The Western IslesBoard

• Team Sports

• Individual Sports

• Nationally Famous Individual Sporting Events

• Ioudaia at the Olympics
  

Football

Football is Ioudaia's most popular sport, both in terms of spectators and players. Ioudan professional football is regulated by the Ioudaian Association Football Commission, and is divided into four tiers with promotion and relegation between them. Numerous amateur leagues exist as well, and there are several national training leagues, each associated with a network of schools.

Basketball

In second place to football in terms of fans, basketball is nearly as popular as football as a participatory sport. Cold, wet winters in Sahel Tufani and Jogeh Asvat, and summer heat in Erythkoralia and southern Myrging Isles, seasonally favor indoor sports. Basketball's league structure is similar to football's, but has only three tiers. Additionally, the third tier accommodates both the northern winter league and southern summer league, their short seasons adding wrinkles to the promotion and relegation rules between the second and third tiers.

Many amateur players play both football and basketball, and a handful of top-tier professional football players also play in the winter basketball league. Currently, there are no first-tier winter basketball players playing professional football, but there have been in the past.

Lacrosse

Lacrosse was introduced with variant rules with larger teams and playing fields by the Ioudaian Army as a way of training young officers in the 1930s. It's still played that way, now with "commanders" in elevated stands directing large teams via radio.

The sport spread into the civilian world gradually, but by the 1970s, there was a professional league. While lacrosse lags far behind football and basketball in both viewers and players, it's also much larger than any other team sport played in Ioudaia, none of which have professional leagues. Professional lacrosse has a three-tier league, but the top tier is small, with only fourteen teams.

The top six team sports are rounded out by rugby, volleyball, and skirmishing games (laser/paint gun tag games). Fans of water polo sometimes claim their sport should displace skirmishing in the Top Six, but this has been difficult to prove.

Individual sports are dominated by races. If Ioudaians can race it, they want to know who can go the fastest. In addition to traditional muscle-powered races (running, swimming, cycling, skating, and rowing), popular racing sports include boating, motor racing (automobiles, motorcycles, airplanes, and power boats), and even horse racing, despite Ioudaia having poor horses and little equestrian history.

Other popular classes of sports include:

• Combat sports: Ioudaian and imported martial arts, boxing, grappling, shooting/skirmishing

• Diving

• Racquet sports: tennis, badminton

• Wall-ball sports: squash, handball

• Diving

• Jumping: high, long, pole vault

• Combination Events (triathlon, etc)
  

Long distance races make up the majority of the list, but it also includes other sports.

Running

Nilakabat-Amphigemea Cross-country Races

During both the 1144 Liberation, which led to the Second Kingdom, and during the 1380s-1400s, as Modern Ioudaia again threw off foreign domination, runners frequently transferred messages between Nilakabat, which was usually autonomous, and Amphigemea, which was at the edge of the Second Kingdom and the center of newly-independent Modern Ioudaia.

During the 1144 Liberation and the early stages of modern independence, the distance was covered by single runners, however, as Modern Ioudaia expanded, permanent relay stations were set up with teams of runners crossing the distance much more quickly. (Crossing Arzi Ikwa and/or the foothills of Jebal Esfit on horseback was not practical because of the lack of grass along the way.)

The courses messengers took are not well documented in the historical record, but it's known that both the direct route between the cities and the easier but longer route going north across Arzi Ikwa from Amphigemea and then northwest up the Krenet Plain were used at different times. Therefore, modern race planners use both rough courses, changing the exact routes every year.

Today, there are three sorts of races run annually commemorating the historical messengers:

• Messengers' Run: a multi-day cross-country race covering the entire distance

• Nilakabat-Amphigemea Relays: a three-day relay with 3-5k road/trail running legs with some 1-2km steeplechase legs.

• Two separate shorter cross-country races, crossing the last two legs of the best-documented southeast-then-south run to Amphigemea. The first leg is 22km, starting from a ruined village in Arzi Ikwa, and continuing to the edge of Pytos, a modern town near the Borysthemes. The second leg covers the remaining distance to Amphigemea.
  

Araxia Sprints

Anybody who fancies themselves a short-distance runner will run here, and it's become the popular place to watch Summer Olympics hopefuls. The races include not only the olympic standard 100m, 400m, and 800m runs, but also the 60m dash and the traditional 252m. The Sprints also run the 4x100m and 4x400m relays, which are very popular both with runners and running fans.

The Araxia Sprints are held with the Araxia Hexathlon (right below).

Combination Events

Araxia Hexathlon (modern)

The Araxia Hexathlon commemorates (some say continues) the ancient tradition of the Omvar Hexathlon, held long before the unification of Ioudaia, and extending into the First Kingdom. Foreign conquest prevented the Hexathlon from being held after 822, and the contests weren't held again until 1822, the thousandth anniversary of the last Hexathlon.

Between 1822 and 1986, the Hexathlon used the traditional events with traditional scoring rules, with the exception of the historical equestrian event, whose rules were lost. During that time, the equestrian event used Ioudaia's 17th century equestrian rules. However, as Ioudan athletes began to compete internationally more, the rules were brought into compliance with international standards. The running events were standardized starting in 1987, followed by jumping in 2002. After a contentious vote in 2009, the last two traditional events were replaced with standard ones.

