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Behind the Checkers: Gorski Kotar Gorski Kotar is another mountainous region of Croatia, although a smaller one. Just 30-45 minutes drive away from downtown Rijeka, Gorski Kotar is an ideal spot for a spontaneous escape to nature. Delnice is the main town of the region. Delnice is also a home to the one and only ski jumping hill in Croatia... If you can call it that. Some other highlights of the Gorski Kotar region include the Kamačnik canyon. Zeleni Vir waterall. And finally the Platak Ski Resort, with its views over the Adriatic Sea.

We return to the Plitvice Lakes, only this time with our 2CELLOS buddies. Let's enjoy a cover of Mumford & Sons' I Will Wait. It has indeed been a long wait for Croatia to get an opportunity to host this wonderful competition. The long wait which included no less than three failed bids. We dedicate this song to all the aspiring hosts. Your time will come.

This must be Seamus' worst nightmare.

Behind the Checkers: Lika Let's check out Lika next. Lika is a mountainous and the least densely populated region of Croatia. Starting from the South, we find the Zrmanja river, known for its, in part, steep and barren canyon. Velebit is arguably the most impressive mountain of Croatia. Stretching for about 145 km, the Velebit is a home to no less than two National Parks (Paklenica and Northern Velebit). Due to its mythical look, it is unsuprisingly a place where many legends are set. Velebit has its own endemic plant - Degenia velebitica. Situated beneath the Velebit, Gospić is the largest town of Lika. Lika is also a place where the famed inventor Nikola Tesla was born, in the village of Smiljan. Town of Slunj is known for its well-preserved 18th century mills. Plitvice Lakes are also here! They are the oldest, largest and most visited National Park of Croatia. Plitvice Lakes consist of 16 different lakes, which are interconnected by various waterfalls and cascades. They are known for their crystal blue-green color. Irregardless of the season, the Plitvice Lakes are not to be missed. Going back to the Adriatic Coast, we conclude our trip to Lika in the town of Senj. It is a home to the Nehaj Fortress pictured below. While the whole of Adriatic Coast is prone to having strong bora winds during the colder months, Senj is pretty much the epicenter of it. Winds exceeding 200 km/h are a common occurance.

I guess showing the ring to Galadriel could represent asking for the Committee's approval.

We are back in Zagorje, up and around the ruins of Kalnik, only this time we welcome 2CELLOS. They will perform a cover of Enya's May It Be... May it indeed be, and may the best song win. We dedicate this performance to all TISC champions!

Behind the Checkers: Central Croatia We are back on the continent. It's time to take a look at sights that surround our capital Zagreb. Let's start with Zagorje. Zagorje is a hilly subregion of Central Croatia, known for its castles, vineyards and cuisine. Speaking of castles, most notable ones are Trakošćan. And Veliki Tabor. Both are very close to the Slovenian border. Licitar biscuits are one of the regional trademarks. You should be careful though... They are not always edible! City of Varaždin is known for its baroque architecture. It is the former capital of Croatia (1756-1776). Lonjsko Polje is the single largest wetland area of Croatia. It extends along the river of Sava. Sisak is the main town of the Banovina subregion. And finally we have the city of Karlovac. It is known as "the city of four rivers" (Kupa, Mrežnica, Dobra, Korana).

Behind the Checkers: North Dalmatia We are back in Dalmatia! For the last time tonight. There are 1244 islands in Croatia. One of them was bound to look like this. Pictured below is Galešnjak. Next up are the Kornati Islands. Consisting of 89 islands on an area of about 320 square kilometres, they are the densest archipelago in the entire Mediterranean. Kornati Islands are known for their largely barren outlook. Telašćica Bay is just next door. You can find it on the Dugi Otok (eng. Long Island). Let's go back to the mainland. First up is the town of Primošten. Its old town was built on an island, which eventually got connected to the mainland by hand. Primošten was named after the verb primostiti (eng. to bridge). Going up the coast we stumble onto Šibenik. Its main sight is the 15th century Cathedral of St. James, protected by UNESCO. St. Nicholas Fortress can be found here too. It is one of four fortresses of Šibenik, and the only one to be set on sea. Krka National Park is up next. It surrounds the river of Krka, and is mostly known for its waterfalls and cascades. We conclude our journey through Dalmatia in Zadar. We already visited its Sea Organ. It is the fifth largest city in the country. Zadar is known for its sunsets, which have been proclaimed as the best anywhere by my favorite director Sir Alfred Hitchcock.

