[Infrastructure] Rose kissed Barcelona

On the train back to Barcelona, ​​Antonio couldn't help but ask Joey: "So, the completed Sagrada Familia..."

Joey cut him off: "Don't ask me, I didn't see it built."

Antonio was shocked: "It hasn't been built in 150 years?"

Although he really wanted to slowly polish this magnificent building, he also thought that he might not see the day when it was completed, and other architects would leave their traces here in the future.

But 150 years is a long time.

"Yes, it hasn't been built in 150 years." Joey said coolly, "Thank you for making a good start."

"My clients are not in a rush." ​​- Antonio Procrastination Gaudi.

His customers are not in a hurry.

Antonio:"……"

Architects do seem motivated by this fact.

Back in Barcelona, ​​with the façade of the Sagrada Familia almost complete, he barely rested, plunging headlong into the construction of forest columns and arches.

It was an innumerable number of oblique arches and arcs at various angles—one of the most genius designs of this church. It is so beautiful that it also means a daunting amount of calculation.

And Joey had just confirmed the details with Alfonso, and sent a special envoy to King George I of Greece—proposing to him a proposal to develop the modern Olympic Games based on the ancient Olympic Games.

Coubertin Jr. has already started lobbying everywhere, but he is still young after all.

Joey has more political and financial resources than he does to support the cause.

Of course, her purpose is also very clear - the participation of women must become a practice from the very beginning of this sports event.

At this time, the whole city was filled with a warm atmosphere.

People are talking happily in the streets and alleys about the World Expo and the World Football Championship a year later, and a big victory that has just ended.

A day ago, Real Madrid just had a thrilling fight with Barcelona.It is said that the screams of people in the football stadium almost overturned the entire Montjuic Mountain.

In the end, Barcelona won the game with great momentum by virtue of their home court advantage.

Man is probably a very strange animal.

If it is said that after the previous siege, some of the Barcelona people still held such subtle hostility towards Madrid, then after this hearty victory, this tiny hostility instantly melted into the winner's magnanimity, Turned into admiration and pity.

After all, tens of thousands of spectators can see that the team from Madrid is indeed a respectable opponent.

"Your Highness, it's not good for you to come back!"

Joseph smacked his lips in regret, "Come back a few days earlier, and you will be able to catch up with the game!"

"You came to me just to talk about this?" Joey raised an eyebrow at him, "I'm very busy."

Count Guell and Joseph Batllo, as one of the few aristocrats who have money and leisure and are extremely enthusiastic about football, were elected to the organizing committee of the first World Football Championship.

This domestic league can be regarded as a preview for world-class competitions.

In the organizing committee, Joseph is mainly responsible for running errands.

"Oh, there is something." He scratched his head.

It's a pity that Xiao Hehua has become the noble Princess Rose, and he is too embarrassed to joke with her.

"During the game, we found out that Real Madrid and Barcelona used different balls. At that time, neither team wanted to use the other's ball, so the referee finally had to decide to use Madrid's ball in the first half and Barcelona's ball in the second half."

Oh?

Joey thinks back to the football he saw earlier.

It seems that the design is indeed a bit rough, made of dark leather, and lacks uniform specifications.

Uniform rules are essential if a sport is to develop into a world-class event.

Unexpectedly, to organize a game, she would have to work hard to design the football. Soon after, Joey looked at the football in front of him and felt ashamed.

Forget it, treat it as an interest assignment for the industrial design elective course.

The current footballs are all hand-stitched from leather. The whole ball is usually composed of 11 yuan "T"-shaped leather. At the end of the sewing, the two pieces of leather that cannot be stitched inside need to be closed with a tie.

Joey sighed silently.

After seeing countless rounds of improved footballs in later generations, the little brown monster in front of him looked too crude to be called a football.

What is that rough lacing opening?

God, the ugly creature was grinning at her.

According to Joy's instructions, Joseph completed the basic research work.

He asked the players and many tailors who had worked on footballs—no one did it full-time—on this basis, Joey combined his own memory and began to analyze the design principles of footballs.