The current events, with traditional events in parentheses:

• 400m (252m)

• 3k steeplechase (4.1k cross-country run with varying obstacles)

• long jump (jumping with hand weights for greater distance)

• high jump (different elimination rules)

• 50m rifle, 3-positions (spear and shield)

• 50m freestyle swimming (poorly documented equestrian event)
  

Prizes consist of a mix of traditional and modern prizes. Modern sponsors, mostly athletic equipment companies, provide cash prizes for the top three scorers. In addition, the traditional prizes are awarded for the events: gold and 12-karat red gold foil diadems for the two top in each event, and a simple gold wire crown for new records. The crowns are set with a semi-precious stone indicating which event the athlete set a new record for.

Traditionally, if at least one athlete won at least two events, the winner(s) of the most events would be awarded a braided gold and red gold diadem. This tradition is continued. In addition, a modern score weighting system is used to determine the top three overall athletes, and modern sponsors provide both cash prizes and gold wire crowns for them, the crowns being set with the six gems used for record-setters. The crown for the first place finisher is especially elaborate. This "modern tradition" is considered tacky by many fans and some athletes, but so far, nobody has refused either their cash or their crown.

Since 2003, there have been a few attempts to establish a rival hexathlon using the 1822 rules and events, but currently, the modern hexathlon is the only one run.

Erythkoralia Tetrathlon (modern)

The southern coast has also traditionally held a set of events, this one celebrating the region's traditional occupations in pearl and coral diving. Unlike the Araxia Hexathlon, the Tetrathlon is only partially compliant with international rules. The long jump is still conducted with weights, and there are no other contests for underwater swimming, so that also continues with traditional rules. The other two events now follow more common standards.

The events:

• long jump

• 252m underwater swim

• 1500m freestyle swim (1008m swim)

• 5k run (4.1k cross-country run)
  

Traditional diadems are awarded, including a braided diadem for the winner of three or all four events, but records weren't kept before the founding of Modern Ioudaia, so no crowns are awarded. Instead, modern gold medals are given for record-setters, along with a cash prize.

Unlike the Hexathlon, the Tetrathlon has been continuously run since at least the First Kingdom. While the long jump required a pit, the other three events were hard to recognize as races if held on separate days, and so took place covertly under foreign occupation.

Bicycling: Trans-Ioudaia Cyclathlon

Ioudaia's premier cycling event runs from Pteleon to Cypharisseis and back. In recent years, it either passes through Nykalessos on way back, or adds an additional stage to finish up there.

The race is a multi-day, multi-stage event, running on a different route every year. Passing through the Leukoroseira on the outbound and/or return legs makes the race challenging, as both grade and weather change dramatically during the race.

Motor sports

West Coast Rally

Ioudaia's largest road rally runs from Oichalia, up the length of the country, and ends near the northern border, typically in Bandor Panjdi or Estakhir. Despite the name, the course turns inland to skirt the western edge of the Upper Thasis National Park, before following the Thasis downstream to Grissias and Areme before returning to the coast. Likewise, the course always runs between Itomos and Sanehtaj to take drivers through the foothills of the Leukoroseira.

The rally starts at dawn on the summer solstice, to give teams the most daylight, and then runs for between eight and twenty four hours, depending on the length and difficulty of the course. Since the Rally has royal sanction, course roads close the previous midnight, and traffic is limited to emergencies until the Rally has passed though a stretch of road.

Grissias Motocross

Once described as "forty minutes and three laps of pure hell", the Grissias Motocross is Ioudaia's most grueling motorcycle event. As a result, it's considered the best test of motorcycling abilities there is. Unlike the other popular races, the Motocross runs on a closed track, which changes from year to year. Both riders and fans furiously debate which years' layouts have been the most difficult and challenging, and which have been the best at determining "the best true motorcyclist".

The Grissias Motocross is part of the normal motocross circuit, but because of its difficulty, it requires qualifying. As such, it's the last race of the season.

Boating

Skoimos Circumnavigation

As the name implies, the Skoimos Circumnavigation is a sailing race around Ioudaia, starting in its namesake city, and ending in Bandor Panjdi. All sailing craft may enter, as the race is divided into classes, with elaborate handicaps for greater use of modern equipment rather than skill in seamanship.

Because of the race's length and the cost to equip suitable boats, racers are typically sponsored, and many are professional racers. Nevertheless, the race is open to all, and the handicapping sometimes does allow pure amateurs in the small-boat classes to win.

Aelo Rud-Cypharisseis-Areme (ACA)

A shorter and more popular sailing race, the ACA was started as an easier, less expensive answer to the Skoimos Circumnavigation. Like that race, the ACA is open to all sailboats, with classes and handicaps. While the ACA's Unlimited Class is typically won by sponsored yachtsmen, the other classes are routinely won by amateurs and part-time competitors, making the race more accessible to sailors and sailing fans. The race is also less demanding than the Skoimos Circumnavigation, avoiding the hazards of Sahel Tufani's storms, Erythkoralia's reefs, and the tricky winds and currents in the Coroikos Channel.

