As a couple new nations have applied for LIDUN membership recently, I hereby call a vote on the admittance of Lao Sansong and Mallacaland to the League of IDU Nations. Voting shall initially be set at 72 hours, with extensions possible depending on turnout.

Robert Jokinen of Zongongia was excited about this opportunity. He'd asked for this meeting of the Social, Cultural & Scientific Council to finally discuss in an official capacity the creation of an international space station. Zongongia had been in informal talks with a number of nations about the possibility for months now, and this was the next stage to making it a reality. Jokinen had been a physicist before he became a diplomat, and the 68-year-old was almost jumping with joy at the chance to propose this in the meeting. After decades of trying to remain as inoffensive and quiet as possible, Zongongia was finally going to actually try and do something.

"Thank you all for coming today," he addressed the meeting the second the clock ticked over to the official starting time. "I'm very happy to be here on behalf of Zongongia to propose the creation of an international space station. There has been interest in such an endeavour from multiple nations over the years, notably Wosteaque, Libertas Omnium Maximus, and Haesan. Of course, we do acknowledge the financial cost of such an affair - but think of all the possibilities for scientific discovery, experimentation, and international cooperation! I'd like to open the floor to anyone who wishes to share their initial thoughts on the idea."

Charles Danton, LIDUN's Secretary General, confidently walked over to the podium that faced the assembled Security Council delegates. His face betrayed no fear or anxiety of his first Security Council discussion, although only a fool would deny the fact that those emotions were plaguing him in this extraordinary moment. He cleared his throat and began to speak, his crisp Northern Eirian accent seeming perfectly suited for speaking in front of LIDUN. 

"Prestigious delegates of this Security Council, my esteemed colleagues, my partners in progress. Today, we are gathered here to begin the first of many substantial discussions on the state of the world today. We have had three discussion topics approved by the Inner Council members, and as such, I will begin the discussions in the order of which they were submitted. First off, we are called to discuss the dire situation in Roucourt, a proposal that has been submitted by the delegate from Lauchenoiria. If they want to make the first statement, they may, or we may proceed to other delegations." He looked around at the circular council table expectantly.

This is the thread for Security Council member nations to propose discussion topics (subject to Inner Council approval).

Approved Proposals (w/ date approved):

Pending Proposals (w/ date submitted):
-Situation in Roucourt (Submitted May 31st by Lauchenoiria)
-"Western Xiomera" and Xiomeran Militarism (Submitted May 31st by Huenya)
-Aurian Civil War (Submitted June 1st by Eiria)

Rejected Proposals (w/ date rejected):

For the first vote of the Security Council, I would like to nominate a slate of delegates to the the Inner Council, in order to speed up the bureaucratic process. 

I hereby nominate the delegations of these nations to serve alongside Eiria on the Inner Council:

Laeral;
Lauchenoiria;
Sanctaria;
And Xiomera.

I will set the initial voting period at 48 hours, with potential extensions depending on the number of votes cast. Voting is now open!

As the LIDUN President, it gives me great pleasure to nominate the first slate of fourteen member nations to the LIDUN Security Council. I hope that this slate of members is agreeable to the members of the region, and that it is given fair and even consideration.

I, President of the League of IDU Nations, hereby nominate to the Security Council the delegations of:
- Laeral
- Lauchenoiria
- Xiomera
- Sanctaria 
- Libertas Omnium Maximus
- Kerlile
- Slokais Islands
- Gardavasque
- Huenya
- Greater Acadia
- Opthelia
- Wosteasque
- Lehvant
- Haesan

(Eiria will also automatically have a seat upon the Security Council, as per Article 7 of the Charter)

To allow for as much participation as possible, the initial voting period for this slate will be 72 hours. Voting is now open!

Day One

In softball, the Mallacaland Lionesses are having a remarkable run, currently on top of Group D, even eking out a 4-3 victory over the favored Yazd Vixens of Lehvant. The famous Mallacaland Lions, however, whose underdog medal victory in 2021 catapulted them to stardom, are off to a slow start after a draw against the unknown Eiria Cannons. 

