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Quorivo, Lavanda Prima, Giovanniland—08:00 AM International Atomic Time, 6th November 1421 "Wake up, everyone!", told Matteo. "The hotel breakfast is ready, and last time I stayed in the Deversorio Hortensia it was really good." It was a sunny Saturday morning, and once the blinds were opened, rays of sunlight entered the bedroom of the Settimo-Nerani family. "Ouch," complained Flavio, as he grabbed a pillow to hide the light from reaching his eyes. "Can't we wait just a bit more?" "Come on, let's go!", Angela said. "There's a lot to do today, we can't wait much more." The others then gave in, and in a few minutes were ready to go downstairs to the hotel's breakfast room, just on the right of the foyer and main entrance. There was the breakfast room. It was nicely decorated, and the family chose a table just besides a bouquet of beautifully arranged violet flowers. "Let's see what the breakfast is today," thought Flavio. "Hmm, some grapes, bananas, melons, oranges, apples, watermelons... I'll take an orange and a slice of melon," said Angela. "Those sandwiches surely do look nice," noted Augusto. "I think that's what I'll eat today." "And wow, these chocolate and passion fruit pies look very beautiful! I don't think these existed last time I was here, so I'll taste some of it." After getting their breakfast, the family sat down in the table and started eating. More and more people entered the room and time passed; the breakfast room would close at 10:30 AM. As Angela finished eating the fruits, something caught her attention. There was a pile of several newspapers and magazines just to the right of the table. One with flashy crimson letters said "Quotidiano Quorivano". It was from the 1st of November, almost a week before, but nevertheless Angela chose to read it. The headline was particularly notable—Interview: Giovannilandian Athletes Sweep the 110m Hurdles Podium. "This interview looks very interesting," thought Angela as she finished reading. "There have been other Giovannilandian podium sweeps since that one, but nevertheless it seems those four athletes are now well celebrated for the first one ever. Could there be another one today...? There must be a reason I happened to see this newspaper just today." "Ooh, looks interesting," remarked Flavio. "Can I read it?" Angela agreed, and her younger son started reading. Just after that, Matteo asked everyone: "So, which events are we watching today?" "I think it would be interesting to watch something different today, what about Road Cycling Time Trial? The Via Firkella Herennio isn't that far from this hotel, we just need to drive a bit to the south," proposed Angela. "Nice idea, when does it start?" asked Augusto. "We need to go to the Stadio Sferiko Rege Giovanni VI to watch the Giovanniland v. Nieubasria football semifinal later today..." "Oh, the road cycling event starts at 13:30 PM, we should able to lunch, watch this event, and then go to that stadium at 16:00 PM to watch the football game," said Matteo. "I like this plan!", Flavio agreed. The family then finished breakfast, stayed on the hotel for a while, and then got ready for lunch and for the road cycling event. Via Firkella Herennio, Quorivo, Giovanniland—13:00 PM International Atomic Time, 6th November 1421 "So, we've finally arrived!", exclaimed Angela. "Indeed, let's take our seats," told Matteo. The family had reserved some seats just before the starting point, so that they could also see the athletes starting and ending. The event soon started, and athletes raced alone as they were sent out in intervals, instead of a mass start. An Esferiad official announced the name of each cyclist in alphabetical order and gave them a heads up so they could prepare. Giovannilandians applauded as the nation's athletes started: Manuella Violetone, Priskilla Linare-Vitale, Tadeo Remo Bellieno and Umberto Hibernio. It was a lengthy road, although a screen displayed updates of where the athletes were. After one hour, they started to come back. Another screen updated the rankings as they finished. Soon, the official announced the first Giovannilandian athlete to come back: "And Manuella Violetone has just finished, with a time of one hour, five minutes and twenty-five seconds!" "Second place, very good," said Angela. "The first place at the moment, Ian Froome from Cambria, came just twenty seconds faster than her," added Matteo. The family then cheered even more as Priskilla Linare-Vitale finished 1:03:05, two minutes faster than the previous first-place, and took the lead of the podium. But just a few moments later, they were even more impressed as Tadeo Remo Bellieno had outdone his fellow colleague with a time of 1:02:20. "I think this is the prelude for a podium sweep," thought Flavio. And in fact he was right, as Umberto Hibernio then finished with a time of 1:04:18, and the first three places were dominated by Giovanniland. The family was very happy when the last athlete of the competition arrived, and the podium sweep was confirmed. The medal ceremony was staged right there on the open cycling road, a few speakers displaying the Giovannilandian anthem as three copies of the beautiful national flag were hoisted at once. "Woohoo!", said Matteo. "I think the event has ended now, and it's almost 15:00 PM so we should get ready to go into the football stadium." Angela thought to herself. "So there was in fact going to be a podium sweep... my prediction was correct! I feel like more lucky things