[Democratic Republic Of Eiria]

“Although we are separated by a sea, we will always be united by two things that are far stronger: blood and culture.” - Jakelēn Albrīt, 30th Chancellor of Eiria

“A shared language is just the start of everyone we share with our cousins across the strait. I hope we can find it in our hearts to rebuild the bridge that once connected our nations, for the betterment of our collective future.” - Prince Andreu Laurent of Lei Laukjelasei

—

The air in Atlantis could only be described as electric.

Thousands of athletes, tourists, and volunteers had descended upon the city's crowded streets, filling out around the river area as the afternoon dragged on. Local performers, buskers and artists could be seen on every street corner, attempting to earn a quick Lunen or two from tourists hungry for a sampling of Eirian culture. All day, the city’s famous theaters had been sold out, the bars packed, and the parks filled with spectators hoping to get a glimpse of the main event.

Suddenly, the city's bells rang out the hour, causing the raucous noise of downtown to fade to hurried whispers. Down on the river, a squad of jet skis and small boats came rushing down towards the coast, changing various formations in close maneuvers that left the audience breathless. On the river’s banks, groups of dancers and gymnasts covered in prōtint body art timed acrobatic acts to the beat of E-O rock music blaring from nearby speakers. Spectators were left wondering where to look as the spectacle continued on, slowing down as the sound of the Winter Olympiad’s orchestral theme grew louder and louder from further upriver.

Around the curve of the river, a flotilla of boats came into view, earning cheers from the massive crowd. Each craft carried athletes and dignitaries of the various nations participating in the first Winter Olympiad, who all waved at the exuberant crowds cheering them on. Flags of various nations and even some supranational organizations (including the Opthelian Commonwealth’s four-color banner and the blue and white flag of the Union of Caxcanan States) rippled in the wind. From the top deck of the lead boat, Chancellor Stendē stood watch over the Olympic Torch, dressed head to toe in designer jewelry and a sturdy deep blue halar that matched her nation’s athletes. 

As fans applauded and shouted well-wishes, the boats carrying representatives from 32 Olympic Committees sailed westwards into the sun, leaving the Eirian cultural capital behind for the second host city of the first Winter Olympiad.

—

Upon their arrival in Lumiere, these athletes and dignitaries were received with a similarly warm welcome, with Aurians and tourists alike throwing flowers and other gifts over the crowd barriers as each boat dropped off its passengers. The parade of nations proceeded from the river drop-off point towards Sophie the Brave Memorial Stadium, where another large crowd celebrated their arrival.

As this parade inched towards the stadium, the rest of the Opening Ceremony’s theatrics began. Dozens of performers on rollerskates rolled into the center of the stadium, forming dizzying patterns and performing intricate dances to the tune of Auria’s national ballet, “The River Finch.” As the skaters dispersed, volunteers quickly moved a platform into place, setting the stage for a heartwrenching and emotional performance by Aurian pop vocalist AmaLija that commemorated those lost during the Aurian Civil War.

After AmaLija finished her performance, the stadium was quickly filled with dancers dressed in traditional Aurian winter garb. As the music changed to a more upbeat tone, high-tech projectors cast images of Auria’s natural landscapes and environmental wonders on the floor of the stadium, forming a beautiful canvas for the dancers to waltz across. The special soundtrack composed for the ceremony continued to shift as the dancers changed styles and movements, ranging from fast pair dancing to large group rounds. 

As the dancers dispersed and the music faded, all lights turned to the stadium’s main box, where Queen Katherina I and Chancellor Stendē waited for the crowds to quiet down.

“Good evening, my fellow Aurians and honored guests alike.” The young monarch's mezzo-soprano voice resounded through the stadium as she spoke in Eirian, waiting for the English translation to finish before continuing. “We are gathered here today to celebrate a truly remarkable thing: international cooperation.”

Stendē spoke up, the rehearsed speech clearly having been written to match the speaking patterns of both heads of state. “In our present day of tension and conflict, cooperation can be hard to come by. Petty rivalries, shifting loyalties and internal strife can make it difficult to find any sort of unity in the chaos of the world.”

“But that is exactly what we are here to do,” the Queen said, her crown glittering in the spotlights. “Today, we gather here to celebrate a universal side of humanity, one that will allow us to put aside our hatred and overcome our grievances for the greater good. As it encourages us to push ourselves to the absolute limit of our human abilities, sport gives us the chance to overlook our own dividing lines and see each other for our own excellence.”

“While it may seem counterproductive that competition is the key to unity, there is no better way to bring people together than a common interest.” The Eirian leader smiled, clearly feeding off of the energy of the crowd. “The camaraderie that we will see across the snow and ice over the next few weeks will bridge the divide between athletes and fans from all sides of the world, building connections beyond our national borders.”

