How about international competition?

Civs are pround to win these competition such as Olympic games. I see 3 different ways to use them.

In order of preference...

#1 competitions as lottery...

Civs would pitch in food, shield, gold and each buy a ticket to win a competition, which give a bonus.

#2 awards given without any special action from civs. Could be random or achievement based. Awards give bonus.

#3 same as #2, but no bonus attached to awards. Thus, no strategical value. Much like many awards in many games just to give you a sense you going the right way.

Examples of competition...

Olympic games
Nobel prizes
Cannes International Film Festival
International Music Award

Napo981

Random???? Random? NOOO! Like a desert civ winning winter olympics? NOOOOOOO!!!! Nobels (scientific ones) should be depend on beaker production in big cities. A city with lots of scientific wonders would probably give it's civ a nobel prize, while a one beaker city, well... I don't know waht to think about the others. To my opinion, when you win Olympics, all cities get x culture point (or whatever they will become) / city population, the Nobel, the nobel city, Movie/music, high culture cities.

Ha. When I saw the thread title I thought it was a call for a Civ-Competition similiar to Make Something Unreal which was an awsome international competition.

Olympics, and sports leagues are interesting and play part of culture and have a unifying effect.

I dont think that would take Civ in the right direction. However, giving Nobel Prizes for science or culture based on merit would lead to a good result, IMO.

I think Olympics would make a cool Wonder :)

"The Romans have sent a team to compete in our World Soccer Tournament, the event is now worth +2 culture points!" *yay, whoohoo!* ;)

I like the idea...
Although if no bonuses are attached to this it's just like:

"xyz has finished his list of the most powerful civilizations:
1. great Romans
..
..
86. hopeless Germans"

But it would be a tool of bringing the world more alive! And if someone wins the olympics you get more happiness or a slight culture boost would be cool! But it shouldn't be a wonder! Generic would be fine maybe you can influence chances slightly by building collusseums or stadiums or a healthy environment, no famines, lots of research labs...
Why shouldn't it be generic? Winter-Olympics: Remember Jamaica: Cool Runnings?!? ;)

You could also insert a small movie about the event (Don't hit me, I like those gimmicks! :D )

Events like this would be great. They could add tourism to the city for a turn or two...like a Golden Age, but just extra cash coming in. Voting could be done kind or like the UN wonder. World Cups, Olympics, etc. I would like to see this but not overdone.

For sport competitions, there should only be the Olympics. It should also give a culture boost.