The Mer Olympics

The Mer Olympics

  Among the thousands of Kubla Con attendees affected by the Xanadu Event were many who found themselves transformed into mermaids and mermen. Like their fellow conventioneers their reactions ranged from ecstasy to absolute shock. Nonetheless it was not long before some began finding joy in their new abilities, especially racing and jumping, and wondering if they might be able to take part in the Olympics as Mers. While some events, such as running and cycling would appear to be out of the question for Mers, there are other events which have been adapted or developed by them, including...



  Ball Slapping. Participants use their tailfins to slap a standard water volleyball ball. Winners are decided in a number of ways, including fastest shot, longest distance, and greatest height achieved.

  Diving. Because Mers are at a major disadvantage when out of the water, they are not called upon to dive from a board as biped humans would be. Instead, they would leap out of the water of a standard Olympic diving pool and, depending on the event, be scored on various combinations of the following criteria: height of jump, time out of water, execution of maneuvers such as swan dives, forward and backwards somersaults, spins, and reentry into the water.

  Shooting. These are contests of accuracy. Mers endeavor to throw a water polo ball through a basketball net in a series of tries, using either their hands or their tailfins (separate events for each method). Highest average score wins.

  Splashing. In these events, Mers are scored according to how high or far they can splash water with their tailfins.

  Swimming. The marquee events for a Mer. In addition to lane swimming at various distances from fifty meters and on up, participants also negotiate 'agility courses' similar in concept to slalom skiing. The ability to breathe water is especially invaluable in these events, as Mers swim faster below the surface than on it.

  Tail Dancing. Participants swim upright with little but their tailfins below the surface. Mers may swim 'in place,' move forward and/or backwards, or repeatedly change the direction in which they are facing.

  Water Polo. A natural for mermaids and mermen. Although participants other than goalkeepers are prohibited from slapping the ball with their tailfins, the superior swimming abilities of Mers will no doubt produce some interesting changes in how the game is played, with their own unique tactics and strategy.

  Water Volleyball. A cross between water polo and volleyball, as invented by Mers. Tail-slamming the ball is allowed, and the ability of Mers to breathe water has led to some unique tactics. Participants may also leap completely out of the water to stop opponents' high shots and return them back over the net for a possible score.



  Because chlorine is harmful to Mer gills, all facilities used by Mers MUST be chlorine free, and ideally salt water rather than fresh. It must also be kept in mind that some participants may be unable to breathe air, and preparations made accordingly.

  While participants in the early Olympiads of the modern era were largely male, those taking part in any Mer Olympics will be largely female, at least for the forseeable future. It has been estimated that mermaids outnumber mermen by at least fifteen to one, which may offer some interesting challenges. On the other hand, by some accounts there is little difference in the athletic performance of male and female Mers, unlike their biped counterparts. For example, while mermaids on average tend to have slightly longer and thinner tails than mermen, both genders seem to have similar muscle mass in their tails and are less dependent on upper body strength than their land-dwelling counterparts...



  Let the Games begin! May a good time be had by all!