“This connection, this spirit built through coordination and cooperation, is something that cannot be easily erased.” Katherina coolly examined the stadium. “The bonds we forge, both here and in Eiria, will reaffirm our global commitment to peaceful cooperation through sport. Whether through good sportsmanship, honest conversation or cultural exchange, the legacy of this Olympiad will be one of glorious friendship and unparalleled glory.”

As the two leaders continued to speak, a line of Eirian and Aurian athletes, officials and celebrities were each taking a turn carrying the Olympic Torch from one side of the Stadium to the other, approaching the two-torch cauldron as Stendē and the Queen rounded off their speech.

“No matter what happens during these games, it will be said that this Olympiad marked a new chapter in international sport and a new era in international cooperation.” Stendē took a pause to let the final member of the relay grab the torch. “Now, without further ado…”

With commanding voices that echoed throughout the stadium, both leaders spoke the last line of the address.

“Mōs da dauz dei oner uvret leis jeusei deile unaš Olimpijad Ēver!”

It gives us great honor to open the Games of the First Winter Olympiad!

With a flood of cheering and applause, the Queen and Chancellor shook hands and raised their fists. When the crowd had gotten slightly quieter, Katherina gestured to the entrance to the stadium with a grin. “Now, we present our magnificent athletes!”

[Democratic Republic Of Eiria]

With fans delighted, hearts both overjoyed and broken, and plenty of glory won, it was time for the first ever IDU Winter Olympiad to come to a close.

After a morning of activities and a formal luncheon at the Royal Palace for the Olympiad’s many medalists hosted by Her Majesty Queen Katherina herself, athletes milled about in the waiting area of Sophie the Brave Memorial Stadium. The defeated and the victorious stood side by side, wrapped in their national colors and engaging in vibrant discussions with their peers. Despite the energy of the crowd outside, an air of finality filled the stadium’s crowded halls, either satisfaction in a job well done or a deep desire to move on.

In the stadium proper, dancers in longer halarei typical of 19th century Auria seemed to appear from thin air, dancing in pairs, groups of five, and then one big circle. Over their feats of agility and grace played music ranging from pre-independence opera to grungier 80s rock that made Aurian parents in the crowd nostalgic for their youth. As the dancers dispersed, a platform lifted from the center of the stadium, revealing Aurian music icon Kristjans Tašei. The talented tenor entranced the audience with a rousing performance of his “Farewell to Andrija,” with projected images on the stadium floor ensuring the song served as both a farewell to the athletes and a tribute to the major Aurian figures lost during the recent Civil War.

Just as the Eirians had led the opening ceremony’s parade, the parade for the closing ceremony was led by the athletes from the Kingdom of Auria, their purple and blue uniforms shining in the late afternoon light. The 32 delegations of Olympians circled the stadium, some proudly bearing the gold, silver, and bronze decorations they had so proudly earned (and many more carrying the cute little finch plushies of the Olympiad’s mascot). Mystical dancers representing snow and ice escorted them, doing flips, handstands and cartwheels as they proceeded along the path.

A dance and two more performances from Aurian legends later, the music in the background shifted away from Aurian pop to a distinctly more Hesperidan beat. Formations of new dancers in traditionally Haesanite dress descended on the center of the stadium, accompanied by a beat evoking the most popular Hae-pop songs. The dancers quickly got to work, unfolding multicolored fans as aerial projectors cast images of the Haesanite countryside and the city of Suyang on the ground. As the dancers mesmerized the crowd, a pair of soldiers marched solemnly toward the cauldron. Despite being from different nations, their uniforms coincidentally matched, as purple is the designated color of both the Eirian Guards of the Republic and the Aurian Royal Grenadiers.

As the dance performance died down, the soldiers climbed the staircase, reaching the peak just as the music ceased. The soldiers knelt together, placing the torch at the cauldron’s edge. In a moment of solemn silence, the fire faded down, passing to the torch. As the soldiers descended with the flame, a delegation from Haesan walked out to meet them, led by Suyang Mayor Kim Eun-ji. With a handshake and a salute, the torch was passed, signalling to the world that the honor and responsibility of carrying on the Olympic movement now falls to Haesan.

The soldiers then moved to the flagpoles, slowly lowering them as an orchestra played a mashup of the Eirian and Aurian anthem composed by iconic conductor and film composer Kijam Jansons. As the flags were folded and the host countries honored, the athletes were brought around the stadium, marching out its entrance to a parade route towards the sea.

Fans from around the world lined the streets, tossing flowers, stuffed animals and Aurian sweets as the athletes were escorted into Lumiere’s harbor and onto the same 32 boats that had taken them to Auria during the opening ceremony. With waves and blown kisses to the cheering crowds, the athletes set sail eastward, the setting sun at their backs and the future of their sporting careers ahead of them.