Totallympics Annual International Song Contest 2021

[rybak 3,217]

Today we will introduce few teams, at the beginning, staying on the Baltic sea, the first team is...

 

Hel Grey Seals

 

 

The team consists of four countries

 

•  Romania
•  China
•  Malta
•  Norway

 

The grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) is found on both shores of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is a large seal of the family Phocidae, which are commonly referred to as "true seals" or "earless seals". There are two types of grey seals, one of them, which lives on Baltic sea is "Halichoerus grypus grypus" (lol). 

 

The grey seal feeds on a wide variety of fish, mostly benthic or demersal species, taken at depths down to 70 m or more. Sand eels (Ammodytes spp) are important in its diet in many localities. Cod (I'm sorry Croatia, Lithuania, Moldova and Slovenia ) and other gadids, flatfish, herring, wrasse and skates are also important locally. However, it is clear that the grey seal will eat whatever is available, including octopus and lobsters. The average daily food requirement is estimated to be 5 kg, though the seal does not feed every day and it fasts during the breeding season.

 

So, since we already know few things about that animal it's time to present another base, the town Hel.

 

 

Hel is a town surrounded by forest in Puck County, Pomeranian Voivodeship, located on the tip of the Hel Peninsula, around 33 kilometres from the coast at the "beginning" of Poland. 

 

After the war the village yet again became a naval base. In 1960 a road linking Hel with Jastarnia on the mainland was built. Three years later city rights were reintroduced. Since then the tourist industry started to recover and several hotels, guest houses and pensions were built. In 1996 the Polish Navy sold all remaining parts of the peninsula to the civilian authorities and only a small naval base is there today.

 

The harbour now serves primarily as a yacht marina, though there are some fishing boats and ferries to Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia in the summer.

 

 

Hel houses a sea life biological laboratory and there are interesting examples of naval armament and equipment exhibited throughout the town. There is popular beach along the shore between the inner and outer harbour walls, with a seal sanctuary (the Fokarium) just behind it. There is a Fishing Museum, Hel that forms part of the National Maritime Museum, Gdańsk in an old church on the sea front.

 

Seal Sanctuary (Fokarium in Polish) of the Sea Station of the Institute of Oceanography of the University of Gdańsk is a seal sanctuary that is part of a scientific and research facility - the Sea Station of the Institute of Oceanography of the University of Gdańsk, located in Hel on the Seaside Boulevard.

 

 

The sealarium consists of a complex of three breeding pools, several small swimming pools (for young and sick individuals requiring rehabilitation) and a didactic and laboratory building with a seminar room and laboratories. The facility conducts research activities aimed at recreating the gray seal colony in the southern Baltic Sea.

 

It is a great tourist attraction of Hel - at the turn of the 20th/21st century it was visited by approx. 300 thousand people. tourists each year.

The sealarium is supported by voluntary contributions, EU subsidies, contributions from the University of Gdańsk, selling tickets and a gift shop 

 

 

The Harbor porpoise located in Hel is a museum dedicated to the Baltic porpoises opened on September 5, 2015.

 

 

The museum presents showcases and boards containing information about the biology, use of porpoises, their relationship with humans, as well as contemporary problems affecting these animals. Visitors can watch films and animations devoted not only to porpoises, but also other cetaceans that have visited the Polish part of the Baltic Sea in recent decades. These videos show the white-nosed dolphin, fin whale, humpback whales and common dolphins. 

 

The most easterly edge of Hel, which was once a military territory, can now be accessed by the general public making it possible to walk all the way around the peninsula.

[rybak 3,217]

Next team which will be introduce is...

 

Podlasie Bisons

 

 

The team consists of four countries

 

•  United States
•  Poland
•  Netherlands
•  France

 

The European bison (Bison bonasus) (Żubr in Polish) is a European species of bison. It is one of two extant species of bison, alongside the American bison. The European bison is the heaviest wild land animal in Europe and individuals in the past may have been even larger than modern animals. During late antiquity and the Middle Ages, bison became extinct in much of Europe and Asia, surviving into the 20th century only in northern-central Europe and the northern Caucasus Mountains. During the early years of the 20th century bison were hunted to extinction in the wild. The species — now numbering several thousand and returned to the wild by captive breeding programmes — is no longer in immediate danger of extinction, but remains absent from most of its historical range. It is not to be confused with the aurochs (Bos primigenius), the extinct ancestor of domestic cattle, with which it once co-existed.

