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Game 1 - Delivering the
Gifts
The
first game - ‘Delivering the Gifts’ - was introduced by BBC co-presenter
Stuart Hall and played on the open-air forecourt of the venue over two heats
of three minutes duration. It featured three male competitors from each team
dressed as postmen and equipped with a small child’s scooter. On the whistle,
the first competitor had to scooter 100ft (30.48m) down the course to a large
Christmas tree and collect a large boxed gift from a male team-mate dressed as
Santa Claus. The competitor then had to hang the gift around his next and
scooter another 100ft and hand the gift to a female team-mate standing in
front of a door. Whilst he returned to the start, the second competitor had to
repeat the game followed by the third. The game then continued until each
competitor had transported two gifts each. Once completed, the final
competitor had to open the door in order for the female to enter with the six
gifts. The female team-mate had to hold the gifts at all time and keep them
stacked whilst doing so. The team completing the game in the faster time would
be declared the winners.
The
first heat of this simple and very straightforward game saw the participation
of Belgium and Great Britain and it appeared that Belgium had the edge over
their rivals throughout. However, a small mishap on their final run, whereby
their competitor dropped the gift in the artificial snow (in reality
theatrical foam), and was delayed trying to find it, permitted Great Britain
to overtake them and finish the game in 2 minutes 9 seconds with Belgium doing
likewise in 2 minutes 10 seconds.
The
second heat featured Italy and Netherlands and it was dominated by Netherlands
from the start and they finished the game without mishap in 2 minutes 9
seconds. In the meantime, Italy were making heavy weather of the game and had
only completed four runs at this point. However, with a spirited effort by the
final two competitors, they were able to complete the game within the
permitted time and were declared as finishing in 2 minutes 50 seconds.
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Running Scores and Positions:
=1st Aviemore (GB) (4pts awarded / 4pts
total)
=1st Dutch 'All Stars' (NL) (4pts / 4pts)
3rd Woluwe-Saint-Pierre / Sint-Pieters-Woluwe (B) (2pts / 2pts)
4th Courmayeur Monte Bianco (I) (1pt / 1pt) |
Game 2 - Building the
Snowmen
The
second game - ‘Building the Snowmen’ - was introduced by RTB commentator
Michel Lemaire attired in a Scottish kilt complete with sporran and played on
the open-air forecourt over two heats of two minutes duration. It featured
four competitors (two males and two females) from each team and a snowman
constructed of large polystyrene pieces. On the whistle, the two competitors
had to transport a giant-sized ball of polystyrene up the 100ft (30.48m)
course to a round cradle. With the assistance of the two females, located at
this position, they had to lift the ball into the cradle to form the abdomen
of the snowman. Whilst the two males returned to the start of the game, the
females had to place a flattened disc, enwrapped in a scarf, on top of the
abdomen and then hold it in place. Contemporaneously, the two males had to
collect a smaller ball representing the head and a large polystyrene hat and
return to the end of the course. They then had to place the head on top of the
flattened disc and the hat on top of the head. Once accomplished, one of the
females had to stick a large pipe into the mouth of the snowman to set off a
firecracker. The team completing the game in the faster time would be declared
the winners.
The
first heat of this straightforward game saw the participation of Great Britain
and Italy and was played without incident. Great Britain took control from the
start and finished the game in 1 minute 13 seconds. Italy however did not find
the game so easy-going and struggled to put the head and hat in place within
permitted the time and were declared as 0:00.
The
second heat featured Belgium and Netherlands and was completed without
incident by both teams. Belgium finished the game in exactly one minute
followed by Netherlands in 1 minute 8 seconds.
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Running Scores and Positions:
1st Dutch 'All Stars' (NL) (3pts awarded / 7pts total)
=2nd Aviemore (GB) (2pts / 6pts) ▼
=2nd Woluwe-Saint-Pierre / Sint-Pieters-Woluwe (B) (4pts /
6pts) ▲
4th Courmayeur Monte Bianco (I) (1pt / 2pts) |
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Comments:
The first two games were played outside the Aviemore Centre
during the evening of the first day of recording. The remainder of the
games were played inside the centre on the ice rink on the second day of
recording.
