To celebrate the turn of the century, the 5000 year edition became a special event held in Victoria, capital city of the island of Oleria
Crowd watching the finals of the Games live
They are the biggest sporting event in Selucia, which with each celebration brings together millions of citizens around its screens and in the stadiums and streets, which paralyze an entire country every five years. They are the Selucian National Games, originally a festival, or celebration of and for the Gods of Religio Seluciana, established by the Selucian Empire after the Unification of Selucia and the establishment of the Religio as the new state's official religion, now a series of athletic competitions among the best athletes from the five provinces of Selucia, where only two athletes are proclaimed the winners at the end of all events, although special diplomas are awarded to the best athletes in each discipline. In the past, victors at the Games were honored, and their feats chronicled for future generations. They are considered to be extremely hard, and in the past, athletes would even die in them, with the last athlete dying in 4230. They served as the basis for the creation of the Terran Olympic Games, and have been held uninterruptedly since before the year 2000, more than three millennia ago. The victory in these games brought and continues to bring fame and glory to the victors, and some of them, such as the well-known Argos Loukas, later reached important positions in the government of the nation.
To celebrate the change of century and the millennium, the government of Licinia Armiger decided, in talks with the Praetors of the three islands, to hold a special celebration of these games, the largest ever seen in Selucia. With Oleria chosen as the main venue, all the necessary preparations were made for the biggest sporting event in years.
Twenty competitions, held throughout a month, that put the participating athletes to the limit. The youngest athlete, 16 years old. The oldest, 69 years old. A total of 2,300 athletes, the nation's elite, competing for the top spot. 1,600 did not finish all the events. The youngest and oldest athlete, did so. 38th and 123rd positions for them, respectively. And at the end of all the games, the great celebration with the two new winners: Blossia Cerularius (38) from Sadaria Orientalis and Philolaches Messala (27) from Oleria.
The subsequent Victory Parade throughout the country, with its three days and three nights of celebration, and the reception by Pro-Consul Licinia Armiger and Consul Ballio Caesar Neneus along with the rest of the State authorities.
"Once again, before us stand the elite of our nation's sport. Mens sana in corpore sana, the Selucian National Games are the perfect example of the harmony between mind and body of all our citizens, and of the healthy competition that we can. get to build among ourselves. Today, we celebrate the end of a century and a millennium of history, and we welcome a new century and a new millennium of more history to be written. And the first line of that history has already been written : Blossia Cerularius and Philolaches Messala have been the authors of that first line on the blank page, proclaiming themselves the winners of these Games! "
For Mrs. Cerularia this is her second victory in the Games, after winning the 4985 edition. For Messala, this is his first victory, but he hopes it is not his last.
said Mr. Messala to the press."We all train very hard to compete in these Games. They are the dream of many children. From where I come from, a small village south of Victoria, the whole town met every five years to watch the Games together. And once I said: One day I'll be there. And here I am, as a Victor of these Games"
His trainer was Ergalisus Amor, himself a twice winner of the Games ( the 4950 and 4955 editions), and who, together with his fellow countryman Caedicia Thrasea achieved the last podium sweep of the Games, in 4955.
said Mrs. Cerularia"Of course I'd like to bring back to Sadaria Orientalis another podium sweep"
"the last one achieved by my region was in 4815, almost two centuries ago! And our last male winner was in 4965, so I'd love to see one of my fellow countrymen achieve the podium along with me. It would be another dream come true."
According to preliminary figures, the broadcast of the Games has also been an international success, with billions of viewers all over Terra. Asked the Pro-Consul about the possibility of allowing foreign athletes to participate in the Games, she has been blunt:
"It is a situation that of course we do not consider. The Terran Olympic Games were created to allow competition among all the nations of Terra. These are the Selucian National Games, and in them any citizen of Selucia who wishes to participate can participate if they pass the required tests. We understand that our games arouse great international interest, but their very function is that our regions can compete with their best athletes. That is why we could never allow foreign athletes to participate. "
Blossia Cerularia (Sadaria Orientalis, right) and Philolaches Messala (Oleria, left), winners of the 5000 Selucian National Games