said, that a sportsman has to play sports. Many Ottoman sportsmen, who are excellent at what they do, also have other jobs to make money. I'm sure it is like that in other, poorer, countries. So what you would be doing is forcing out much of the ICC and much of the good feeling in the world. If the "construction worker idea" was passed, then the Ottomans would probably not participate in the Olympics, be pissed at everyone, and Turkey would be volcano, seething to get revenge. Then guess what would happen.

So what the Ottomans would propose is this: let every nation send who they want to. If Quintonnia want to send their High School hockey team, that's their perogative. Let everyone send who they can and let the best team win. It's as simple as that.


I can only assume that the Ottomans didn't understand our position on thematter. The Quinntonian delegation believes this because in this statement, the Ottoman delegation both stated that there was no way they could agree with the Quinntonians, and then made the exact same piont, supporting the Quinntonian position.

That being said, a best athlete vs. best athlete would be for the best of everyone. Quinntonina can agree not to pay the athletes for competeing at the ICC, as long as their employment at home is not jeopordised, and they are allowed to support their athletes with food, equipment, and room & board while they are there.

WWJD
Amen.

Hudecia agrees with the Anarchan, Quinntonian and Ottoman suggestion and hopes for a speedy conclusion of these discussions.

http://s9.invisionfree.com/NS_Modern_World/index.php?showtopic=131&st=30

That is the invision thread, to the page that has the piont counts, Hudecia, you only have 7 pionts, and I have dropped 8 into Men's Hockey. You an I should talk, I will only put as many pionts into Mens Hockey as you will, seeing as how we are pretty much battling out hockey supremacy between us.
WWJD
Amen.

I am in.
Tsar Wingert the Great.

The following open letter has been dispatched to the International Competition Committee:

To the honourable members of the ICC

The Kingdom of Kashu deeply admires the spirit of international co-operation and brotherhood being expressed through the promotion of shared sporting achievement. As inhabitants of one world it is surely fitting for the cream of all nations to gather together to push the limits of human ability, to truly become swifter, higher and stronger.

It is thus the greatest wish of our humble kingdom to endorse this noble movement, and if possible to participate in the bringing together of talent from all four corners of the globe.

Sincerely,

Sitala Devi,
Rani of Kashu

El Presidente:
"We will enter into these games in the spirit of lusty competition. Our well endowed constestants shall strive like men facing challenges and prooving mettle, let Argentina's clash be heard in these games of the world!"

"We are pleased to welcome all nations who wish to participate in the ICC and its World Games!

As substantial preparations are now beginning for the first Games in Sithin, may we reccomend that the current approved list of events be frozen for this session of the Games... further changes or expansion from this point may thus be used to supplement future Games while allowing the first to proceed from planning stages through to implementation."

The Diplomatic Protocol Unit of the Roycelandian Department Of Foreign Affairs would like to point out that the Roycelandian National Anthem is the song Journey Of The Sorceror, which runs to a little over six minutes long.

In the interests of not making the entire Games-watching planet sit through the song every time Roycelandia wins a medal, they have suggested that there be no National Anthems played at all, except at the opening and closing ceremonies (The preferred option), but realising this is unpopular, have said that the "Hitch-Hiker's Guide To The Galaxy" version of the song (At a little over 30 seconds) would be an acceptable substitute..

"One can imagine that, perhaps instead of national anthems and renditions of the internationale, a common song of victory could be composed for the ICC, fitting the medals ceremony timeframe and expressing the joys and sentiments of pride and triumph felt by victorious atheletes of all nationalities. After all, this event is a competition between groups rather than strictly nations: we have two participants claiming legal right over the same piece of land and a local Korean administration which lays claim to national status that is not recognized by Spyr. Getting too obsessive over issues of 'nation' will just clutter up the competitive cooperation that is the spirit of the Games.

We would also request that any members with precious metals... gold, silver, bronze... submit to us small samples that might be melted to form a communal, global ore pool from which medals for first (gold) second (silver) and third (bronze) can be cast for each event."

---

[OOC: Alright, we're close to beginning. A new thread for the Sithin World Games will be up at some point soon, once everything is worked out.

The system has been pounded out on the invision forum, and works as follows: events will be resolved through the following formula:

[random number (1 to 10) + national event scores = national event results]. Results are scaled highest (gold) to lowest.