are about to happen..." The family then left their seats near the Via Firkella Herennio and went to the Stadio Sferiko Rege Giovanni VI. Stadio Sferiko Rege Giovanni VI, Quorivo, Giovanniland—15:30 PM International Atomic Time, 6th November 1421 The family entered the stadium and found their four seats after some time. "This stadium is beautiful, those purple seats and fields really evoke the common violet and lavender fields here," thought Angela. "This is way more crowded than the road cycling event, I guess Giovannilandians just like football more," noted Augusto. "There are many Basrians here as well, I think in total there are 50 thousand people already," said Matteo. "What's the total capacity?" "Should be 90 thousand, I know it's nearly the same capacity as the Arena Abrentana in Giovannia, which has 95 thousand," said Flavio. "After all, this stadium was a new one built for the Esferiad, bears His Majesty's name, and will host the gold medal match, so it must have a lot of capacity," remarked Angela. The game was about to start, with the Giovannilandian squad the same as the last match. Nieubasria's team was also nearly the same, but without Earc Velding, due to the unfortunate death that happened during the 1st World Cup of Football. One of the referees then called the two captains and flipped a coin to decide the starting team. The Giovannilandian captain's choice allowed the home team to start. The two teams then each looked for opportunities to attack, in a match that was shaping up to be very even. "Our team is playing against the champion of the 1st World Cup, after all, the same team that also defeated us during the football gold medal match of the Saint-Josalyn Summer Esferiad," noted Angela. After nearly half of the first match without many goals, Giovannilandian striker Pietro Takeda finally opened the score on the 25th minute, aided by attacking midfielder Giustiniano Nottua-Glabrio and striker Klementina de Abreo-Florino. The Giovannilandian fans then cheered. However, the advantage would not last long, as in the 32nd minute Camdyn Cartwrighte from Nieubasria would make the score even again, after the Giovannilandian goalkeeper Klaudio Spindola caught an initial attempt but could not stop a second try. "It's the player that received the 1st World Cup's Golden Ball award after all," thought Matteo. That was it for the first half, with no other noteworthy happenings. "How do you think the match will end, family?", asked Flavio. "I think it could go into extra time, or maybe even penalty shootouts," wondered Angela. "But I hope we can win." The second half saw Giovanniland switch center midfield Gabriella Orfeo with striker Ottavio Laquo-Tertulli, as the team hoped to increase its attacking style. However, none of the scoring attempts succeeded. In fact, the opposite happened: in the 63rd minute Edric Graemes from Nieubasria scored, leaving the Giovannilandians with a losing score of 1-2. The following half hour was tough for Giovannilandian fans, as several opportunities were created but none succeeded. Outside back Sergio Feragi Faustiano and captain Lorentio Santo-Ferrari even hit the goalpost, while Gustavo Zapata had two strikes blocked by the Basric goalkeeper. The referee gave four minutes of stoppage time, during a nailbiting moment for the family and other Giovannilandians in the stadium. But finally, when hope seemed gone, striker Ottavio Laquo-Tertulli finally scored the equalizer goal that would bring the score into 2-2 and the game into extra time. "I guess the change at half time did pay off," said Augusto. The family then watched the two halves of extra time as the ball flew across the field but did not enter any of the goals. "Penalty shootout it is," noted Matteo. The two teams then chose their best players to take the five initial penalties for each team. Some minutes later, four penalties had been taken for each team and all were successful. Teodoro Sonserina, Gabriella Orfeo, Pietro Takeda, and Klementina de Abreo-Florino all scored for Giovanniland; while Camdyn Cartwrighte, Huxley Townsende, Holden Sudworthe and Landan Aylmere did so for Nieubasria. It was then the final two penalties of the initial round, if both teams succeeded then it would go into sudden death. Gustavo Zapata took the one for Giovanniland; it was a strike that hit the top right part of the net, with no chance for the Basric goalkeeper. Then it was the Basric striker Edric Graemes' turn. Once it was seen that the strike hit the left goalpost and failed to enter, both the Giovannilandian team and fans cheered as a place during the gold medal match was guaranteed. The Settimo-Nerani family was happy as well. "Yay, congrats Giovanniland!", said Flavio. "Do we know the team we'll face in the next match?" "Looks like it is, hmm... Cambria," answered Matteo. "They had a convincing 2-0 win against Arifiyyah." "Their goalkeeper is really one of the best, very few times I've seen a strike pass through him," noted Augusto. "Indeed," said Angela. "In the previous Esferiad we came to the final but lost to Nieubasria, the same country we defeated now, so hopefully we can get the gold medal for football this time." The family then left the Stadio Sferiko Rege Giovanni VI, soon driving back to the Deversorio Hortensia. Just like the previous day, a traditional Lavandulan dinner awaited them. Then it was sleep time, as the family planned to watch some of the events in the last day of the Esferiad, hopefully including the Closing Ceremony at Kharventhin.