 

 

It's one of the national animals of Poland and Belarus. Due to this and the fact that half of the worldwide European bison population can be found spread across these two countries, the wisent is still featured prominently in the heraldry of these neighbouring states (especially in the overlapping region of Eastern Poland and Western Belarus). Examples in Poland include the coats of arms of: the counties of Hajnówka and Zambrów, the towns Sokółka and Żywiec, the villages Białowieża and Narewka, as well as the coats of arms of the Pomian and Wieniawa families.

 

A flavoured vodka called Żubrówka  originating as a recipe of the szlachta of the Kingdom of Poland in the 14th century, has since 1928 been industrially produced as a brand in Poland. In the decades that followed, it became known as the "world's best known Polish vodka" and sparked the creation of a number of copy brands inspired by the original in Belarus, Russia, Germany, as well as other brands in Poland. The original Polish brand is known for placing a decorative blade of bison grass from the Białowieża Forest in each bottle of their product; both the plant's name in Polish and the vodka are named after żubr, the Polish name for the European bison.

 

After drinking some Żubrówka's vodka it's time to present the base of Podlasie Bisons which is a city Augustów.

 

 

 

Augustów is a city in north-eastern Poland. It lies on the Netta River and the Augustów Canal. It is situated in the Podlaskie Voivodeship (since 1999). It is the seat of Augustów County and of Gmina Augustów. In 1970, Augustów became officially recognized as a health and relaxation resort. In 1973, surrounding settlements were named a part of it, forming a popular resort town.

 

The town, although small, has many attractions for the visitors. The Oficerski Yacht Club Hotel, built in the 1930s, is an army yacht club that has been restored and converted into a resort. It is located on the edge of one of many lakes in the region. Pope John Paul II has a memorial chair from the first and last time he visited the town right outside the club. Boat tours are also popular and the old town square still has its original cobblestone streets.

 

 

One of the attractions is Sanctuary of Our Lady of Studzieniczańska - a Marian sanctuary in the Diocese of Ełk located in Studzieniczna (administrative part of Augustów)

According to legend, in pagan times there was a place of worship in Studzieniczna, as evidenced by centuries-old oaks. The beginnings of the cult of the Virgin Mary in the vicinity of Augustów date back to the 17th century. According to the records from 1689, paintings of the Virgin Mary were brought to the town. A visit to the Augustów deanery from 1700 confirms that there was a place famous for miracles in the deanery at that time, but its exact location is not known. A later document - a letter from the prior of the Camaldolese Order from Wigry to the Vilnius curia from 1740 - contains a note that on the island of Studzieniczne Lake, a copy of the painting of Our Lady of Częstochowa was venerated by the local population from at least 1728. At that time, he also stayed on the island by an unknown name hermit. In 1741 the Augustów parish priest obtained a permit to build a chapel, but due to protests of the Camaldolese monks from Wigry, the construction was delayed.

 

In 1973, Studzieniczna was incorporated into the administrative boundaries of Augustów. In 1978 and 1979, Primate Stefan Wyszyński rested in the village. On September 17, 1995, the painting of Our Lady of Studzieniczań (a copy of the painting of Our Lady of Częstochowa) was crowned (the ceremonies were attended by, among others, Primate Józef Glemp, Apostolic Nuncio Józef Kowalczyk and President Lech Wałęsa). In June 1999, during the penultimate pilgrimage to Poland, Pope John Paul II visited the sanctuary in Studzieniczna. Next to the chapel on the island there is a monument from 2000 commemorating this event.

 

 

The church in Studzieniczna was entered in the register of monuments in 1966, and the entire church complex (including the chapel, bell tower and the former church cemetery) - in 1980. In the vicinity of the sanctuary, there is also a historic parish cemetery from the 19th century. 

 

The other attraction is Augustów Canal - a cross-border canal built by the Kingdom of Poland (being in a personal union with the Russian Empire) in the 19th century in the present-day Podlaskie Voivodeship of northeastern Poland and the Grodno Region of north-western Belarus (then the Augustów Voivodeship of the Kingdom of Poland). From the time it was first built, the canal was described by experts as a technological marvel, with numerous sluices contributing to its aesthetic appeal.

 

 

It was the first summit level canal in Central Europe to provide a direct link between the two major rivers, Vistula River through the Biebrza River – a tributary of the Narew River, and the Neman River through its tributary – the Czarna Hancza River, and it provided a link with the Black Sea to the south through the Oginski Canal, Daugava River, Berezina Canal and Dnieper River. It uses a post-glacial channel depression, forming the chain of Augustów lakes, and the river valleys of the Biebrza, the Netta, the Czarna Hancza and the Neman, which made it possible to perfectly integrate the Canal with the surrounding elements of the natural environment.

 

The canal was also named one of already well known here Monument of History, as designated 16 May 2007.