In the same baseball group, the Xiomera Rifles, considered strong medal contenders, are also struggling to find their footing after a draw against the Laeral Golden Monkeys and an upset loss to Opthelia. The Haesan Comets, however, are performing well in both sports in their first Olympic appearance. And in archery, athletes representing a variety of nations snatched medals, in four cases matching or breaking prior Olympic records.

Men’s Archery

Nick Simmons (Sanctaria): 715 [OR]
Julien Zarabi (Lehvant): 712 {T-OR}
Jean-Pierre Paskal (Wosteasque): 704

Efe Doreli (Serriel): 701
Jakob Simonsen (Grundhavn): 696
Han Chung-hee (Haesan): 696
Chen Hanmin (Laeral): 696
Felipe Arquero (Grand Tequila Islands): 681
Anichel (Xiomera): 677
Bradford Ruskin (Novella Islands): 675
Chuaypi (Huenya): 665
Kanda Shiro (Lao Sangsong): 664
Kim Tae-yeon (High Fells): 658
Wolf Brock (Opthelia): 653
Henry Lawrence-Strods(Eiria): 652
Jimmy Greyson (Greater Acadia): 645
Vincent Fairchild (LOM): 645
Hoyt Aimwell (Gardavasque): 640
Kasper Wuopio (Zongongia): 638
Teofilo Soto (Lauchenoiria): 626
Raseo (Milintica): 616
Rick Oldport (Azaffran): 612
Nevada Ocampo (Slokais Islands): 610

Women’s Archery

Jang Su-mi (Haesan): 724 [OR]
Isabella Amina  (Wosteasque): 722 {OR}
Catli (Xiomera): 716 {OR}

Maria Williams (Sanctaria): 705
Sonja Wulff (Grundhavn): 704
Minenhle Flanagan (Kerlile): 691
Amélie Kazemi (Lehvant): 684
Jaqueline Durand (Eiria): 675
Emelia Ballesta (Great Tequila Island): 672
Inès Jacquier (Laeral): 670
Hannah Baxter (LOM): 669
Juliette Ross (High Fells): 667
Sanem Olgun (Serriel): 661
Capanopo (Huenya): 659
Hope Scrivenor (Opthelia): 658
Clarissa Johnston (Greater Acadia): 649
Azuma Saki (Lao Sansong): 648
Christine Trainer (Azaffran): 647
Jessica Fletcher (Gardavasque): 646
Jordana Glass (Lauchenoiria): 645
Sybil Ayers (Novella Islands): 637
Benedicte Heimissdotter (Zongongia): 635
Harper Chiu (Slokais Islands): 626
Tollssuyo (Milintica): 610

Team Archery
Tilatoa/Olli (Xiomera): 1973
Efe Doreli/Sanem Olgun (Serriel): 1958
Lewis Parsons/Jennifer Collins (Sanctaria): 1932

Rick Oldport/Christine Trainer (Azaffran): 1919
Reinhard Chiu/Monique Wu (Novella Islands): 1917
Hoyt Aimwell/Jessica Fletcher (Gardavasque): 1914
Chen Hanmin/Inès Jacquier (Laeral): 1879
Jaqueline Durand/Devon Durand (Eiria): 1865
Arquero/Ballesta (Great Tequila Island): 1863
Azuma Saki, Kanda Shiro (Lao Sansong): 1862
Julien Zarabi/Amélie Kazemi (Lehvant): 1860
Jakob Simonsen/Sonja Wulff (Grundhavn): 1842
Graham Fairclough/Opal Battle (Opthelia): 1837
Jang Su-mi/Park Jun-hyeok (Haesan): 1832
Mogens Nurmi / Ilmi Ulfsdotter (Zongongia): 1832
Teofilo Soto / Jordana Glass (Lauchenoiria): 1822
Nevada Ocampo/Harper Chiu (Slokais Islands): 1799
Ian Erling / Yehuda Soma (Wosteasque): 1782
Kim Tae-yeon/Juliette Ross (High Fells): 1751

Men’s Baseball

Groups
Each team will play each other team in each group. The top four teams after tomorrow's games will advance to the knockout rounds.