First of all, the weight and hardness of the ball must be appropriate, otherwise it may collide with the human body at high speed, which may cause injury.

The leather currently used has been the material selected after countless attempts, and there is no better alternative material for the time being.

"Weight?" Joseph tried hard to read her handwriting, and suddenly slapped his head, "By the way, I remembered that some players complained that it would be better if the ball didn't absorb water so much."

"The ball absorbs the sweat now, and as the game gets heavier, there have been people who have had head injuries from it."

"Waterproof." Joey nodded.

In addition, in an ideal state, the football should have a sufficiently smooth and perfect sphere to achieve better flight stability and directional accuracy and help players predict.

Now commonly used football looks uneven, the most uneven place is the position of the lacing.

"It's time for us to say goodbye to the lace-up football," Joey swiped his pen. "Installing the inflation valve inside will solve the problem of inflating the ball at the end of the stitching."

"Hey," Joseph imagined the principle, "it seems to be feasible! Why didn't I think of it before!"

In addition, leather shape and stitching techniques can be improved to achieve a more ideal spherical surface.

The pen tip quickly slid across the paper, and soon the most classic football design in Joy's memory was outlined on the paper - 32 black and white ball skins sewn together.

12 black pentagons and 20 white hexagons, each black pentagon connected to five white spheres.

"Wow, this ball looks really fascinating." Joseph stretched his neck and exclaimed, "Although I don't know why it is made in black and white, I just think it is very beautiful."

Joey couldn't help laughing.

It's black and white because that's the soccer ball used when black and white television first came out.

In order to allow the audience in front of the TV to see the football more clearly, the designers changed the solid-colored sphere into the form of white and black patches.

Playing crookedly, it has become the most classic football style in most people's minds.

However, today's people don't need to think about color.

Of course, the enlightenment of the contrasting color blocks is still very meaningful-compared with solid colors, this design allows players to see the rotation of the football more clearly and improves the player's performance.

After all, players have a stronger need to see the ball than spectators.

Joey cleared his mind and felt comfortable.

Suddenly she thought of Antonio—what is he doing now?

Just go.

The ground structure of the Sagrada Familia is only the skeleton of the nativity facade, and the small building next to the construction site is the studio of the construction team.

As soon as he walked to the door of the studio, Joey smelled the strong smell of coffee.

Ah, this familiar recipe.

Architect is indeed a profession that has been around since ancient times.

The room was brightly lit, and by the window stood large pots of mint and rosemary, the latter's tiny blue-purple flowers hidden in slender, feather-like leaves, and the rich aroma was refreshing.

The lush palms are placed in large white basins on the sofas and tables, and the large emerald green leaves are pleasing to the eye.

This office environment is quite good, Joey thought.

Coffee, vanilla, greenery, every element is yelling at the architects - wake me up!

However, lush greenery also has a downside.

Joey, for example, is petite and almost completely blocked by the palm fronds in the doorway when he walks in.

No one noticed her coming.

"Are you really not going to do something? She is so annoying." An impatient middle-aged woman lowered her voice.

The man and woman closest to the door seemed to be discussing someone.

Joey stood where he was, thinking silently whether he should cough lightly to signal that there was a stranger here.

The man's voice hesitated: "Flora probably didn't do it on purpose... She is still young after all, and she went to admit her mistake to Mr. Gaudi."

Joey raised an eyebrow.

A subtle intuition came to her mind, and she suddenly changed her mind and wanted to secretly listen to what they were talking about.

The middle-aged woman sounded like she was going crazy: "Are you kidding me? I miscalculated a statistic today, set up a slanted beam tomorrow, and then accidentally messed up Mr. Gaudi's rope model. Poor 'Oh I'm sorry, I'm going to confess my mistake to Mr. Gordy myself' - Hans, you should see an ophthalmologist. Who can't see what she's up to!"

The man sincerely wondered, "What purpose?"

"..." The woman sighed, "I blamed you wrongly. So you should see a neurologist."

