Difference between revisions of "Sports in Vekaiyu"

Revision as of 20:49, 12 March 2014

Vekaiyuns love both spectating and participating in various sports. But, sports in Vekaiyu may not be as typical as those around it in The East Pacific realm. It is believed the love for sports dates back to the times of Ancient Vekaiyu, where aquatics and basic track sports were used. Today, Vekaiyuns are very passionate about their athletics and have many various sports.

Aquatics

Arguably the most important sports to Vekaiyuns are those that involve water. Teams from high school to a professional level are followed closely and with passion. The most popular aquatic sports involve swimming, diving, water polo, underwater hockey, underwater rugby, and underwater handball. All aquatic sports are heavily dominated by vulpines.

Aquatic Arenas

Vekaiyu holds hundreds of aquatic arenas, designed to accommodate the various aquatic sports in Vekaiyu. A large game clock and scoreboard is in every arena which can be seen by players and spectators alike. Each arena can hold anywhere from ten to forty thousand people and in its center contains a swimming arena which is raised above ground so that spectators may see the action from a "below ground" perspective through a lexan-walled pool, all without worrying about getting wet. Above the arena exists a second level, containing "dugouts" and hot tubs where players, swimmers, or divers sit and relax, penalty boxes, and more seating for those who prefer to watch the game from an "above ground" perspective. It is widely accepted that below ground seating offers much more view to the action for underwater hockey and underwater rugby, which is why these seats are more expensive for such events. Swimming, diving, and water polo are more "above ground" perspective sports and therefore the "below ground" perspective seats are much cheaper. All arenas have two levels of seating to accommodate both perspectives. Both levels are actually above ground, which may be misleading from the two types of seating, and are well-lit with windows and lights. Noise levels in such arenas are a problem, however.

Underwater Hockey

An example of Vekaiyun speed swimsuits (left: female, right: male)

Perhaps the most popular sport in Vekaiyu is underwater hockey, which has a very dedicated following and has multiple leagues in school, university, and professional levels. The sport became popular some time in the 1910's when swimmers grew tired of choosing to swim in laps competitively or participate in water polo. The sport initially served as a demonstration event only and was seen as a compromise between the two sports. Teams began forming around the early 1920's, and the first professional league, the VAHM, or Vekaiyu Akaseva Hoki Misrekilsriv, formed in 1922 with eight teams from different cities came together to form a season. Today, eight Vekaiyun professional leagues (four men's leagues and four women's leagues) exist in which the top champion team from each league participate in a round-robin style tournament to determine the national champion in men's and women's leagues. As with all other Vekaiyun aquatic sports, men and women do not play each other.

Vekaiyun underwater hockey differs slightly from international rules. Underwater hockey teams are comprised of eighteen players, but only six players from each team may be in the water at one time. The remaining twelve players may be substituted at any time during play. Games involve three periods lasting fifteen minutes with a ten minute break time in between periods. Period ends and any other breaks in action are signaled by striking a large pipe which is partially submerged in water so players can hear the breaks better.

Underwater hockey is dominated by vulpines, which makes designing equipment easier. Each underwater hockey player is given a team swimsuit (which is similar in design to the speed swimsuit), fins, swim mask, ear protection, a stick, and a snorkel, which was not introduced until 1944 when it was shown to maximize a player's playing time. The swimsuits may only be colorful for the home team; the away team must wear solid black. At least one league has explored the possibility of using small portable diving cylinders, but problems with buoyancy and "traditionalist fans" will probably keep such devices away from this sport. Players may also wear gloves to protect their hands from the sticks of other players.

Underwater Rugby

Underwater rugby is played in the same spirit as underwater hockey, both in amount of players, length of games, equipment, and arenas. However, this sport does not involve a stick and a puck, but instead a ball and is much more physical. Having less of a following, underwater rugby is like a distant cousin to the more popular sport. Four professional leagues (two men's leagues and two women's leagues) exist.

The sport uses the same arenas the underwater hockey teams use. Rules regarding their equipment are the same, except players are required to wear gloves and of course do not involve a stick. Potential reason for the sport being "second best" to underwater hockey is the fact that it was invented much later (in 1961), and it has claimed the death of one player in 1978 when one of her fins became stuck under one of the goalposts. It is this reason why all arenas include diving cylinders in case of emergency.

Water Polo

Water polo was invented by swimmers in the 1870's in order to gives swimmers a more physical sport. Unlike underwater hockey and underwater rugby, the sport is mostly played above water, which makes "above ground" perspective seating much more valuable.

Leagues in this sport enjoy a very healthy following. Players only need ear protection and swimsuits to compete in this sport. As with the underwater hockey and rugby leagues, water polo swimsuits are in the style of Vekaiyun speed swimsuits, where the zipperback suits prevent players from pulling on the garments. Four professional leagues (two men's leagues and two women's leagues) exist.

Swimming and Diving

Vekaiyuns enjoy watching other players compete in various swimming and diving contests. Dozens of different events exist for each type. Events are performed at aquatic arenas. This sport also has a very strong following, and teams do in fact exist on high school, university, and professional levels. Four professional leagues (two men's leagues and two women's leagues) exist.

Sport Diving

Sport diving is an emerging "sport" which has only been around for about twenty-two years. Players don diving gear and attempt to find "lost treasure" in an artificial wreck in a lake or off the coast of Vekaiyu. This sport is more or less featured on game shows, but attempts at making this into an actual sport have been made. Because of the nature of the sport, audiences are limited only to television.

Ground Sports

Outside of aquatics, Vekaiyuns enjoy various sports which are more popular on an international level. Such sports include soccer, basketball, baseball, and lacrosse.

Baseball is perhaps the most popular ground sport, with four leagues. The sport formed in the early 1900's upon being influenced from foreign sporting events. Only men may participate in this sport. Basketball is the only sport in which humans have an advantage, as the small frames of vulpine people leave them at a severe disadvantage. Soccer is followed but not as passionately as baseball. It is, however, especially important in international competition. Lacrosse and street hockey are growing in popularity but have yet to really gain a national following.

	Vekaiyu
Main article: Vekaiyu
Important Topics: Culture ♦ Unonian ♦ Vayan Catholicism ♦ Veskono ♦ Vulpine ♦ Armed Forces ♦ Military Ranks and Uniforms
Government: Kivreskov ♦ Premier ♦ Ikrisia Levinile ♦ Political Parties ♦ Foreign Officers
History: Ancient Vekaiyu ♦ The Time of Troubles ♦ Era of Good Feelings ♦ Trade Leagues ♦ Expansionist Vekaiyu ♦ Partitions of Vekaiyu ♦ Imperial Vekaiyu ♦ Vekaiyu Under Max Venavle ♦ Vekaiyu Under Selvala McEva ♦ 2010 Vekaiyun Civil War
Important Figures (Past and Present): Ikrisia Levinile ♦ Leina Kivelevov ♦ Max Venavle ♦ Selvala McEva ♦ St. Aiya ♦ Todd Leyuski
Sports: Sports in Vekaiyu ♦ Olympic Council ♦ Sport Uniforms ♦ Fifth Summer Olympics ♦ Sixth Winter Olympics ♦ Seventh Summer Olympics ♦ Eighth Summer Olympics