Group A:
Grundhavn Eagles 
Black Hairstreaks (LAU) 
Kerlile Elephants 
High Fells Defenders 
Huenyan Pride Team 
Jezairé Foxes (LHV) 

Early Group Stage Games:
Grundhavn Eagles def. Black Hairstreaks (LAU) 4-3
High Fells Defenders def. Grundhavn Eagles 7-3
Jezairé Foxes (LHV) def. Grundhavn Eagles 10-3
High Fells Defenders def. Black Hairstreaks (LAU) 9-1
Jezairé Foxes (LHV) def. Black Hairstreaks (LAU) 8-5
Huenyan Pride Team def. Kerlile Elephants 7-2
Huenyan Pride Team def. High Fells Defenders 6-2
Huenyan Pride Team draw Jezairé Foxes (LHV) 4-4

Standings:
Jezairé Foxes (LHV) 7
Huanyan Pride Team 7
High Fells Defenders 6
Grundhavn Eagles 3
Kerlile Elephants 0
Black Hairstreaks (LAU) 0

Group B:
Novella Islands 
Haesan Comets 
Wosteaque Panthers 
Serriel Desert Falcons 
LOM Sharks 
Milintica Red Vanguard Team 

Early Group Stage Games:
Haesan Comets def. Novella Islands 10-4
Novella Islands def. Serriel Desert Falcons 5-1
Milintica Red Vanguard Team def Novella Islands 8-3
Haesan Comets def. Serriel Desert Falcons 8-4
Milintica Red Vanguard Team def. Haesan Comets 5-1
LOM Sharks def. Wosteaque Panthers 5-2
LOM Sharks def. Serriel Desert Falcons 10-3
Milintica Red Vanguard Team def. LOM Sharks 4-1

Standings:
Milintica Red Vanguard Team 9
LOM Sharks 6
Haesan Comets 6
Novella Islands 3
Wosteaque Panthers 0
Serriel Desert Falcons 0

Group C:
Eiria Cannons 
Opthelia 
Xiomera Bombers 
Azaffran Blaze 
Slokais Blue Hammers  
Mallacaland Lions
Laeral Golden Monkeys

Early Group Stage Games:
Opthelia def. Eiria Cannons 8-5
Eiria Cannons def. Azaffran Blaze 1-0
Eiria Cannons draw Mallacaland Lions 5-5
Opthelia def. Xiomera Bombers 5-2
Slokais Blue Hammers def. Opthelia 5-3
Opthelia draw Laeral Golden Monkeys 0-0
Xiomera Bombers def. Slokais Blue Hammers 6-5
Xiomera Bombers draw Laeral Golden Monkeys 4-4
Slokais Blue Hammers draw Laeral Golden Monkeys 2-2
Mallacaland Lions def. Azaffran Blaze 6-1

Standings:
Opthelia 7
Mallacaland Lions 4
Slokais Blue Hammers 4
Eiria Cannons 4
Xiomera Bombers 4
Laeral Golden Monkeys 3
Azaffran Blaze 0

Group D:
Pontifex Patriots (SCT) 
Gardavasque Loyals 
Los Tomateros (GTI)
Zongongian Penguins 
Yellow Tigers (LSS) 
Greater Acadia

Early Group Stage Games:
Gardavasque Loyals def. Pontifex Patriots (SCT) 5-4
Pontifex Patriots (SCT) def. Zongongian Penguins 6-5
Greater Acadia def. Pontifex Patriots (SCT) 4-0
Gardavasque Loyals def. Zongongian Penguins 5-3
Greater Acadia def. Gardavasque Loyals 5-3
Los Tomateros (GTI) def. Yellow Tigers (LSS) 5-4
Yellow Tigers (LSS) def. Zongongian Penguins 5-3
Greater Acadia def. Yellow Tigers (LSS) 4-3

Standings:
Greater Acadia 9
Gardavasque Loyals 6
Los Tomateros (GTI) 3
Yellow Tigers (LSS) 3
Pontifex Patriots (SCT) 3
Zongongian Penguins 0

Women's Softball
Groups

Group A:
Grundhavn Lady Eagles 
Xiomera Rifles 
Las Abejas (GTI) 
Zongongia Deer 
White Blossoms (LSS) 
Laeral Herons

