Micronational Sport Arrives in Montréal: The Nemean Games Return for a Third Edition

On June 27, 2025, Parc de la Savane in Montréal will become the site of an international athletic gathering unlike any other: the third edition of the Nemean Games, a sporting event organized by and for micronations—self-declared sovereign entities created for political, cultural, or artistic purposes.

Held between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., the Games will bring together delegates from multiple continents, many of whom are in town for MicroCon 2025, an international summit of micronational leaders taking place at the nearby Ruby Foo’s Hotel.

This year’s Nemean Games are co-organized by the Principality of Sancratosia and the Newgraviate of Saint-Castin, two francophone micronations with ties to Montréal. For the first time, the Games will be held in Canada and within a broader diplomatic event, giving them a visibility that surpasses previous editions.

Logo of the event

The event is governed by the Micronational Olympic Federation (MOF), which oversees sporting activities among the world's micronations. Despite their varying scales and structures, these events are intended to foster peaceful interaction, physical engagement, and cultural recognition through low-barrier, inclusive sport.

The Nemean Games are named after the ancient Greek tradition, but their modern incarnation emphasizes symbolic unity over competition. The 2025 edition is grounded in Montréal's civic motto, "Concordia Salus" (well-being through harmony), which guides the spirit of the event. The result is a program that invites both participation and reflection.

A Tradition Grows in Scope and Meaning

The first Nemean Games were held in Las Vegas, Nevada in July 2022, hosted by the Grand Duchy of Westarctica. Staged in a public park, they featured a mix of track-and-field-style activities and playful contests, with participation primarily from American micronationalists. Despite their informal setting, they set a precedent for what the Games could become: structured, inclusive, and community-driven.

In 2023, the Games moved to Joliet, Illinois, under the leadership of the Royal Republic of Ladonia. This second edition expanded participation, included newer events like Roundnet, and marked a gradual shift toward international representation. Both editions remained relatively small in scale but demonstrated consistent interest and growth.

This year’s Games mark a turning point. Organizers in Montréal anticipate the highest level of attendance yet, owing in large part to the concurrent hosting of MicroCon 2025. Co-location has allowed for logistical efficiency, shared resources, and increased international participation. According to organizers, the 2025 Games will be the most structured and accessible edition to date.

Dominic Desaintes, Minister-President of Saint-Castin, notes that the Games are no longer an experiment. “We have moved from symbolic possibility to operational reality. This is a moment when we take micronationalism off the page and onto the field.”

A Program Designed for Inclusion

The 2025 Nemean Games will feature six events:

• Flying Disc Throw: a distance-based frisbee competition.

• Power Ball Throw: a shot-put variant using tennis balls.

• Target Precision Throw: requiring aim with small sandbags at marked ground targets.

• Australian Breakdance: a creative freestyle dance event judged on movement, rhythm, and originality.

• Roundnet: a net-based team sport characterized by quick reflexes and collaboration.

• Table Tennis: held using the park’s existing outdoor ping-pong tables.

The structure reflects a desire to balance playfulness with fairness. There are no professional referees or technological enhancements. Instead, officiating is done by micronational volunteers and delegates, preserving a sense of community control. Events were selected for accessibility, physical safety, and low material cost.

Each event is scheduled to last approximately 20 to 30 minutes, with time allocated for setup, informal practice, and medals. While performances are recorded and assessed, there is no official ranking beyond the Games themselves, and no points system extends beyond the event.

Desaintes emphasizes that this format is intentional. “It allows for the spirit of sport to emerge without hierarchy. Victory matters, but it does not define the Games.”

Coordinated Diplomacy Through Movement

The co-organization of the event reflects increasing levels of cooperation within the micronational world. For Cloe de Sancratosia, sovereign of the Principality of Sancratosia, the Games offer an ideal diplomatic format: physical, peaceful, and open to all.

“We are showing that intermicronational diplomacy can take the form of shared movement,” said Cloe de Sancratosia. “It doesn’t have to be limited to documents and formal speeches. Sometimes diplomacy is found in action.”

The Games are intentionally modest in infrastructure. No amplified sound systems, sponsor banners, or artificial seating will be installed. Spectators are welcome, but will interact with the Games in the same space and conditions as the athletes. According to organizers, this helps maintain equity and visibility.

By aligning with Montréal's existing public infrastructure, the Games require minimal environmental or logistical impact. All necessary materials—such as frisbees, sandbags, and markers—are brought by participants or sourced sustainably. No external vendors or commercial partners are involved.

An Expanding Global Footprint

The 2025 edition has drawn the broadest international interest yet. Micronations from across North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region have confirmed attendance. While the Games do not disclose detailed rosters prior to the event, organizers report that the diversity of attendees, both in geography and in micronational tradition, exceeds any prior edition.

The integration with MicroCon—which attracts cultural, constitutional, and diplomatic micronations alike—has allowed the Nemean Games to reach a broader audience. Participation in the Games does not require formal MOF membership, but adherence to shared principles of peaceful engagement and mutual recognition is expected.

Organizers anticipate that the success of the Montréal edition may influence future formats. Delegates from multiple regions have already expressed interest in hosting the 2026 or 2027 editions. While the Micronational Olympic Federation retains formal authority over selection, the model of co-hosted Games alongside summits is likely to continue.

A Public Space, Not a Performance Stage

The choice of Parc de la Savane was made in part for its accessibility, open layout, and symbolic neutrality. Located near the centre of Montréal and served by Metro, it offers both visibility and informality.

Unlike a traditional sporting venue, it does not separate participants from the public. Children may wander into the field, joggers pass by, and curious onlookers can engage directly. This is not seen as a flaw but as an asset.

“Part of the value of the Nemean Games is their permeability,” said Desaintes. “We exist with the public, not beside it.”

There will be no opening or closing ceremonies, in keeping with the minimalist ethos of the Games. Medals will be awarded on-site, immediately following each event. Documentation will be limited to basic photography and written records, which will be published post-Games by the organizing committee.

The Role of Sport in Micronational Identity

While micronationalism remains an unconventional field, events like the Nemean Games offer a window into its core dynamics. Rather than replicate the functions of statehood, many micronations choose to explore its forms—through art, ceremony, law, and, in this case, athletic engagement.

Sport, in this context, becomes more than a pastime. It is a mechanism for mutual recognition, a stage for shared expression, and a process of defining boundaries within agreed-upon rules. It fosters a sense of legitimacy through repetition and openness, rather than through territorial control or legal assertion.

Cloe de Sancratosia captures this when she reflects on the Games’ format: “We are not here to challenge the world. We are here to participate in it, in our own way.”

Outlook and Continuity

With interest continuing to rise and the MOF refining its protocols, the future of the Nemean Games appears stable. Organizers of the Montréal edition believe that the event has now entered a sustainable rhythm.

Beyond the Games themselves, the values they promote—mutual visibility, voluntary diplomacy, and joyful discipline—align closely with the broader aspirations of the micronational community.

The 2025 Nemean Games may not offer headlines or pure gold medals. But they provide something rarer: a space where cooperation is enacted through motion, difference is embraced without conflict, and sovereignty is celebrated without exclusion.

For the participants gathering in Montréal on June 27, it is enough.