II Summer Esferiad Closing Ceremony It was starting to get dark, and everyone was seated around Violet Lake. In the centre of the lake was a platform. It edged to 8pm, and everyone had started to get quiet. King Giovanni VI and Kassakira Petrovikan were sat on the bottom row, near a podium with a microphone. Lights shone onto a lonesome bed with a small child and their mother on the platform. The audience quietened immediately. “Eny, can you tell me a story?” the child looks up at their mum. “I can tell you something better, let me tell you a legend.” she replies softly, as the lights slowly dim again, and the drumming starts. [ https://open.spotify.com/track/4yhvv7KxIxiyDdCo8U3nX1?si=f741371e3cec4ea5 ] Boats are gently lit up with red lights, each paddle causing ripples of colour as they start to move in sync around the platform. On each boat, people stand on the flat roof, performing a traditional dance of the Glendora People, stomping and shouting an ancient cry of warning. The boats start to move between each other, with dancers hopping from one boat to another. They approach the platform, and the drums start to finish. The platform lights up, showing Lavandulan style dancers. The music changes and they begin to dance, with the boats’ lights turning off. The Glendora Dancers merge and they begin to dance together. You notice that each dance has a different feel - the first was of strength and curiosity, the next of culture and understanding, and the final of acceptance and belonging. The moves become more like ballroom as the first boats quietly move away for another set of boats to arrive. [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jECu9zNdVwI&list=RDQMVOaDjAEH98w&index=14 ] The following set of moves depict the north and south divide, and the triumph of Giovanniland. Done gracefully, it showed Glendora dancers willfully following the Giovanni style performers, before a change happened. The boats coming into the platform were of Glenpavia resistance dancers, swapping with the Glendora performers in the style. They show the uprising, and the forming of the nation in interpretive dance. The platform was shown on screens above behind the audience, showing the platform depicting images and motifs of the era’s history. [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRrP3ESM6sQ ] Eventually, the song changes to a more modern one as they go though recent Blue Bubble events, like the military coup, the push for democracy, and opening of the borders. This final event started the athletes' entry, each country on as many open top boats as required, as the dancers left the platform. [ https://open.spotify.com/track/2IIhKqYJtVIH79183A9WCK?si=adace501514c4d6c ] Each boat had the countries’ flag on the front, with some athletes choosing to sit during the ride. They were announced in Common only as followed, In Common alphabetical order, with the hosts at the end as per the opening ceremony: Arifiyyah Dalimbar Dilber Fhaengshia Fuentana Fujai Hertfordshire and Jammbo Larxia Nagaraningrad Nieubasria Orandia Saint Mark Santos-Dominius Tara and Cambray Teralyon Tupmonia United Adaikes Glenpavia Giovanniland Once everyone had arrived at the centre, they walked onto the platform. The final medals were awarded, and Gabriello Hiberno-Elisano, President of the Quoriv & Kharventhin Organising Committee of the Esferic Games, and Chi Ijendu, Chair of the International Esferiad Commission, each gave a speech on the games. A moment of silence was held for the deaths of athletes that had happened during the games, with small lights placed on the water by volunteers as a small act of remembrance. The screens cut to the flame in Giovanniland, as commentary states that water from Violet Lake is being used to put out the flame. Kassakira Petrovikan and King Giovanni VI then both announced the closure of the games, finishing with a firework display which glittered in the reflection of the water. The air was buzzing with delight, amazement, joy, and cheer, and that feeling kept long after the ceremony was over.