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Game 3 - Curling Slalom
The
third game - ‘Curling Slalom’ - was introduced by NCRV commentator Dick
Passchier and played individually on the ice rink over one minute duration. It
featured eight competitors (five males and three females) from each team and a
slalom course comprising three large ski gates hanging from the roof of the
building. On either side of the ski gates there were three static podia (two
to the left and one to the right) positioned at equal distances apart along
the course and an open ‘goal’ at the end of it. On the whistle, the first
female had to kneel onto a ‘curling stone’ and two of the males had to push it
down the course using a large T-shaped pole towards the first podium on the
left-hand side of the course. A third male competitor, standing on the podium,
then had to push the stone away, using a similar pole, and over to the fourth
male on the podium on the right-hand side of the course. In doing so, he had
to ensure that it passed between the first and second ski gates. The fourth
male then had to push the stone away and back to the left-hand side of the
course to the third podium, on which the fifth male was standing, ensuring
that the stone passed between the second and third ski gates. The fifth male
then had to push the stone away, passing the outer side of the third ski gate,
towards the open goal. The game would be repeated continually throughout until
the end of permitted time. For each clean run, which saw the stone pass
correctly through the gates, would score 3pts. If the stone had enough
momentum to pass through the goal at the end of the course, an additional 2pts
would be awarded. The team scoring the greater aggregate score would be
declared the winners.
The
first heat of this simple game saw the participation of Italy and, whilst they
did not score any goals, they accumulated a total of 12pts for passing through
the individual ski gates.
The
second heat featured Netherlands and they scored 10pts from passing through
the gates and an additional 4pts for scoring two goals which gave them a total
score of 14pts.
The
third and penultimate heat saw the participation of Belgium and they scored
12pts from passing through the gates and an additional 4pts for scoring two
goals which gave them a total score of 16pts.
The
fourth and final heat featured Great Britain and they scored 13pts from
passing through the gates and an additional 6pts for scoring three goals which
gave them a total score of 19pts.
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Running Scores and Positions:
1st Aviemore (GB) (4pts awarded / 10pts total) ▲
=2nd Woluwe-Saint-Pierre / Sint-Pieters-Woluwe (B) (3pts /
9pts)
=2nd Dutch 'All Stars' (NL) (2pts / 9pts) ▼
4th Courmayeur Monte Bianco (I) (1pt / 3pts) |
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Comments:
This and the remaining games were all played on the ice
rink inside the Aviemore Centre on the second day of recording. The first
two games had been played the previous evening outside on the centre’s
large forecourt.
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Game 4 - Cracker Tug-o-War
The
fourth game - ‘Cracker Tug-o-War’ - was introduced by RAI co-commentator
Giulio Marchetti and firstly played over two heats of 1 minute 30 seconds
duration. It featured four competitors (two males and two females) from each
team and a very large Christmas cracker, mounted on two metal frameworks, with
a rope protruding from each end. On the whistle, the competitors had to run up
the 30ft (9.14m) course to the middle of the ice rink and grab their
respective ropes. It was then a simple case of tug-of-war to pull their
opponents to their end of the course. If successful, a detonator inside the
cracker would be set off by one of the stagehands, causing the cracker to
split in half. All of the competitors had to wear trainers or similar footwear
as skates were not permitted. The winner of each of the first two heats would
meet in a Final whilst the losers would meet in a Semi-Final. The team in play
for the greater time would be declared the winners.
The
first heat of this straightforward game saw the participation of Belgium and
Great Britain and whilst it appeared that Great Britain had the edge over
their rivals by pulling them halfway to the finish line, Belgium got a second
wind and pulled Great Britain back towards their end of the course. With Great
Britain then losing one of their competitors, Belgium completed the game in 28
seconds and had secured their place in the final round.
The
second heat featured Italy and Netherlands and it was a simple task for the
sporting star team to just walk their way to victory in just 14 seconds and
secured their place in the final round.