National event scores are determined as follows: [national population/5,000,000 = national points pool], rounding fractions up, +1 point for nations with populations of 12 million or lower, + 5 points hosting bonus. Hudecia, for example, would have 7 points in this pool.

The points in this pool are divided between individual events, maximum 8 in any one event, to produce national event scores. Assigning zero points to a event does not mean non-participation, but means that event's national event score = 0. Non-participation in events is a voluntary RP decision.
As an example, the following is the distribution of national event scores for the Strainist (PRS & PRSJ) competitors:

Men's Cricket: 0
Women's Cricket: 0
Men's Soccer/Football:1
Women's Soccer/Football: 1
Men's Football ('American'): *
Women's Football ('American'): *
Men's Hockey: 0
Women's Hockey: 0
Men's Lacrosse: 0
Women's Lacrosse: 0
Men's Golf: 0
Women's Golf: 0
Men's Tennis: 0
Women's Tennis: 0
Men's Badminton: 3
Women's Badminton: 4
Men's Table Tennis (ping pong): 4
Women's Table Tennis: 4
Men's 100m Dash: 0
Women's 100m Dash: 0
Men's 5000m Run: 0
Women's 5000m Run: 0
Men's 45000m Marathon Run: 0
Women's 45000m Marathon Run: 0
Men's Individual Hurdles: 0
Women's Individual Hurdles: 0
Men's Team Hurdles: 0
Women's Team Hurdles: 0
Men's 100m Freestyle Swimming: 0
Women's 100m Freestyle Swimming: 1
Men's 1500m Freestyle Swimming: 0
Women's 1500m Freestyle Swimming: 0
Men's Freestyle Relay Swimming: 0
Women's Freestyle Relay Swimming: 0
Men's Artistic Gymnastics: 3
Women's Artistic Gymnastics: 4
Men's Rhythmic Gymnastics: 3
Women's Rhythmic Gymnastics: 4
Men's Synchronized Gymnastics: 4
Women's Synchronized Gymnastics: 6
Men's Martial Arts Combat: 1
Women's Martial Arts Combat: 1
Men's Fencing: 1
Women's Fencing: 3
Men's Spear Throwing: 0
Women's Spear Throwing: 0
Men's Relay Running: 0
Women's Relay Running: 0
Men's Target Shooting: 1
Women's Target Shooting: 1
Men's Clay pigeon Shooting: 1
Women's Clay pigeon Shooting: 1
Men's Distance Cycling: 1
Women's Distance Cycling: 1
Men's Horse Racing: 0
Women's Horse Racing: 0
Men's Horse Jumping:
Women's Horse Jumping:
Men's Horse Polo: *
Women's Horse Polo: *
Men's Camel Racing: *
Women's Camel Racing: *
Men's Camel Polo: *
Women's Camel Polo: *
Men's Rally Motosrsports: 0
Women's Rally Motosrsports: 0
Men's Off Road Motorsports: 0
Women's Off Road Motorsports: 0
Men's Long distance Rowing: 0
Women's Long distance Rowing: 0
Men's Sailing: 0
Women's Sailing: 0
Men's Yachting: 0
Women's Yachting: 0
Men's Competition Aerobatics: 0
Women's Competition Aerobatics: 1
Men's Formation Skydiving: 0
Women's Formation Skydiving: 0
Men's Rock Climbing: 0
Women's Rock Climbing: 0

* = non-participation

Most participating nations have already worked through their distributions on invision, and a compilation spreadsheet is being compiled, so remaining distributions can be posted here or there.

And finally, a note to any lurking AMW observers... the door is still open to join the games!]

The Strathdonia Delagation would like to suggest "We are the Champions" by Queen as an event Anthem, either than or "All you need is love" by the Beetles.

The Quinntonians would very much like their national anthem, "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" by Martin Luther, to be played when they win medals. It need not even be representative of the nation, but each athlete could choose musice that they wish to play should they win. Just, every Quinntonian athlete will choose the Quinntonian anthem.

WWJD
Amen.

OOC: Sorry guys I had midterms for the last 2-3 weeks straight.. haven't had much spare time at all.

I posted my events if its not too late.

tag