06-09-2021, 05:22 PM
Main Olympic Stadium, New Riga, Eiria
June 9th, 2021, 7:59 PM
Crowds of cheering fans were packed into New Riga's main Olympic Stadium like sardines, a constant restlessness spreading through them like an uneven tide. A large countdown timer was posted on every screen in sight, counting down every second of the audience's anticipation.
Seven… Six… Five… Four… Three… Two… One…
"Now presenting, Chancellor William Lancaster!" A large spotlight hovered over the entrance to the stadium, as the Chancellor of Eiria entered to an applauding crowd. He was moving quickly, being sure to wave to as much of the crowd as he could before quickly taking his place in the official stand, aside Liang Wentao, the Laeralian President of the International Olympic Committee. The applause died down, allowing for the spotlight to shift back to the Stadium's entrance once more.
A group of uniformed soldiers marched through the opening, an Eirian flag stretched between them. The opening bars of Rise for the Republic echoed throughout the stadium, played by a large military band near the center of the stadium. The audience watched, silently entranced, as the Army Soldiers marched the flag towards the heart of the stadium. A single soldier hoisted the flag up the large flagpole, the banner waving slowly in the light breeze.
The end anthem slowly faded to a whisper as the flag waved, the lights diminishing with the music. The crowds burst into excited whispers, anticipating one of the most memorable parts of the Olympiad: the artistic programme.
The lights faded back up, revealing hundreds of black-clad dancers with dark flags, frozen in an array of positions. As the intense, rapid beats of Janis Dreimanis's Valor Symphony rang out through the speakers, the dancers began a fast dance in small groups, symbolizing the Eirian Warring Feudal period. Small groups of colored flags led charges against one another, eventually fading away to fight another group again. The chaos and disarray was all perfectly organized, choreographed extensively by teams of dance instructors.
As the "Battles" raged on and on, a slow, yet steady violin solo started increasing in volume, and a spotlight shone on one single dancer, holding a furled flag. As the Symphony transformed into Bacri's 9th Violin Concerto, the dancer ran between crowds of fighting dancers, bringing the clashes to a standstill and attracting all of the eyes in the stadium. As she continued an elegant solo dance, her large flag slowly unfurling, revealing the Eirian Republic's Flag. The Dancer represented Irina Pecs, the first Chancellor of the united Eirian Republic.
The rest of the dancing groups burst into joyful dancing, exchanging dark flags for multicolored ones. And, one by one, a small line of dancers followed "Irina Pecs" in a grand and joyful relay race with the Eirian flag. As each dancer took their turn, the rest of the performance shifted styles around them, each representing a time period and its Chancellor.
After a long while of entrancing dances and chronological styles, the music slowed to a halt, and a male dancer placed the flag on a stand before falling into darkness. The flag spotlight faded, leaving only faint traces of the dancers with black flags. This was the "Dark Period", symbolizing Darrin's regime and those who suffered under it. Four dancers stood apart, their flags crossed to form a rectangle they carried on their shoulders. The audience was almost completely silent, seeing the powerful tribute to those lost under the regime and in the war.
The lights faded back in, and another dancer grabbed the precious flag, her dark hair flowing through the breeze. She helped some of her fellow dancers up, but her time in the spotlight was short, and she passed it to a blond dancer as the rest of the dancers were getting back on their feet and exchanging flags. He helped more of his fellow dancers up, beginning to move and dance at a light but rapid pace. After a few rounds, he moved back to the center, gesturing with the flag to the viewing stand, where the actual Eirian Chancellor sat, watching.
The rest of the dancers closed ranks, making one last toss with their flags before holding him above their heads. From a camera placed overhead, the reason behind their formation was revealed: they had formed a giant, waving Eirian Flag. As applause rang out from the crowds, the dancers retreated, and the lights fell.
The spotlight shifted to the official's stand, with the Chancellor standing behind the podium. "I'm sure we all are amazed by that amazing spectacle. Can we give another round of applause for our amazing performers!" The audience obliged, rooting and cheering for the exhausted dancers now sitting on the edge of the stadium.
Once the applause died down, Lancaster cleared his throat and spoke again, this time wi "We are gathered here on a somber anniversary. On this day, seven years ago, we officially ended our brutal civil war, and restored the Republic to all of Eiria. And now, here in the city that once held one of the longest and most devastating battles of that war, we gather here to celebrate a triumph. Not of the war, but of human will and determination."
As Lancaster spoke, a spotlight shone on a relay race of former Eirian Olymians, passing the Olympic torch in a grand relay race. "Although the war is still fresh in the minds of a great number of us, we must move forward, to our new futures. These New Riga Olympic Games are a great symbol of that, and how a city once devastated by war and carnage can be restored and rebuilt better than it was before."
The relay runners grew closer and closer to the cauldron as Lancaster continued his speech. "And now, I must extend my heartfelt gratitude to the volunteers, athletes, and coaches who have made these Olympic Games possible. I would also like to welcome our honorable guest athletes. Your determination and valor is an example for all!"
The final athlete in the relay had taken the torch, slowing to a walk for the final steps to the giant unlit torch. "And now, it gives me great pleasure to declare the 2021 New Riga Olympiad open!" A crescendo of music played throughout the stadium as the final runner put the torch to the oil and set the cauldron ablaze. Cheers rang out throughout the stadium, and fans from many nations yelled and screamed with joy.
After about a minute of cheering, Lancaster took the mic once again, clearing his throat to get the attention of the excited crowd. "And now, presenting the Olympic Athletes! Let's give them a warm welcome to Eiria!". The spotlight shifted back to the entrance, and the first athletes entered to crowds of loud fans chanting and cheering from the packed stadium seats.
