The eOlympics - An Initiative Like No Other

Day 767, 19:28 • Published in Greece Canada • by Buck Roger

In response to my own offer in Good Causes Get GOLD Funding, and because of the dearth of quality submissions (as well as the unfortunate potential for scamming), I am awarding the 125 GOLD remaining to an organization that I have set up: eOlympics. (Scratch that... eOlympics had to be cancelled. That's all, folks.)



eOlympics -- What the heck is that?

The eOlympics will occur once a month, with the first one starting on the 7th of January and with final ceremonies on the 10th. The host country will change every month. The process of selection will be either democratic or arbitrary, with the final arbiter being the eOlympics organization in any case, but the effort will be on spreading the torch around the globe, just as in the real Olympics.

There is a tangible benefit accruing to the host country. Everyone can participate around the globe, regardless of their location, receive rank in the competitions, and get the Gold, Silver, or Bronze. However, there are cash or other prizes to winning players also, which are only given to those who have moved to the host country for the duration (including the entire 8th and 9th). This is to stimulate the local economy, simulating the real Olympics.

The time of day for competitions with opponents may change based on (1) the availability of organizers such as yours truly, (2) considerations to accommodate the center of gravity of eRep's population in Europe [so, theoretically, ~8 PM GMT start time], and (3) consideration of the host country (e.g., if China hosts, a time more convenient to native Chinese). This too is up to the final arbitration of the eOlympics.

Basically, there will be games played on independent sites, ranking of competitors, and prizes for those (in the host country) who take home medals.



Games -- What games? What sites?

That's to be determined. Currently, I am thinking Pogo.com as a possible site. For games, classics such as Scrabble, Bridge, and Chess (with some kind of round robin format) can be combined with arcade-style games based on points won.

Another site is Adult Swim. Readers have suggested Kongregate and AddictingGames.

Make a comment on what games (or sites) you'd like to see!



Medals? Prizes?

Medals are for placing in the competitions and are to the players ranked first, second, and third. Your country of citizenship will also accrue honor through the glory of its eAthletes. This is, of course, intangible.

The tangible benefits are to be determined. They might be as little as some free Food and Moving Tickets for placing Bronze or a sum of GOLD for placing, well, Gold. To encourage more people to move to the host country, there may be prizes for 4th and lesser places also.



What's the point?

The point is to have fun!

If the first eOlympics gathers enough interest, which I will do everything I can to ensure it will, it may become a popular fixture of the much-vaunted player-created content in eRep.

As a historical nod and perhaps inevitably due to my nativist bias, the first eOlympics will be hosted in Attica, Greece. The next eOlympics host country will be determined after January 10th, i.e., after all competitions and ceremonies have concluded.

eOlympics cancelled because referring to external sites is against the law. 🙁