The
Semi-Final saw the participation of the two losing teams of Great Britain and
Italy and it was an easy task for Great Britain to complete the game in 13
seconds and finished in 3rd place on the game.
The
Final featured Belgium and Netherlands and as was the case in their heat,
Netherlands walked their way to victory in just 11 seconds.
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Running Scores and Positions:
1st Dutch 'All Stars' (NL) (4pts awarded / 13pts total) ▲
=2nd Woluwe-Saint-Pierre / Sint-Pieters-Woluwe (B) (3pts / 12pts)
=2nd Aviemore (GB) (2pts / 12pts) ▼
4th Courmayeur Monte Bianco (I) (1pt / 4pts) |
Game 5 - The Giant Skater
The
fifth game - ‘The Giant Skater’ - was introduced by BBC co-presenter Eddie
Waring and played individually over one minute duration. It featured three
male competitors from each team and a giant effigy of a skater mounted on a
metal framework. On the back of the skater were seven wooden balloons, each
with a large number of pins protruding outwards on both sides. On the whistle,
two opposition males had to skate up the 80ft (24.38m) long oval-shaped course
pushing the skater in front of them. After five seconds of elapsed time, a
second whistle would be blown and the three competitors, each armed with two
polystyrene snowballs, had to give chase. Once close enough, the competitors
had to throw the snowballs at the balloons to attach them to the pins. They
then had to return to the start of the course to collect another set of
snowballs from a large container and repeat the game throughout. The
competitors had to remain behind the opposition at all times except for when
they returned to the container. The opposition would be able to rock the
effigy up and down to hamper the scoring. The team attaching the greater
number of snowballs would be declared the winners.
The
first heat of this straightforward game saw the participation of Great Britain
with Netherlands in opposition. At the end of permitted time, they had scored
a total of 12 hits.
The
second heat featured Italy, with Belgium in opposition, and they also scored a
total of 12 hits within the permitted time.
The
third and penultimate heat saw the participation of Netherlands, with Great
Britain in opposition, and they were able to score 11 hits before permitted
time expired.
The
fourth and final heat featured Belgium, with Italy in opposition, and despite
all their efforts they were only able to score 7 hits.
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Running Scores and Positions:
1st Aviemore (GB) (4pts awarded / 16pts total) ▲
2nd Dutch 'All Stars' (NL) (2pts / 15pts) ▼
3rd Woluwe-Saint-Pierre / Sint-Pieters-Woluwe (B) (1pt / 13pts) ▼
4th Courmayeur Monte Bianco (I) (4pts / 8pts) |
Game 6 - Catching the Spey
Salmon
The
sixth game - ‘Catching the Spey Salmon’ - was introduced by RTB commentator
Michel Lemaire and played individually over one minute duration. It featured
eight competitors (five males and three females) from each team and a 90ft
(27.43m) straight course. Located along the course were three podia, on each
of which stood a male competitor armed with a fishing rod and line. On the
whistle, the first female had to position herself on a ‘curling stone’ which
then had to be pushed down the course by the two other male competitors. As
the stone passed down the course, the podia-based male competitors had to cast
the lines out towards the female in order for her to catch large Spey salmon
attached to the lines. At the end of the course, the female had to dismount
the stone and hang the salmon from hooks. The game then had to be repeated
throughout. The females could opt whether to kneel down or stand up on the
curling stone. The team collecting the greater number of salmon would be
declared the winners.
The
first heat of this straightforward and uneventful game saw the participation
of Great Britain and they collected a total of 5 salmon from the six runs down
the course.
The
second heat featured Italy and they made five runs and although they collected
4 salmon, one was discounted as it was not caught correctly and the team were
declared as having a score of 3 salmon.
The
third and penultimate heat featured Netherlands and although they made six
runs and collected 4 salmon, three were discounted for being caught
incorrectly. The team were therefore deemed to have collected just 1 salmon.
The
fourth and final heat featured Belgium and they collected a total of 3 salmon
from five runs.
