The Day of the opening ceremony has finally come and across Midaranye fans are filing into the two host nations largest stadiums. In Tamora at The Prophet's Grace Arena 70,000 fans have filled the tent like interior which over the course of the next two weeks will become home of some of the greatest track and field action on the planet. Several hundred kilometers away on the shores of the Kyne the Palm Plaza Arena sees the last of 65,000 fans filing into the staidum by the sea. Darkness is still a few hours away and a feint red glow is slowly beginning to fill the sky. Anticipation is beginning to built for what will be the first split venue opening ceremony.
On the big screens around both arenas and on TV screens across Mundus the image switches from that of fans filling the arena to that of a bonfire burning brightly the flames flickering up close. The camera begins to pull back and in the background a semi circle of electric cars comes into view the flags of the competing nations emblazoned on the bodywork. Two men walk into the frame each holding a kind of old fashioned lantern. One is wearing a kind of all in one overall with a large Tamoran flag on the back while the other is dressed identically except for showing Royal Seleucid flag. Princess Thekla, a Seleucid by birth but a Tamoran by marriage extends a long wooden stick bringing flames from the bonfire to both lanterns igniting them. In the arenas a voice can be heard. "The flame of the Mundus Games has always symbolised the spirit of Games, it reminds us while it burns to keep to ideals of competition, brotherhood and peace alive. This year the bonfire was ignited from flames brought from nations across Mundus to stand on the border of both host nations. It stands at the Gigafactory built to help do exactly what the games are intended to do, build a better Mundus." The two men with the lanterns bowed to the Princess shook hands and accompanied by a convoy of the cars walked in opposite directions to where a large balloon was tied to the ground. They donned a harness and mask and stood with their lanterns held facing each other. The buzz of an aircraft could be heard and suddenly each lantern carrier was hoisted
skyward. The planes were painted to bare the flag of the Games "Each of these aircraft has now begun the journey to bring the flame on its final leg."
“Brothers and sisters, dear guests until we receive the Olympic flame let enjoy a show " the announcer said.
As the announcer began his presentation, entertainers made their way to the field, they wore traditional cloths reminiscent of 11 century Tamora. They started performing a dance that was cut short by the entry in the field of several horseman dressed in war gear of the same century. The music in the arena changed to a crescendo attempting to create for the audience a sense of imminent danger. The riders circled the first group and then attacked. simulating the killing of the first group. Afterwards the riders left the field and as soon as they did, a child rose from among the bodies
of the first group laying on the ground .
The presenter speaks again: ”It is in the midst of turmoil and war that he, who later would come to be known as Prophet Mani, was born and with him the story of Tamora begins.”
The show then continued with the reenactment of key moments of Tamora’s history and its growth from a fledgling kingdom to the empire of the 21
st century.
Near the end of the show, two dozen imams lead by one Ayatollah made their way to the field and started the traditional call to
prayer with many of the Tamorans in attendance at the stadium standing up and joining them in the prayer.
At the same time in Ipsus their own entertainment began "As we wait for the flame to arrive please allow the children of Royal Seleucid to entertain you." An announcer spoke over the staidums PA system. The arena went into a black out and the only sound other than the crowd was the sound of what appeared to be water dripping. Suddenly the stadium spotlights brightly illuminated the arena floor which now had a blue winding strip of fabric meandering its way across the floor. It began twisting and turning with hundreds of teenage hands underneath manipulating it to make it appear like water. Then at one end children in costume appeared on the fabric being passed down above the heads of those under the waves. These children were wearing outfits of bright colours and beautiful face paints. "Seleucid legend tells that in the beginning there was land and water. This water was salty and deadly. Even the Gods could not drink it." Around twenty children had now appeared surfing over the heads of the children under the blue fabric. They were now evenly spread across the blue fabric strip. In carefully rehearsed move parts of the fabric became taut and was used to catipult the children above into the sky where they twisted and turned before returning to be caught before being launched once more. "Everything appeared to be doomed for these Gods until the Goddess Anahita arrived." There was a loud crash of cymbals and the arena went dark except for a single spotlight illuminating a twenty feet high effigy of a beautiful woman wrapped in a headscarf and carrying a large urn of water on her shoulder. It appeared to those watching that a trickle of water was beginning to come from the urn as the effigy was carried towards the centre of the arena. The children from earlier rushed forward with their blue fabric with one of them climbing the now centred effigy and placing the blue fabric in the urn to create a blue stream which now wound its way around the arena floor. "Anahita made the water pure, gave the Gods the chance to survive and even they worshipped her as a saviour." From under the blue fabric costumed children sprinted out and began dancing on the arena floor. Each was dressed to look like a flower or tree. "The Goddess made the plants grow" The children froze in space and then another group ran from under the blue cover, these dressed as animals of various kinds. They capered and spun around the animals a few appearing to take bites out of the trees or plants. "Then finally came us" Long lines of children in T-shirts with the flags of a different nation poured out of the entrances to the arena and down the steps before being allowed onto the arena floor where they joined with the animals and plants. "However all was not well. Despite the Goddesses kindness there was still evil." Now adults entered on stilts "The evils of thirst, hunger, poverty, homelessness and loneliness stand against us." The stilt walkers seemed to chase the children from the arena and the lights began to fall plunging the arena into darkness. "But legend says when humanity unites" The lights stayed off but in the gloom you could just about make out that all the children had gathered around the edge of the arena, this time each wearing a special t-shirt made of LED's which flashed the various flags of the Game nations on rotation. The changing illuminated flags rushed back onto the arena where each of the stilt walkers was illuminated by a spotlight and there the children dragged them to the ground. As they did so the area around it was illuminated until gradually one by one all the walkers were gone and the arena was bathed in light. "One day that will become a reality." The children began singing a selection of traditional folk songs as they paraded out of the arena having gone back up the stadium steps. "Ladies and Gentleman, please cast your eyes skywards as we welcome the flame of the games brought to us here by a member of the Tamoran Armed Forces."