Areme-Lemnion Hexaconter

This race commemorates an early period in Ioudaia's seafaring past, when galleys were state of the art merchant vessels and warships, moving people and fighting wars along the relatively calm waters of southern Ioudaia.

Teams race hexaconters, sixty-man galleys, across Kolpos Aremikos. Even with the race run in high summer, the 50km course typically takes two days to complete, with teams beaching their galleys at night. Teams are typically sponsored, but a number of universities field teams every year, and sometimes professional sports teams compete out-of-sport for fun or charity.

Air Racing

Fincarden-Thelos 50kW Invitational

In 1911, Ezra Brent established air travel as a practical means of crossing long distances in Ioudaia by making the first flight from Fincarden to Thelos. So, unlike the other commemorative races, which celebrate long periods of time, the Fincarden-Thelos Invitational celebrates a single historic event.

As the name indicates, the race requires planes with 50kW or smaller engines. And because the race is flown mostly over open water, it requires demonstrated skill, so only pilots with established records in long distance air travel in light airplanes are allowed to participate. Planes are custom-built for the race, and typically sponsored, though the low power limit does permit dedicated individuals and small groups to build a race plane without sponsorship and have a good chance of finishing in the top six. Since the race has permanent sponsors and a small endowment, cash prizes are awarded for all of the first six finishers, making it even easier for amateurs to compete: just a good finish will pay for the race and the aircraft.

The race is run every September Fourth, the anniversary of the original flight.

Nykalessos 300kW 4-seater Twin Seaplane Race

The Seaplane Race was founded in 1919 to encourage and showcase the development of new, practical aviation technologies. While it did that for its first five decades, racing designs have become so specialized that it's just another professional sport. It is nonetheless very popular, as it starts in the capital and typically finishes in another large city. In-cockpit cameras, camera planes, and checkpoints requiring low-altitude passes make the sport accessible even to non-pilots, leading to high TV and streaming ratings, large prizes, and intense competition.

In addition to prizes for the top three finishers, there are also prizes for airplane styling recalling the Golden Age of Air Travel, new technologies, and fastest times on particular legs, usually ones involving difficult flight, such as over mountains.

Ice Racing: Sanehtaj-Shariyath Ice Races

Ice races on the upper Aelo Rud are traditional, reliably dating back to the First Cryptarchy, with suggestive evidence indicating an origin during the First Kingdom. Regardless of the historical details, the prizes are traditional First Kingdom prizes: gold and 12-karat red gold foil diadems for the first two finishers in each event, and a simple gold wire crown for new records. The crowns are set with a semi-precious stone indicating which event the racer set a new record for.

There are three kinds of skating events: skating the full, 68km distance between the cities, skating the distance with 12-member relay teams, and speed-skating events of various lengths held in both cities. Prizes are awarded for both men and women, as well as for mixed (6+6) relay teams.

In additional, there's an ice boat race between Sanehtaj and Shariyath. It was added in 1940, but traditional prizes are awarded for it. Men and women compete in the same race, as skill is considered more important than strength for ice boating.

Cliff Diving

Cliff diving has long been practiced among the young men of Geryx for fun, thrills, and bragging rights, but the competitive sport emerged only in the early 20th century. The first set of rules were proposed in 1921, but the Eastern Seaboard War prevented diving competitions from being held until 1925.

As each diving site along the Pasiphaeos Strait is different (different heights above the water, different needs to jump outward to clear obstacles, and so on) each site had its own ground rules until the 1950s. Then, the emergence TV led to the popular discovery of cliff diving as a spectator sport. By 1954, all the main diving sites were under a unified set of rules, and an annual diving circuit developed. Starting in 1955, the Cliff Diving League auctioned off TV rights to provide for professional judges and cash prizes for winners. In 2017, TV rights were joined by streaming rights, providing even more money for prizes, which has led to a recent increase in the number of fans and competitors.

As Ioudaian athletes competed more and more internationally, sports fans began to question why the country wasn't competing in the Olympic Games. For over a decade, practical questions of having enough athletes to make competition worthwhile, and being willing to spend the money to train them carried the day, but in 2016, popular pressure and the recently elected King Zamir Eumenes convinced the Six Kings to begin preparing for Olympic competition.

Ioudaia first fielded a time at XIII Winter Olympics, winning two silver medals and one bronze.

Olympic Results

• Ioudaia's Olympic Debut at the XIII Winter Olympics, Prescott, Electrum

• Ioudaia Brings Home 26 Medals from XIII Olympiad

• Ioudaia's Kyra Glezos Becomes Quadruple Olympic Medalist at XIV Winter Olympics

• Ioudaia Wins 11 Medals in the XIV Olympiad

• Ten medals for Ioudaia at the XV Winter Olympics

• Nine medals including three gold for Ioudaia at the XV Olympiad

• Ioudaia wins dozen medals at XVI Winter Olympics, five multiple medalists

• Sixteen Medals for Ioudaia at the XVI Olympiad; Scylax Or li Becomes First Triple Gold Medalist