Sport in Malgrave

A variety of sports are popular within Malgrave, with each enjoying varying popularity across the country, although, some like football and athletics such as cross country running enjoy popularity across the country with the latter even being promoted as something to help against some of the problems associated with MIDD. Aurora and Portmon have strong sailing communities, with fencing and archery also being a popular pastime in Aurora while hiking is popular in Portmon, a routine which is also shared in Pakosc, Aria and Omsk due to their connections with the mountains.

Physical sports are not massively popular in Epping, with chess being the most popular sport in the region, although, recent excursions have resulted in outdoor activities being more actively promoted by youth organisations in the capital.

Due to conscription laws involvement in physical activities is highly promoted by the government, each Regional Social Solidarity Council is required to ensure that all residents have access to a suitable gym and athletic facilities and often host athletic competitions to maintain fitness. All those eligible for conscription and those part of the Active Reserve are required to maintain a steady level of fitness and can face financial punishment if deemed to fail this standard during standard health reviews.

With the end of isolation in 2000, a variety of international sports began to gain popularity within Malgrave.

Sailing

Sailing gained a positive reputation within Malgrave shortly after the establishment of the country, as it was often employed by smugglers in their bid to bypass the Imerian blockade which was enforced before the Exodus.

After the reestablishment of the country sailing was utilised by those in a Royal Navy to maintain their fitness and readiness, and these traditions passed on to the civilian population in the naval communities of Aurora and Portmon, with different classifications of sailing being popular. Today those in Portmon and Aurora take significant pride in their sailing communities, and their wider connection to the Royal Navy.

Hiking

Hiking was quickly put forward as a potential method of mitigating problems associated with MIDD by the Ancestral Study Group in Pakosc, with the organisation helping to host hikes around the mountains. In Portmon and Omsk these habits were quickly picked up (followed by Aria after the war) due to their proximity to nearby mountain ranges, although, this tactic wasn't picked up by Aurora or Epping for different reasons.

Hiking and the dangers involved were popularised in the series Mountain Rescue (1998-2002).

Fencing

Fencing was initially quite popular within Malgrave as a method of improving physical fitness and basic self-defence in preperation for war, however, after the discovery of MDD it suffered a sharp decline in popularity. It retained some popularity within some communities in Aurora and Pakosc, however, was mostly reduced to the sidelines for decades.

Since 2020 it has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity and several fencing outfits have established themselves across the country.

Archery

Archery was popularised as a replacement exercise for fencing after the discovery of MIDD in the 1950s, as a way of building general fitness without the greater risk of injury associated with fencing.

Baseball

Baseball started to gain popularity in Malgrave following the end of isolationism in 2000. Originally the sport was seen as dangerous, as the prevalence of MIDD at the time raised the risk of dangerous infections even from relatively minor injuries. Baseball was therefore seen as a rather rebellious sport, and enjoyed popularity in teenage groups and those seeking to run counter to the status quo.

Dornalian migrant communities also made baseball more popular in Malgrave, and the combination soon resulted in a small number of teams being created by workers seeking to make Dornalians more comfortable in the country. The discovery of a cure for MIDD has seen a sizeable increase in the popularity of baseball.

Malgrave currently has 15 professional baseball teams:

• Pakosc Partisans
• Pakosc Union
• Pakosc Guardians
• Portmon Puffins
• Portmon Protectors
• Aurora Auklets
• Aurora Sailors
• Omsk Otters
• Omsk Energites
• Epping Eels
• Epping Scholars
• Rensk Raiders
• Rensk Battlers
• Aria Athletic
• Aria Astros