[rybak 3,217]

The last team which will be introduced today is...

 

Drawno Otters

 

 

The team consists of four countries

 

•  Italy
•  Kazakhstan
•  Canada
•  Great Britain

 

The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), also known as the European otter, Eurasian river otter, common otter, and Old World otter, is a semiaquatic mammal native to Eurasia. The most widely distributed member of the otter subfamily (Lutrinae) of the weasel family (Mustelidae), it is found in the waterways and coasts of Europe, many parts of Asia, and parts of northern Africa. The Eurasian otter has a diet mainly of fish, and is strongly territorial. It is endangered in some parts of its range, but is recovering in others.

 

The Eurasian otter's diet mainly consists of fish. Fish is their most preferred choice of food in Mediterranean and temperate freshwater habitats. During the winter and in colder environments, though, fish consumption is significantly lower, and the otters use other sources of food, including amphibians, crustaceans, insects, birds and sometimes small mammals, including young beavers.

 

 

After seeing those cute otters it's time to present the base for the team which is a small town Drawno.

 

 

Drawno is a town in Choszczno County, West Pomeranian Voivodeship. The headquarters of the Drawa National Park (Drawieński Park Narodowy in Polish) are located here.

 

Traces of settlement in the area of today's Drawno date back to the Stone Age. This is evidenced by numerous archaeological finds, such as a stone hatchet or a standard hatchet. The local population was engaged in agriculture, hunting, beekeeping, tar and hunting. In the 10th – 11th centuries, using the convenient location between two lakes, a Slavic stronghold and a fishing settlement were established here. Until the beginning of the 12th century, the lands of Pomerania belonged to the Pomeranian Duchy, and it was not until 1269 that it came under the rule of Greater Poland.

 

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the city experienced a boom associated with the development of the glass and textile industries. Craft weaving collapsed, however, as it could not compete effectively with the textile production of factories established in larger centers. The city experienced a revival after 1870 against the background of the dynamic economic development of the united Germany. In 1853, the Choszczno - Mirosławiec road was built here, and in 1895 the town was included in the railway network as a station on the Choszczno - Kalisz Pomorski route. Nevertheless, due to its rather secluded location and forested surroundings, Drawno remained a small urban center of very local importance. 

 

 

The main attraction near the the town is Drawa National Park (Drawieński Park Narodowy in Polish) is one of 23 National Parks in country, located in north-western Poland, on the border of Greater Poland, Lubusz and Western Pomeranian Voivodeships. The park is a part of the huge Drawsko Forest (Puszcza Drawska), which lies on the vast Drawsko Plain. It takes its name from the River Drawa. It was created in 1990 and initially covered 86.91 km². Later, it was enlarged to 113.42 square kilometres of which forests account for 96.14 km² (3.68 km² is designated as a strictly protected area), and water bodies cover 9.37 km².

 

 

Over 80 percent of its area is covered with forests – the great and monumental Drawa Forest stretching from the Drawa Lake District to the Noteć River. It is mostly made up of beech and pine trees. There are picturesque and deep valleys of the Drawa and Plociczna rivers as well as numerous water channels, lakes and peat-bogs. In some places the height can vary by 30 meters within 500 meters. The highest hill (106 m) is located near the Martew lake, in northern part of the Park. The soil in the park is of poor quality and it mainly consists of sand.

 

 

One of main reasons for the creation of the park was the need for to protect valuable areas along the Drawa and Plocziczna rivers. The Drawa creates interesting valleys and hollows and 40 km of the river is within the borders of the park. The river flows at a quite fast pace, which makes it similar to rivers located in mountains. The Drawa kayaking trail is one of the most picturesque in Poland. Lakes include the meromictic lake Czarne

 

There are several interesting species of flora in Drawski National Park, among them 210 species of mushrooms, and oak trees up to 400 years old. The oldest trees are strictly protected in the Radecin Preserve. Trees older than 81 years old cover 40% of the forested area of the park.

 

 

There are 129 species of birds (the most beauty eurasian kingfisher), 40 species of mammals, 7 species of reptiles and 13 species of amphibians. The good quality of water in the lakes and rivers enables various species of fish to flourish. Roe deer, red deer and wild boar are very common in the national park. The park also hosts high populations of eurasian otter and beaver. Occasionally moose and gray wolf can be found in the park.

 

 

 

The area in the past, when it was located on the border between Poland and Western Pomerania (later Prussia), was regarded as unsuitable for human settlement and only since the 17th century have its forests been cleared for settlement.

The park is crossed by four attractive tourist trails, for both walking and kayaking. There are camping sites and within some distance hotels. The number of visiting tourists has been increasing year on year.

