The event in question was planned well in advance. And all participants prepared for it very thoroughly, with great responsibility and with full dedication of their strength, skills, and abilities. Moles and beavers dug pits for sports stadiums, diverted groundwater to prevent flooding.
Elephants laid rolled turf and tamped it down, making the stadium surfaces smooth and even. Monkeys carried branches and twigs, and birds wove them into seats for spectators. Spiders spun thick webs and stretched them over the stadiums so that, in case of rain, not a single drop would seep onto the surface. Thus, participants and spectators would be protected from both bad weather and scorching sun rays.
By the pre-established deadline, all sports facilities were put into operation, passed thorough inspection, and were ready to welcome guests and participants.
And this event was called — the Fairy Tale Animal World Football Championship.
On the eve of the championship's start, many participants, supporters, and fans arrived. And then the opening day came. The audience took their seats in the stands. On the field itself, a colourful show began. Nightingale Romeo and Nightingale Ava stepped onto a stage shaped like a football. They sang so loudly, melodiously, and beautifully that the audience gave them a standing ovation.
Around the stage, chameleons circled, periodically changing their colour, creating a rainbow of hues. On the stage itself, fireflies danced, illuminating the singing nightingales with their light.
Around the stadium's perimeter, fireworks flashed, and fountains bubbled in the corners. The spectacle was extraordinarily beautiful, alluring, magical, and mesmerizing.
After the nightingales' song, the Firebird appeared, walked along the stands, flapped her wings, and took flight.
She soared over the stadium, captivating the enthusiastic gazes of the assembled animals, and called out enticingly:
Our goal: to rise higher,
And never to surrender!
She dropped several of her magical feathers for good luck and disappeared from view.
The Speaking Bird appeared (and everyone knows she's distinguished by intelligence and quick wit) and announced the first competitors. These were the teams: "Bears" and "Camels." The rules stated that balls could only be driven and scored with hind legs and heads. And for playing with front paws, there was a penalty: removal from the game.
Meanwhile, supporters and fans of the two teams alternately supported their players with roars and growls.
The first: "Grrr-grrr-growl, we'll tear the opponent apart!"
The second: "Ugh-hoo-hoo, I can tear them apart myself, but I'll spit on everything!"
And so the game began. The footballers ran across the field, successfully passing the ball. Surprisingly, the usually clumsy bears, who move sluggishly not only on the field but even near their own den, seemed transformed. One might think that the mischievous fox, the bears' neighbour, had slipped them some of her potion. We should look into this!
However, let's return to the game. Be that as it may, everything went beautifully, excitingly, and interestingly. The active and powerful Bears confidently led the game, while the camels were constantly hindered by either their humps or suddenly appearing snot from the sharp climate change, so that half the players walked around covered in their own mucus. By the end of the game, they could barely move their legs, which couldn't be said about the other match participants — the Bears, gleaming with pleasure and also surprised by their own agility.
And then the final whistle. Incredible — the score "5:0." For many years, no one expected not only such a selfless game but also such an amazing result. Many players were still small, silly bear cubs when their fathers nostalgically told tales of their grandfathers' past successes. It sounded like fantasy. And here you go!
The Camels acknowledged their defeat, courageously shook paws with the Bears, and went to sort things out among themselves. Behind the team of dejected two-humped ships of the desert trudged their head coach, ready to hear all the criticism for the crushing defeat.
The Speaking Bird announced other participants:
Entering the field are the teams "Strong Flippers" and "Wet Tail." At this time, the stadium field turned into a pool, and sea lions and dolphins appeared. These were the team representatives. Special rules existed for them — to play only with their heads. The participants masterfully handled the ball: tossing it, pushing it to each other, throwing it from underwater, passing it to one another, and, of course, scoring goals against their opponents.
And their supporters, dressed in striped jerseys and captain's caps, shouted:
In the sea we're in our element, yes-yes-yes,
Water will help us win!
Their opponents echoed:
The sea's no enemy to us either,
We won't retreat a single step!
Watching their game was pure pleasure. The game ended with a score of "1:1." Friendship won! The supporters and players had barely caught their breath when preparation for the next match began. Again featuring the tireless Bears, emboldened by their first success.
So, onto the field rolled the already beloved home team of the hosting forest — the Bears — and those who arrived from a distant southern forest — the graceful and cunning Cats. The Bears' persistence and activity could only be envied. Someone must have installed a spring in them, or guaranteed eternal logging in remote and harsh places, it's hard to say. But the fact remains.
For the first time in many, many years of competitions, when the forest had repeatedly changed its foliage and trees had grown to unprecedented heights, their team was excellently prepared. However, the cats' gracefulness on the football field was also mesmerizing. Their soft and precise movements and strikes were clearly planned and calculated. One could paint a picture like "Follow Our Lead."
The Bears, having already scored a couple of goals against the cats and relaxing for a moment, were even slightly enchanted by such beauty. And immediately paid for it. Penalty.
The main attacking cat, Salahnya, approached the ball, wiggling her skinny rear. After adjusting the ball and smiling slyly at the focused bear goalkeeper, she lightly ran up and.
GOAL!
G-O-A-L!!
G-O-O-O-OAL!!
The entire stadium jumped up and choked with ecstasy. Well done! The Cats woke up. But! This didn't shake the Bears at all. They continued their pressure and, what was even more surprising, played the match in active mode until the end. Final score "3:1" in favour of the unrecognizable Bears.
Ah! Unaccustomed to losing, the Cats were very offended, spent a long time figuring out the reason for such a situation, and decided to fire the head Cat, whom they deemed guilty of all troubles. They found a scapecat!
Another match ended, but the Festival continues. And the merriment began to smoothly transition from the stadium territory beyond its boundaries. They tooted horns, beat drums, danced, and shouted: "Olé-olé-olé-olé!" At the exit, they were met by crowds of journalists and bloggers from different countries, asking them to share their impressions of the area where the championship took place and of the game itself.
Journalist Magpie flew up to one group of fans and asked a series of questions:
Are you satisfied with the match results and the game?
Did you like the conditions in which it took place?
A fan in a fancy hat took the floor; his face was painted with the colours of the flag of the country from which he came to the animal championship.
Not hiding his emotions, he began to speak:
Oh, it's a miracle! The host side did tremendous work, such excellent organization, everything thought out to the smallest detail. We're incredibly happy to be here and very pleased with everything.
Magpie flew up to another supporter and asked another question:
Weren't you afraid to come to a foreign forest where different laws and different customs exist?
The answer came immediately:
The mass media warned us that here we might encounter inadequate inhabitants, ruffians, and even highway robbers. But this turned out to be a myth, their invention and overly developed imagination. And we personally confirmed that in this forest everyone is welcoming, kind, responsive, and caring.
Local animals are always ready to help, suggest, and even show and accompany us to the place we need. Huge thanks to everyone for this!
Then a flock of colourful birds from a distant forest flew up.
They surrounded Magpie the journalist in a tight ring, singing a cheerful and spirited football song:
Football has no borders,
It's for both beasts and birds!
Football has no barriers,
Fans are always glad for it!
They whirled Magpie in the vortex of their bird dance and carried her along. And the journalist didn't resist; she gave in to the general merriment of representatives from different forests of the world.
Only in farewell did she say into her microphone:
With this, our broadcast ends. See you soon at the next matches!
And, turning off the microphone, she headed off with her new friends to celebrate this momentous event — the Football Championship of animals from different countries of the world.
Olé! Olé-olé-olé!