Through the palm leaves, Joey could see Antonio's work area at the innermost side of the studio—go down the stairs, pass through the sand table with high and low structural models, and you will come to a tall wooden On the edge of the frame, there are many strings hanging from the upper edge of the wooden frame to hang heavy objects.

At this moment, the architect in the white shirt frowned slightly, and was raising one hand to finely adjust the position of the hanging rope. His expression was so focused that Joey reminded Joey of the experimenter who lifted the test tube in the chemistry textbook.

A girl walked behind him cautiously. The delicately cut rococo pink silk dress outlined a graceful curve on the chest and waistline.

She fiddled with her hair quickly, revealing her fair neck.

"Mr. Gordy, I'm sorry..." As soon as he spoke, his voice was innocent and pitiful, but extremely sweet. When it came faintly, even a woman like Joey was moved.

Antonio was concentrating on looking at the rope model in front of him, without even fluttering his eyelashes.

Flora waited for a moment, but without any response, she lowered her head aggrievedly: "Mr. Gaudi, I really didn't mean it."

She took another step forward, with a soft weeping sound in her voice: "Your design is so beautiful, and you always look so lonely when you work-I wish I could accompany you. But I forgot that I am too You are young and too stupid to be of much help, but always get you into trouble..."

Oh yo.

Although Joey is quite slow in matters of emotion, no matter how stupid he is, he should understand—this little girl seems to want to poach her corner.

So, she leaned comfortably on the window sill beside her, regretting that there were no melon seeds for her to nibble at this time.

"Huh?" The woman next to Palm finally found her and covered her mouth in surprise.

Joey was a little embarrassed for a moment, hesitated for a long time, and raised his hand to wave to her.

The woman's eyes suddenly lit up, and the light of gossip flickered.

At this moment, Antonio finally saw Flora.

——After all, her fluffy skirt was almost rubbing against his rope model.

He only glanced at her, immediately raised his hand to stop her, and said coldly: "Stand back."

Flora was taken aback, subconsciously took a step back from the sudden intimidation.

Antonio's tone was impatient: "What's your name?"

Flora looked happy, and was about to speak, but was interrupted directly.

"Forget it, I'm not interested in knowing either."

"Go to the person who recruited you and tell him that neither of you will be here tomorrow."

Before he finished speaking, Antonio had already turned his gaze back to the model.

With a flash of inspiration in his mind just now, he will be able to find the most suitable angle immediately——

Flora's face quickly flushed red.

She shook her shoulders, and the trembling weeping sound in her voice was genuine: "Mr. Gaudi, how can you bear it... I, I have only been here for a few days..."

Shui Lingling's eyes were soon covered with a layer of tears, which was very lovable.

Antonio's thoughts were interrupted again.

The sudden inspiration flew away, and he finally couldn't bear it anymore.

He turned his head and glanced at Flora coldly.

"First, I said no skirts at work."

"Secondly, I said no interruptions were allowed when I adjusted the model."

"Finally, one mistake is intolerable, three times? With all due respect, you are not fit to be an architect."

He pointed to the stairs impatiently: "Now, get out of here immediately."

"Mr. Gordy!" The male assistant at the door ran over in horror, "I, I will lead her to the Finance Department...but it was really not my idea to recruit her at that time! It was Domingo..."

Antonio raised his eyes.

The assistant's voice stopped abruptly—"I'm sorry, I'll take her away now."

Flora was crying and fussing, the assistant was trying to persuade her, the studio was full of smoke, Antonio was so angry that his face was livid——

Until he inadvertently turned his head, and suddenly saw the girl leaning against the table and patting her chest.

The sharp brows and eyes were subconsciously gentler, "Why are you here?"

"My God," Joey said with lingering fear, "you are so fierce, Antonio."

She had never seen him like this.

Now, she finally knew why the data recorded that he had a bad temper.

Antonio pressed his forehead, where the blue veins are still jumping: "It's so stupid."

Joey felt sorry for Flora: "Such a beautiful girl, you treat her like this..."