 

[rybak 3,217]

More than half of the juries already received their set of templates, more to come in next two-three days. So, stay calm everyone who didn't received it yet  

[dcro 10,210]

TISC week is here... I'm sitting in office, when suddenly Emotions start playing on the radio...

 

Okay, who is behind this?

[kungshamra71 892]

16 hours ago, rybak said:

Next team which will be introduce is...

 

Podlasie Bisons

 

 

The team consists of four countries

 

•  United States
•  Poland
•  Netherlands
•  France

 

 

 

The other attraction is Augustów Canal - a cross-border canal built by the Kingdom of Poland (being in a personal union with the Russian Empire) in the 19th century in the present-day Podlaskie Voivodeship of northeastern Poland and the Grodno Region of north-western Belarus (then the Augustów Voivodeship of the Kingdom of Poland). From the time it was first built, the canal was described by experts as a technological marvel, with numerous sluices contributing to its aesthetic appeal.

 

 

It was the first summit level canal in Central Europe to provide a direct link between the two major rivers, Vistula River through the Biebrza River – a tributary of the Narew River, and the Neman River through its tributary – the Czarna Hancza River, and it provided a link with the Black Sea to the south through the Oginski Canal, Daugava River, Berezina Canal and Dnieper River. It uses a post-glacial channel depression, forming the chain of Augustów lakes, and the river valleys of the Biebrza, the Netta, the Czarna Hancza and the Neman, which made it possible to perfectly integrate the Canal with the surrounding elements of the natural environment.

 

The canal was also named one of already well known here Monument of History, as designated 16 May 2007.

 

So nice of you, to put the dutch in a place where one of the attractions is a canal so they can feel more at home 

[rybak 3,217]

Detailed Voting Order

 

Voting Order		Host Jury Time	National Jury Time
1	Ireland	11:00-11:15	10:00-10:15
2	Romania	11:15-11:30	12:15-12:30
3	Spain	11:30-11:45	11:30-11:45
4	Serbia	11:45-12:00	11:45-12:00
5	Mexico	12:00-12:15	05:00-05:15*
6	Italy	12:15-12:30	12:15-12:30
7	Tunisia	12:30-12:45	11:30-11:45
8	United States	12:45-13:00	06:45-07:00*
	Breakfast/Coffee Break	13:00	13:30
9	Moldova	13:30-13:45	14:30-14:45
10	Germany	13:45-14:00	13:45-14:00
11	China	14:00-14:15	20:00-20:15
12	Slovakia	14:15-14:30	14:15-14:30
13	Israel	14:30-14:45	15:30-15:45
14	Finland	14:45-15:00	15:45-16:00
15	Kazakhstan	15:00-15:15	19:00-19:15
16	Indonesia	15:15-15:30	20:15-20:30
17	Poland	15:30-15:45	15:30-15:45
	Lunch/Dinner Break	15:45	16:45
18	Lithuania	16:45-17:00	17:45-18:00
19	Brazil	17:00-17:15	12:00-12:15
20	Bulgaria	17:15-17:30	18:15-18:30
21	Malta	17:30-17:45	17:30-17:45
22	Sweden	17:45-18:00	17:45-18:00
23	Portugal	18:00-18:15	19:00-19:15
24	Argentina	18:15-18:30	13:15-13:30
25	Canada	18:30-18:45	12:30-12:45
26	New Zealand	18:45-19:00	04:45-05:00*
27	Netherlands	19:00-19:15	19:00-19:15
	Snack/Supper Break	19:15	19:45
28	Croatia	19:45-20:00	19:45-20:00
29	India	20:00-20:15	23:30-23:45*
30	Norway	20:15-20:30	20:15-20:30
31	Hungary	20:30-20:45	20:30-20:45
32	Denmark	20:45-21:00	20:45-21:00
33	Czech Republic	21:00-21:15	21:00-21:15
34	Great Britain	21:15-21:30	20:15-20:30
35	Greece	21:30-21:45	22:30-22:45
36	France	21:45-22:00	21:45-22:00
37	Slovenia	22:00-22:15	22:00-22:15

 

Looks like Mexico, United States, New Zealand and India would need swap their positions, as for now their voting hours are unreasonable.

 

@mrv86 @Braulio @dezbee2008 @Olympian1010 @Wanderer @Fly_like_a_don I need your opinions.

[Federer91 2,795]

I can swap with India, if needed.   

[mrv86 3,138]

Well I feel like my only chance for a swap with any of my teammates is @Hipooo

 

if he’s willing we’ll switch.

[Olympian1010 7,975]

I think we’re good. One or both of us will likely be present then.