June 9th, 2021, 7:59 PM
Crowds of cheering fans were packed into New Riga's main Olympic Stadium like sardines, a constant restlessness spreading through them like an uneven tide. A large countdown timer was posted on every screen in sight, counting down every second of the audience's anticipation.
Seven… Six… Five… Four… Three… Two… One…
"Now presenting, Chancellor William Lancaster!" A large spotlight hovered over the entrance to the stadium, as the Chancellor of Eiria entered to an applauding crowd. He was moving quickly, being sure to wave to as much of the crowd as he could before quickly taking his place in the official stand, aside Liang Wentao, the Laeralian President of the International Olympic Committee. The applause died down, allowing for the spotlight to shift back to the Stadium's entrance once more.
A group of uniformed soldiers marched through the opening, an Eirian flag stretched between them. The opening bars of Rise for the Republic echoed throughout the stadium, played by a large military band near the center of the stadium. The audience watched, silently entranced, as the Army Soldiers marched the flag towards the heart of the stadium. A single soldier hoisted the flag up the large flagpole, the banner waving slowly in the light breeze.
The end anthem slowly faded to a whisper as the flag waved, the lights diminishing with the music. The crowds burst into excited whispers, anticipating one of the most memorable parts of the Olympiad: the artistic programme.
The lights faded back up, revealing hundreds of black-clad dancers with dark flags, frozen in an array of positions. As the intense, rapid beats of Janis Dreimanis's Valor Symphony rang out through the speakers, the dancers began a fast dance in small groups, symbolizing the Eirian Warring Feudal period. Small groups of colored flags led charges against one another, eventually fading away to fight another group again. The chaos and disarray was all perfectly organized, choreographed extensively by teams of dance instructors.
As the "Battles" raged on and on, a slow, yet steady violin solo started increasing in volume, and a spotlight shone on one single dancer, holding a furled flag. As the Symphony transformed into Bacri's 9th Violin Concerto, the dancer ran between crowds of fighting dancers, bringing the clashes to a standstill and attracting all of the eyes in the stadium. As she continued an elegant solo dance, her large flag slowly unfurling, revealing the Eirian Republic's Flag. The Dancer represented Irina Pecs, the first Chancellor of the united Eirian Republic.
The rest of the dancing groups burst into joyful dancing, exchanging dark flags for multicolored ones. And, one by one, a small line of dancers followed "Irina Pecs" in a grand and joyful relay race with the Eirian flag. As each dancer took their turn, the rest of the performance shifted styles around them, each representing a time period and its Chancellor.
After a long while of entrancing dances and chronological styles, the music slowed to a halt, and a male dancer placed the flag on a stand before falling into darkness. The flag spotlight faded, leaving only faint traces of the dancers with black flags. This was the "Dark Period", symbolizing Darrin's regime and those who suffered under it. Four dancers stood apart, their flags crossed to form a rectangle they carried on their shoulders. The audience was almost completely silent, seeing the powerful tribute to those lost under the regime and in the war.
The lights faded back in, and another dancer grabbed the precious flag, her dark hair flowing through the breeze. She helped some of her fellow dancers up, but her time in the spotlight was short, and she passed it to a blond dancer as the rest of the dancers were getting back on their feet and exchanging flags. He helped more of his fellow dancers up, beginning to move and dance at a light but rapid pace. After a few rounds, he moved back to the center, gesturing with the flag to the viewing stand, where the actual Eirian Chancellor sat, watching.
The rest of the dancers closed ranks, making one last toss with their flags before holding him above their heads. From a camera placed overhead, the reason behind their formation was revealed: they had formed a giant, waving Eirian Flag. As applause rang out from the crowds, the dancers retreated, and the lights fell.
The spotlight shifted to the official's stand, with the Chancellor standing behind the podium. "I'm sure we all are amazed by that amazing spectacle. Can we give another round of applause for our amazing performers!" The audience obliged, rooting and cheering for the exhausted dancers now sitting on the edge of the stadium.
Once the applause died down, Lancaster cleared his throat and spoke again, this time wi "We are gathered here on a somber anniversary. On this day, seven years ago, we officially ended our brutal civil war, and restored the Republic to all of Eiria. And now, here in the city that once held one of the longest and most devastating battles of that war, we gather here to celebrate a triumph. Not of the war, but of human will and determination."
As Lancaster spoke, a spotlight shone on a relay race of former Eirian Olymians, passing the Olympic torch in a grand relay race. "Although the war is still fresh in the minds of a great number of us, we must move forward, to our new futures. These New Riga Olympic Games are a great symbol of that, and how a city once devastated by war and carnage can be restored and rebuilt better than it was before."
The relay runners grew closer and closer to the cauldron as Lancaster continued his speech. "And now, I must extend my heartfelt gratitude to the volunteers, athletes, and coaches who have made these Olympic Games possible. I would also like to welcome our honorable guest athletes. Your determination and valor is an example for all!"
The final athlete in the relay had taken the torch, slowing to a walk for the final steps to the giant unlit torch. "And now, it gives me great pleasure to declare the 2021 New Riga Olympiad open!" A crescendo of music played throughout the stadium as the final runner put the torch to the oil and set the cauldron ablaze. Cheers rang out throughout the stadium, and fans from many nations yelled and screamed with joy.
After about a minute of cheering, Lancaster took the mic once again, clearing his throat to get the attention of the excited crowd. "And now, presenting the Olympic Athletes! Let's give them a warm welcome to Eiria!". The spotlight shifted back to the entrance, and the first athletes entered to crowds of loud fans chanting and cheering from the packed stadium seats.
<t></t>