At the same time the planes had arrived in the airspace over each arena. Onboard each plane now was the soldier who had been winched up from the gigafactory. They had changed into flying suits decorated with lights to make them easier to spot and strapped to their harness was the lantern. The Tamoran looked down up the Palm illuminated against the darkening Kyne while the Seleucid jumper picked out the white roofed tent shaped arena in Tamora easily from above. With careful co-ordination and on split screens the pair flashed a thumbs up before each launching themselves out of the doors of the aircraft. All being well they would touch down in the arena's at the same time however that would be a miracle thanks to the huge number of variables. As each got close to the altitude to pull their parachute cord they ignited smoke, blue and yellow in Ipsus and Green, White and Red in Attica. With just a few seconds gap the pair touched down, the flame arriving in Tamora slightly before Royal Seleucid. It would now be easier to syncronise and as the parachutist was helped out of their harness a representative from each nation stepped forward. In Ipsus it was Butrus Karimi a member of the men's Equestrian team who wearing a smart traditional Seleucid desert robe now strode to the edge of the arena where a series of steps lead up towards a platform where a metallic bowl was positioned. He held the lantern up and turned 360 degrees before taking a long wooden device and igniting the gas that was gathered in the bowl igniting the flame. At practically the exact same second in Tamora the two most famous Tamoran gold medalists:
Yalda Karimi (shooting) and Mirhashem Tajik (MMA), dressed in the colors of the Tamoran flag, lit the flame for the Tamoran side.
WHile each nation had attempted to show their own unique identity until now the ceremony now had some traditions of its own. In each arena athletes began entering the arena in uniforms of their nations. At the head of each group was a local child carrying a name board bearing the nations official name in their own language and Parthian, behind the child came a single representative of that nation proudly carrying their own flag before in the case of nations like Ui Cenneslaig a huge gathering of athletes, or in the case of Waddan a mere handful. Regardless of the size of the delegation polite applause came from all those watching in the arena where occasionally a loud cheer would break out from pockets of spectators as their own nation entered the arena. Finally it came down to the last two teams and at this point there was a break with tradition. In Ipsus it would be the Selecuid team that entered last while over in Attica the Tamorans. Only when the final athlete had completed their proud lap did things proceed.
On the large screens and TV's the image of King Heydar appeared. "This year the games see's a first. This is the first time two nations have hosted the games. With the events split between ourselves and our dear friends in Tamora this created a slight problem. Which of us should give the opening address. With the games having originally, in the depths of history, started with Track and Field events it seems only fair that our Tamoran friends announce the actual official opening of the games. However I wish to quickly say a few words. I wish to thank the nations of Mundus for trusting us to host what are the greatest sporting events on Mundus. Thank you for trusting us to provide your sons and daughters with an opportunity to live out their dreams and thank you for joining with us to celebrate the greatest annual coming together of nations. During the next 18 days of sport we shall see nations who do not always perhaps see eye to eye embrace each other as friends on the sports field. We shall see them console each other in disappointment and congratulate each other in success. It is my sincere hope that once these athletes leave here they will take with them the same spirit and same compassion into all they do. I wish every athlete the best for the next 18 days and I welcome every fan to our nation. I know excitedly hand over to Lady Alya Safavid in Attica to declare the games officially open.
Lady Alya Safavid continued almost immediately:
“Thank you, Your Majesty. I would like to begin by adding our thanks to the nations of Mundus for choosing us and our great Seleucid friends to host the most important sporting event. It marks not only a first because two nations host the game but it is also the first time the games come to MidAranye, a region of most importance to Mundus. I would also want to welcome the athletes to the games, they are not only the best athletes Mundus has to offer but also ambassadors of their countries. Lastly, I would like to thank all those watching the games, we are overwhelmed by your interest and enthusiasm.
With that I declare the games open, may God watch over you. “
Show Posts