Early:
Xiomera Rifles def. Grundhavn Lady Eagles 5-4
Grundhavn Lady Eagles draw Zongongia Deer 2-2
Laeral Herons def. Grundhavn Lady Eagles 9-5
Xiomera Rifles def. Zongongia Deer 8-0
Xiomera Rifles def. Laeral Herons 6-1
Las Abejas (GTI) draw Zongongia Deer 5-5
Zongongia Deer def. White Blossoms (LSS) 5-3
White Blossoms (LSS) def. Laeral Herons 4-3

Standings:
Xiomera Rifles 9
Zongongia Deer 5
White Blossoms (LSS) 3
Laeral Herons 3
Las Abejas (GTI) 1
Grundhavn Lady Eagles 1

Group B:
Wosteaque Jaguars 
High Fells Stalwarts 
Team Acadia 
Milintica Blue Vanguard Team 
Huenyan Freedom Team 
Serriel Lady Falcons 

Early Group Games:
Huenyan Freedom Team def. Serriel Lady Falcons 9-5
Wosteaque Jaguars def. High Fells Stalwarts 5-0
Team Acadia def. Milintica Blue Vanguard Team 1-0
Wosteaque Jaguars def. Huenyan Freedom Team 3-2
Milintica Blue Vanguard Team def. Serriel Lady Falcons 5-3
Team Acadia def. High Fells Stalwarts 4-2
Huenyan Freedom Team def. High Fells Stalwarts 6-3
Team Acadia def. Serriel Lady Falcons 5-0

Standings:
Team Acadia 9
Wosteaque Jaguars 6 [Run differential: +6]
Huenyan Freedom Team 6 [Run differential: +6]
Milintica Blue Vanguard Team 3
High Fells Stalwarts 0 [Run differential: -9]
Serriel Lady Falcons 0 [Run differential: -11]

Group C:
Kerlile Spiders 
Team Novella Islands 
Team Opthelia 
Corpus Corvettes (SCT) 
Haesan Comets 
Gardavasque Banshees 
Azaffran Peppers -43

Early Group Stage Games:
Haesan Comets def. Corpus Corvettes (SCT) 3-1
Gardavasque Banshees def. Team Novella Islands 8-0
Kerlile Spiders def. Team Opthelia 5-3
Gardavasque Banshees def. Team Opthelia 6-3
Haesan Comets def. Team Novella Islands 9-2
Azaffran Peppers def. Corpus Corvettes (SCT) 3-0
Kerlile Spiders def. Team Novella Islands 2-1
Gardavasque Banshees def. Corpus Corvettes (SCT) 5-1
Haesan Comets def. Azaffran Peppers 6-3
Haesan Comets def. Kerlile Spiders 7-1
Team Opthelia def. Azaffran Peppers 2-0

Standings:
Haesan Comets 12
Gardavasque Banshees 9
Kerlile Spiders 6
Azaffran Peppers 3
Team Opthelia 3
Corpus Corvettes (SCT) 0
Team Novella Islands 0

Group D:
Eiria Ballistae 
Lauchenoiria Brimstones 
Slokais Blue Hammers 
Mallacaland Lionesses 
LOM Dolphins
Yazd Vixens (LHV)

Early Group Stage Games:
Mallacaland Lionesses def. Yazd Vixens (LHV) 4-3
Slokais Blue Hammers def. Lauchenoiria Brimstones 5-3
LOM Dolphins def. Eiria Ballistae 6-5
Mallacaland Lionesses def. LOM Dolphins 4-2
Lauchenoiria Brimstones def. Eiria Ballistae 5-4
Yazd Vixens (LHV) def. Slokais Blue Hammers 9-5
Mallacaland Lionesses def. Slokais Blue Hammers 4-0
Yazd Vixens (LHV) def. Eiria Ballistae 8-3

Standings:
Mallacaland Lionesses 9
Yazd Vixens (LHV) 6
LOM Dolphins 3
Lauchenoiria Brimstones 3
Slokais Blue Hammers 3
Eiria Ballistae 0

Medal Count: 
Sanctaria: 1G, 1B
Xiomera: 1G, 1B
Haesan: 1G
Wosteaque: 1S, 1B
Lehvant: 1S
Serriel: 1S

Hanshui, the city at the heart of the Riverlands, ancient imperial capital, and the beating heart of Rén Laeral, was sometimes called a city of festivals, for the bewildering array of feast days, parades, and regional and local holidays celebrated across its dozens of neighborhoods. The Olympic Games of 2023, however, was perhaps the biggest festival this storied city had ever seen.