Musical Break: Mia Since we are about half-way down our journey, I'd say it is a perfect time for a short musical break! Having just missed out on national selection for both 2018 and 2019 Annual (and both times to Zsa Zsa ! ), we have decided to give this moment to Mia. Tonight she will perform one of her singles Kiša (eng. Rain). It is a very fitting title actually. Our host town Rijeka has more yearly precipitation than London and Dublin combined!

Behind the Checkers: Zagreb Let's visit our capital! Zagreb is located in the Central Croatia, along the Sava river, and on the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Let's take a closer look at some sights. We start with the Zagreb Cathedral. 108 meters high, it is the tallest building in Croatia. Top of the southern tower got destroyed in an earthquake on March 22nd, 2020. Next up is the National Theatre. From the outside, it is the same as the theatre in Rijeka, which is hosting this Opening Ceremony. Zagreb Funicular has been going up and down the historic centre since 1890.

Let's be honest, these 2CELLOS videos were made for a TISC show. They are really the main reason why I wanted to host for so long.

Guess who made it to the Zlatni Rat? If the whole coronavirus pandemic has taught us anything, it is that we take too much for granted. And indeed, between all these 14 wonderful TISC editions, it can be quite easy to forget how much we owe to one person and one forum that make it all possible. They are @Sindo and Totallympics. Chariots of Fire is a familiar tune which always brings out the best Olympic vibes. We dedicate this rendition to Totallympics - the Home of Olympic Sports.

I highly doubt it.

Yeah, I wish to visit it one day. Although that will require a lot planning, since it is so far away from the coast.

Behind the Checkers: Dalmatia Plenty to cover in this region, so we better get going... For starters, as per @Olympian1010's very early request, Dalmatia is where the Dalmatian dog breed originated from. Split is the largest city of the region, and also the second largest in the country. Diocletian's Palace can be found here. It was built for the Roman emperor Diocletian (244-311). Today, Diocletian's Palace, which is more like a fortress, forms about a half of the Split's old town. Next up is Makarska. It is a town located beneath the steep hills of the Biokovo mountain. Biokovo is one of the highest mountains of Croatia. Its proximitiy to the Adriatic Sea makes up for some picturesque views. Town of Trogir is another gem of the Adriatic Coast. When in the old town, be sure to search for the Radovan's portal! Now let's take a quick look at some of the islands. Pictured below is the isolated and uninhabited islet of Jabuka (eng. Apple). It is one of only two volcanic islands in Croatia. Small island of Biševo is known for its Blue Cave. Next up is the island of Korčula. Paklinski Islands off the coast of Hvar should get a mention too. And finally we get to the last stop of this stage - the island of Brač. Zlatni Rat is arguably the most famous beach of the Adriatic Coast. It is located on the southern coast of Brač. Zlatni Rat can change its shape, depending on certain winds and tides. Last major shift happened in 2018.

Behind the Checkers: Slavonia As if Slovenia and Slovakia are not confusing enough, today we introduce Slavonia. Having already visited Osijek and Kopački Rit, let's take a look at the rest of this region... Slavonia is the flattest part of Croatia. It is a heartland of agricultural production. Ilok is located next to the Danube river. It is the easternmost town of Croatia, known for its wine cellars. Right in the center of Slavonia you can find the town of Đakovo. Đakovo is home of the Croatian State Stud. Lipizzaner is the most prominent breed around here. Next up is the city of Slavonski Brod. Here you can find the Brod Fortress, pictured below. Slavonia is home to numerous fishponds.

Behind the Checkers: South Dalmatia Let's take a look at some bits and pieces of South Dalmatia. We start with the Walls of Ston. Over 5 km long, they are one of the longest preserved fortification systems in the world. Next up is the Pelješac peninsula. It is the second largest peninsula in Croatia, known for its vineyards on the steep slopes above the Adriatic Sea. Neretva Delta is the most fertile bit of the South Dalmatia, known for its tangerine plantations. TISC fans will love this! Next up are Baćina Lakes. While they are very close to the sea, they are still freshwater lakes. Blue Lake near Imotski is rather unique. Red Lake is just next door.

Behind the Checkers: Osijek Let's pay our first visit to the continental Croatia now. Situated in the easternmost part of the country, you can find the city of Osijek. It is the fourth largest city of Croatia. Osijek is located on the Drava river. Kopački Rit is just 10 minutes away from the city centre. It is a wetland area known for its rich biodiversity. Around 260 bird species, 140 species of plant, 40 species of fish and several mammal species can be found in the area.