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Running Scores and Positions:
1st Aviemore (GB) (4pts awarded / 20pts total)
=2nd Woluwe-Saint-Pierre / Sint-Pieters-Woluwe (B) (3pts /
16pts) ▲
=2nd Dutch 'All Stars' (NL) (1pt / 16pts)
4th Courmayeur Monte Bianco (I) (3pts / 11pts) |
Game 7 - Skipping Skaters
The
seventh and penultimate game - ‘Skipping Skaters’ - was introduced by NCRV
commentator Dick Passchier and played individually over one minute duration.
It featured eight competitors (four males and four females) from each team and
an 80ft (24.38m) straight course down the ice. Six of the competitors (the
four males and two of the females) were located down the course in pairs
holding long-tinsel covered ropes stretched across the ice. On the whistle,
the other two females each had to collect two balloons from a large container
and then skate down the course, passing underneath the ropes as they were
being rotated by their team-mates. At the end of the course, they had to
‘drop’ the balloons into a large stocking. They then had to race back to the
start on the outside of the course and repeat the game throughout. The two
skaters had to ensure that the balloons were completely inside the stocking as
any that floated out and onto the ice would not be counted. Any balloons that
touched the ice during execution of the course would also not be counted. The
team collecting the greater number of balloons would be declared the winners.
The
first heat saw participation of Italy and although they made a total of four
runs down the course, they were only able to collect 7 balloons successfully.
The
second heat featured Netherlands they made a total of six runs down the course
and collected 12 balloons.
The
third and penultimate heat saw the participation of Belgium and they also made
a total of six runs and collected 12 balloons.
The
fourth and final heat featured Great Britain and they also made six runs of
the course. Although one of the balloons during one of the second runs floated
out of the stocking, it was retrieved and placed back inside before the
competitor continued. Their score was confirmed as 12 balloons.
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Running Scores and Positions:
1st Aviemore (GB) (4pts awarded / 24pts total)
=2nd Woluwe-Saint-Pierre / Sint-Pieters-Woluwe (B) (4pts /
20pts)
=2nd Dutch 'All Stars' (NL) (4pts / 20pts)
4th Courmayeur Monte Bianco (I) (1pt / 12pts) |
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Comments:
With the points added to the scoreboard, Great Britain had
accumulated sufficient points to secure overall victory. |
Game 8 - Gifts on
the Tree
The
eighth and final game - ‘Gifts on the Tree’ - was introduced by RAI
co-commentator Rosanna Vaudetti and played in unison over 2 minutes 30 seconds
duration. It featured two competitors (one male and one female) from each team
armed with a Christmas sleigh. At the far end of the 90ft (27.43m) course was
a Christmas tree with large nets protruding from its branches. On the whistle,
the male competitor had to push the female, who was sitting inside the sleigh,
halfway down the course in order to collect a boxed gift hanging from the roof
by a rope. Once collected, they then had to continue down the course to the
tree and the female had to hurl the gift into one of the nets. They then had
to return to the start and circumnavigate a podium and then repeat the game
throughout. Subsequent gifts would be replenished by a male team-mate. The
team collecting all five gifts in the faster time would be declared the
winners.
This
was a very straightforward game which saw Netherlands taking control from the
outset. However, the team had some difficulty in securing their final gift
into the net and this permitted Great Britain, who had been trailing
Netherlands throughout the game, to overtake and finish in 1st place in 2
minutes 5 seconds. Having overcome their scoring issue, Netherlands finished
the game in 2nd place in 2 minutes 9 seconds whilst both Belgium and Italy
could only manage to secure four gifts each before the end of permitted time.
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Final Scores and Positions:
1st Aviemore (GB) (4pts awarded / 28pts total)
2nd Dutch 'All Stars' (NL) (3pts / 23pts)
3rd Woluwe-Saint-Pierre / Sint-Pieters-Woluwe (B) (2pts / 22pts) ▼
4th Courmayeur Monte Bianco (I) (2pt / 14pts) |
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