On boulevards by the Zhongshui river, visitors speaking a tremendous variety of languages laughed, exclaimed, chatted, and squinted at directions as they browsed through the street market the city had set up for the occasion. It was a carnival atmosphere, with enterprising vendors erecting stalls filled to the brim with flags, noisemakers, and apparel. In the old city, throngs of people packed the streets and grand plazas, gazing up at the immense video screens set up so that even those who had been unable to fit into Hanshui Metropolitan Stadium could watch the events inside. Trains and shuttle buses, from the airport, far-flung parts of Laeral, and Hanshui’s suburbs themselves continually disgorged more people into the growing crowds as the sky began to darken.

In one of the press boxes perched in the high reaches of Hanshui Metropolitan Stadium, Richard Han, veteran news anchor for TV1 Français, looked intently towards his teleprompter as he prepared for the broadcast. In the past several years, he’d read news of wars, elections, deaths, a peace treaty, and much more quotidian events to the Laeralian public—but this was his first time broadcasting an Olympic Games. “Ten seconds!” someone called from behind the camera, and the assistant straightening Richard’s hair stepped away hurriedly. Richard, with his co-anchor Clarisse beside him, looked towards the camera with the sincere, aged gaze which gave him a gravitas few other broadcasters could match.

“Good Monday evening,” Richard said. “The time is 8:00 post meridian, and I am reporting to you from Hanshui Metropolitan Stadium, where a spectacle unmatched in Laeral’s sporting history is about to begin. The opening ceremony for the 2023 Olympic Games in Hanshui is now beginning to unfold…”

From behind him, as the lights of the stadium dimmed, a roar from the crowd below broke like a wave against the press box, only barely muffled by the thick glass.

The stadium was dark completely for a few seconds as anticipation built, and then a massive video screen came to life, illustrating a Laeralian flag being raised slowly along a flagpole, as the national anthem began to play.

On her hands and knees, she was confronted by blood in the snow. She wondered about how odd a behavior it was for her to bleed without worry for herself. Her only worries were about how inconvenient a place she might have hurt this time. Her face, fingers, and forearms were ideal — though they were the most visible parts of her body. The papers would inevitably take photos, highlighting how weak and frail she looks. Her toes and the inside of her palms were the most painful by far, that was when she’d have to push against the pain at the expense of worsening — and, at times, infecting— her wounds, in order to keep going.

Lehvant had made a big narrative pitch around its participation in the skiing events in the Olympics. Many of the government-sponsored billboards of Delphine Riahi’s face featured slogans about overcoming adversity, doing what has been deemed improbable — nay, impossible — for any Lehvantian before. Lehvant did face a substantial geographic disadvantage when it came to skiing. In the alpine skiing events, athletes that grew up in a cold climate have been known to have a competitive edge. This is what made it all the more noteworthy when Lehvant, with its notoriously arid climate, made a widely lauded play for the gold medal. Winning gold would represent much more than an impressive athletic achievement — the medal, along with the athletes that brought home this victory, would be celebrated as an inspiring tale of how a nation and its peoples, long underestimated and overlooked, could beat the odds. The communications office had already started planning the marketing campaign around it, and it was set to breathe new life to the government’s narrative of pushing Lehvant forward despite regional and global adversaries that wish to undermine its successes, and villainize the country and its government. All those hopes, dreams, and geopolitical consequences resting on her shoulders. It was more than enough to make someone break, and some would say Delphine already had.

As nominations for the Security Council are right around the corner, I hereby call a number of potential LIDUN Admissions to vote. The nations seeking membership are:

Haesan;
Opthelia;
Greater Acadia;
Eïkangärd;
Tsimdaupohwetosonghnee;
and Lehvant.

Voting shall last 48 hours, unless there is a large lack of votes. Please get your votes in as soon as possible!