Don't worry! We will not leave all you Game of Thrones fans out to dry. As I can imagine, some of you may very well know Dubrovnik as King's Landing. And yes, told you they will be back. 2CELLOS are indeed here, ready to join us on our journey. We dedicate this beautiful rendition of GOT's Main Theme to the Totallympics International Song Contest. After all, TISC is the game we play!

Behind the Checkers: Dubrovnik Is there a better place to start our journey than the iconic city of Dubrovnik? Situated on the Adriatic Coast in the southernmost part of the country, Dubrovnik is a true gem of the Adriatic. Thanks to its maritime trade and skilled diplomacy, Dubrovnik reached high level of development during the 15th and 16th centuries. While its influence eventually started to fade, largely thanks to disasterous earthquake of 1667, Dubrovnik to this day remains to be one of the cultural hotspots of Croatia. Dubrovnik is particularly known for its rich literature tradition. Many Croatian authors came out of Dubrovnik. Some of the most notable ones are Šiško Menčetić, Marin Držić and Ivan Gundulić. Dubrovnik's most recognizible feature is its old town, which has been listed as UNESCO heritage site since 1979. While in the old town, you should definitely pay a visit to the main street - Stradun. Historical city walls and fortresses are not to be missed either. Pictured below is the Minčeta Fortress. Towering over Dubrovnik, you can find the hill of Srđ (415 m). It is just a cable car-ride away from the old town! Dubrovnik has been used as a set location for several films and TV series, including Star Wars.

Because we already have Slovenia.

Behind the Checkers... Alright, the delegations have arrived, all systems are up and running... I guess we might as well find out what is hiding behind all these checkers? We will take you all on a little journey. Our final destination will be the host town - Rijeka.

Parade of Nations (3/3) And the final batch of nations will be welcomed by a choir from Central Croatia. They will sing "Letovanić, selo pokraj Kupe" (eng. Letovanić, village by the Kupa). POLJSKA / POLAND Jury Members: @rybak Total Participations: 14 Best Result: 4th (2014 Open) Points Record: 143 (2014 Open) PORTUGAL / PORTUGAL Jury Members: @kungshamra71 Total Participations: 10 Best Result: 7th (2018 Annual) Points Record: 120 (2018 Annual) RUMUNJSKA / ROMANIA Jury Members: @IoNuTzZ Total Participations: 12 Best Result: 3rd (2015 Open) Points Record: 147 (2015 Open) SJEDINJENE AMERIČKE DRŽAVE / UNITED STATES Jury Members: @dezbee2008 @Olympian1010 Total Participations: 14 Best Result: 2nd (2018 Open) Points Record: 182 (2018 Open) SLOVAČKA / SLOVAKIA Jury Members: @hckosice Total Participations: 14 Best Result: 2nd (2014 Annual) Points Record: 167 (2014 Annual) SLOVENIJA / SLOVENIA Jury Members: @justony Total Participations: 14 Best Result: 9th (2016 Annual) Points Record: 107 (2016 Annual) SRBIJA / SERBIA Jury Members: @DaniSRB Total Participations: 14 Best Result: 3rd (2017 Annual) Points Record: 137 (2017 Annual) ŠPANJOLSKA / SPAIN Jury Members: @Cobi Total Participations: 9 Best Result: 4th (2017 Open) Points Record: 151 (2017 Open) ŠVEDSKA / SWEDEN Jury Members: @Belle Total Participations: 7 Best Result: 1st (2013 Open) Points Record: 211 (2013 Open) TUNIS / TUNISIA Jury Members: @amen09 @tuniscof Total Participations: 13 Best Result: 4th (2016 Annual) Points Record: 126 (2016 Annual) UKRAJINA / UKRAINE Jury Members: @Illya Total Participations: 2 Best Result: 27th (2013 Open) Points Record: 30 (2013 Open) URUGVAJ / URUGUAY Jury Members: @NaBUru38 Total Participations: 2 Best Result: 30th (2017 Open) Points Record: 32 (2017 Open) HRVATSKA / CROATIA Jury Members: @dcro Total Participations: 12 Best Result: 11th (2017 Open) Points Record: 90 (2017 Open)

So I guess we are suppoed to be seating all over the place.