Giovannilandian Esferiad Report - 13th Day 24 Gold - 19 Silver - 20 Bronze Hello there! I am Karlo Nakamura-Edrense, the host of the Giovannilandian Esferiad Report. Yesterday was a wonderful day for our nation, as it beat the record of 7 medals set in the 4th and 11th days, and surpassed it for a total of 10! Just like Blue Bubble's performance in the 2nd day that also earned them 10 medals, that is the most medals a nation has gained in a single day. Three golds, four silvers and three bronzes were earned yesterday, and I'll of course talk about the events that made this possible and the other ones as well. Starting with Kharventhin, two events with Giovannilandian participation happened there. One of them was Shortboard Surfing, featuring Giovannilandian athletes Yolanda Fagundi-Torio, Italo Helvio-Rossi, and Benditto Kervariani. All of them advanced to the quarterfinals, but then Italo was eliminated at that stage. Yolanda and Benditto then met at the semifinals, the former going to the gold medal game and the latter to the bronze medal one. Then, Benditto won against Xolani Kariuki from Blue Bubble and earned a bronze medal, while Yolanda lost to Phoebe Aishi-Smith from Santos-Dominius but nevertheless achieved a silver medal. The other event was Indoor Volleyball, in which we defeated our neighbors Blue Bubble at their own home three sets to one, and will now play against United Adaikes in the final. In Quorivo, seven events happened. In the semifinals of Field Hockey and Football, both Giovannilandian teams met the respective Basric ones, and two very close matches with almost the same scores happened. Both of them saw each team score twice in normal time, then no changes at extra time, and then a penalty shootout happen to decide the winner. The Giovannilandian football team won the shootout 5-4, while the field hockey one also did win but with a score of 4-3. Funnily enough, both teams will now face Cambria in the fight for gold, and both Cambric teams had won against the Arifiyyah ones to arrive in the gold medal match. What a strange coincidence! Anyways, for the finals, we'll see if an Astorian revenge or a Giovannilandian triumph (or both!) happen—vote in our daily poll to let your opinion be known! Meanwhile, in the Rugby Sevens semifinals, Giovanniland sadly lost 12-24 to United Adaikes, but can still win a medal, as it will face Nieubasria in the bronze medal match. Moving on to individual events, Road Cycling Time Trial saw the participation of Umberto Hibernio, Priskilla Linare-Vitale, Manuella Violetone, and Tadeo Remo Bellieno. Giovanniland dominated the podium, with Tadeo, Priskilla and Umberto ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respectively! As for the Track Cycling Individual Sprint, the athletes Alessandra Kanassiro, Vinikio Garrulo Silva, Kristiana Hermentidio, and Fernandino Quartiano participated. Alessandra and Fernandino failed to advance past the quarterfinals, finishing 7th and 8th, while Vinicius and Cristiane faced each other in the semifinals. Kristiana then went on to the final and earned a silver medal after losing to Seiya Nikolov from H&J, while Vinikio did not get any medal as he lost to Lucy Collins from Nieubasria. Furthermore, two gymnastics events happened today besides the cycling ones. Gymnastics Vault and Individual All-Arounds both featured the athletes Lukiano Annabella-Tappone, Sollenne Sousa Kandido, Silvana Mantovani, Isayas Delliaro-Varrutio, and Romeo Saverri-Mattei. Romeo and Isayas performed very well in both, the former setting a new Vault record and of course winning gold, and the latter achieving bronze. The tables turned for the individual all-arounds, as Isayas came first due to excellent performances in Balance Beam and Rings, finishing with 48 points, whereas Romeo's great Vault performance and good scores in the other events gave him 42 points and a silver medal. After our retrospective, we will talk about the events in the last matchday of the Esferiad. Yes, it's already coming to an end, but there are still many Giovannilandian athletes to watch in the last day! In Kharventhin, our delegation will be present at the Closing Ceremony, while the Indoor Volleyball team will participate in the finals. There are also the Kayak-1 200 m Sprint, Badminton Doubles, and Fencing Sabre events, but no athletes from our nation will be playing. Meanwhile, the events in Quorivo will be: Track Cycling Team Sprint featuring the pairs of Fernandino Quartiano & Vinikio Garrulo Silva and Kristiana Hermentidio & Alessandra Kanassiro; Gymnastics Team All-Arounds featuring Lukiano Annabella-Tappone, Sollenne Sousa Kandido, Silvana Mantovani, Isayas Delliaro-Varrutio, and Romeo Saverri-Mattei; Finals of Field Hockey, Football, and Rugby Sevens (team events); That is the schedule for the fourteenth and last day of Esferic events! You can watch them on the channels 201 to 210, and for members of our monthly subscription, and I also hope to see you tomorrow for another report.