05-29-2021, 12:47 AM
Welcome to the 2021 New Riga Olympiad !
(Special Thanks to Shuell for the Joint Post!)
Central, Shuell
Alaina Arpa walked slowly into the huge stadium that had held the Shuellian Central Olympics a few short years ago, feeling intimidated with its size and stature. The unlit torch in her right hand suddenly felt much less significant, as she examined every inch of the stadium that she could. Her guards surrounded her in a tight formation. She had been nervous to enter Shuell, having heard all of the horror stories of life in the distant nation. Still, she insisted on going, and the greeting she had gotten thus far hadn't been too bad.
A large elaborately decorated cauldron sits in the center of the Olympic stadium, elevated above the ground and surrounded by armed guards. The event had been received with enthusiasm by most Shuellians, seen as both a chance for the nation to increase its own prestige and establish goodwill with various foreign countries. Crowds of spectators had lined the streets leaning towards the stadium, although none were allowed inside - this honor would only be granted to high-ranking officials and the Directorate itself. The Shuellian national anthem blared loudly from the speakers as the woman approached the unlit cauldron, with cameras televising the ceremony all across the globe.
Alaina took one last look at the intricate torch in her hand, examining the cold metal. Okay, I can't screw this up. One, Two... She placed the torch on the rim of the cauldron, tilting it slightly.
The cold metal torch suddenly caught the flame, glowing like a small star in Alaina's hand. She turned to face the few spectators allowed inside the stadium, raising the torch above her head. She, being a former Olympic Gymnast, was on the shorter side, but her grace and presence more than made up for it in the eyes of the spectators. The flame burned furiously, almost causing her to hesitate. Calm down, it's alright. Easy.
The members of the Directorate, situated in an enclosure overlooking the affair, stood and politely clapped for the athlete. As the Shuellian national anthem transitioned into Rise for the Republic, banners of the Eirian flag unfurled next to the Shuellian one - if slightly smaller in size. Cameras would zoom in on Alaina, displaying her face on large jumbotrons outside of the stadium. The guards, seemingly handpicked for their size, lined up in rows on either side of the woman, raising their rifles at an angle and forming a canopy of sorts for her to walk under.
Alaina was slightly unnerved by the canopy of guns, but she walked forward undeterred, only slightly bringing the torch down as to keep it away from the firearms. She put all her concentration into not tripping, channeling her old gymnastic instincts to move with grace and precision.
As she walked, she hummed along to the Eirian anthem blaring from the speakers, smiling slightly with pride. A Shuellian stadium blaring the Eirian anthem. That's something you don't see everyday. She thought as she reached the end of the guard lines, making her way out of the stadium and onto the street, smiling at the spectators.
Black and white confetti, like some strange mixture of ash and snow, rained down on the streets from the rooftops of office buildings. A row of barricades were set up along the road, with crowds of Shuellian citizens stationed behind them cheering on the runner. A fleet of policemen on motorcycles baring corporate advertisements flanked the woman on either side as they escorted her down the busy streets, with others visible among the crowds to ensure nothing went wrong.
Carefully sweeping some confetti from her hair, Alaina made her way down the street, occasionally glancing at her Shuellian escorts. Police with advertisements. Huh. She kept a steady pace, marching towards a bus with Eirian security guards positioned around it. Almost There. She grabbed the railing of the bus, turning around to wave one last time to the crowd. Her security guards escorted her onto the bus, securing the flame that would travel continents to its new temporary home.
And as the bus pulled away, Alaina took one last look at the droves of spectators. Who are they? Do they like it here? Would I like it here?
The crowds faded away, leaving only one place to look: Forward, to Eiria. To home.
(Special Thanks to Shuell for the Joint Post!)
Central, Shuell
Alaina Arpa walked slowly into the huge stadium that had held the Shuellian Central Olympics a few short years ago, feeling intimidated with its size and stature. The unlit torch in her right hand suddenly felt much less significant, as she examined every inch of the stadium that she could. Her guards surrounded her in a tight formation. She had been nervous to enter Shuell, having heard all of the horror stories of life in the distant nation. Still, she insisted on going, and the greeting she had gotten thus far hadn't been too bad.
A large elaborately decorated cauldron sits in the center of the Olympic stadium, elevated above the ground and surrounded by armed guards. The event had been received with enthusiasm by most Shuellians, seen as both a chance for the nation to increase its own prestige and establish goodwill with various foreign countries. Crowds of spectators had lined the streets leaning towards the stadium, although none were allowed inside - this honor would only be granted to high-ranking officials and the Directorate itself. The Shuellian national anthem blared loudly from the speakers as the woman approached the unlit cauldron, with cameras televising the ceremony all across the globe.
Alaina took one last look at the intricate torch in her hand, examining the cold metal. Okay, I can't screw this up. One, Two... She placed the torch on the rim of the cauldron, tilting it slightly.
The cold metal torch suddenly caught the flame, glowing like a small star in Alaina's hand. She turned to face the few spectators allowed inside the stadium, raising the torch above her head. She, being a former Olympic Gymnast, was on the shorter side, but her grace and presence more than made up for it in the eyes of the spectators. The flame burned furiously, almost causing her to hesitate. Calm down, it's alright. Easy.
The members of the Directorate, situated in an enclosure overlooking the affair, stood and politely clapped for the athlete. As the Shuellian national anthem transitioned into Rise for the Republic, banners of the Eirian flag unfurled next to the Shuellian one - if slightly smaller in size. Cameras would zoom in on Alaina, displaying her face on large jumbotrons outside of the stadium. The guards, seemingly handpicked for their size, lined up in rows on either side of the woman, raising their rifles at an angle and forming a canopy of sorts for her to walk under.
Alaina was slightly unnerved by the canopy of guns, but she walked forward undeterred, only slightly bringing the torch down as to keep it away from the firearms. She put all her concentration into not tripping, channeling her old gymnastic instincts to move with grace and precision.
As she walked, she hummed along to the Eirian anthem blaring from the speakers, smiling slightly with pride. A Shuellian stadium blaring the Eirian anthem. That's something you don't see everyday. She thought as she reached the end of the guard lines, making her way out of the stadium and onto the street, smiling at the spectators.
Black and white confetti, like some strange mixture of ash and snow, rained down on the streets from the rooftops of office buildings. A row of barricades were set up along the road, with crowds of Shuellian citizens stationed behind them cheering on the runner. A fleet of policemen on motorcycles baring corporate advertisements flanked the woman on either side as they escorted her down the busy streets, with others visible among the crowds to ensure nothing went wrong.
Carefully sweeping some confetti from her hair, Alaina made her way down the street, occasionally glancing at her Shuellian escorts. Police with advertisements. Huh. She kept a steady pace, marching towards a bus with Eirian security guards positioned around it. Almost There. She grabbed the railing of the bus, turning around to wave one last time to the crowd. Her security guards escorted her onto the bus, securing the flame that would travel continents to its new temporary home.
And as the bus pulled away, Alaina took one last look at the droves of spectators. Who are they? Do they like it here? Would I like it here?
The crowds faded away, leaving only one place to look: Forward, to Eiria. To home.
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