"Is it pretty?" Antonio took a few sips of coffee, "I didn't pay attention. She almost touched my model."

Joey couldn't help but feel ashamed.

Perhaps in the eyes of this man, buildings are really more delicate than people.

Antonio drank his coffee and seemed to be in a better mood.

"Have you made the football you remember?"

Joey nodded with a smile, and raised his chin at him again: "I miss you."

Antonio was taken aback, and his cold white cheeks were immediately stained with a faint blush at a speed visible to the naked eye——

"Tsk," Joey pinched his face regretfully, "what can you do if you're so flirtatious, Mr. Earl."

Of course, the main reason should be that his skin is too fair, and even a little blush is obvious.

Antonio grabbed her hand and motioned her to look at the high and low exquisite models around him: "Hey, they all miss you."

Joey: "..."

Dare to feel that this is pulling out a hair and turning into many small models to express your love for you, right?

At this moment, the woman at the door cautiously poked her head out from the stairs: "Your Highness, someone is looking for you—"

"Her Majesty George I appreciates the idea of ​​hosting the Olympic Games and is willing to provide support. However, due to the current economic downturn in Greece, the Greek government is difficult to determine the economic cost of this event after estimation. It is unrealistic to hold the Olympic Games in a few years. I hope you will understanding."

"However, he appreciates His Highness's efforts over the past few years, and proposed another possibility--in view of the fact that Barcelona will hold the World Expo next year, the city has developed rapidly in recent years and its influence has radiated the entire continent, and it is proposed that Barcelona be held during the Expo Try holding the World Games—I heard that Barcelona already has a stadium with a fairly high standard."

"In this way, we can not only take advantage of the popularity of the World Expo, but also intuitively show the form and effect of this event to the Greek people. The Kingdom of Greece is willing to provide support for this event within its capacity."

"This..." Joey didn't expect to wait for such a reply.

"It's such an honor."

When Joey was about to leave with a smile on his face, the female assistant said to her quietly: "Your Highness, if you are free, can you come and see Mr. Gordy more?"

Joey raised his eyebrows: "He asked you to tell me?"

I really can't see that Antonio still has such scheming?Did you learn from Flora now?

"No, no, no!" The female assistant hurriedly waved her hands, and turned her head to look a little guilty—Antonio was not there at this time.

"It's just that when you were here, he seemed to be in a good mood..." She shrank her neck embarrassedly, "Then she stopped admonishing others."

Joey almost laughed out loud.

It turns out that Antonio has a notorious reputation.

Time flies by in the rotation of the four seasons, and the hour hand quickly moved to the end of spring one year later.

In May 1879, the World Games and the Universal Exposition opened in Barcelona at the same time.

From the preparation to the actual holding, the World Games, which is called "the bud of the Olympics" by later generations, took less than a year.

Fortunately, most countries were about to send delegations to participate in the World Expo, and it was not difficult to bring along a few more athletes. Some delegation members even signed up for the competition on a whim.

Since April, fleets flying various flags have docked at the busy Port of Barcelona. The blue sea is full of ships of all sizes, which is very spectacular.

On the night of the opening ceremony, the entire Montjuïc mountain blazed like a radiant fire.

The tall gymnasium, the majestic Palace of Art, the open square, and the Barcelona Palace on the top of the hill, which seems to be burning with the starry sky, all eyes are focused on the high platform that rises from the ground in the center of the square.

That was the sacred cauldron—the curve was smooth, like a powerful arm holding a torch high.

It's just that the torch hasn't been lit yet.

The eyes of tens of thousands of people were brighter than the lights, staring at the too small figure in the square.

There was a tidal wave of whispers in the crowd.

"The idea of ​​lighting the torch tower on the spot with the torch picked from Athens is a good idea, and if it works, it must be very beautiful - but the risk is too great."

"Yeah, look at that figure - he's still a kid, isn't he? Still sitting in a wheelchair, getting up from the wheelchair... oh my god!"

"I couldn't bear to watch what would have happened if he had missed the shot."

Even Joey's palms were sweating.

Parker is not yet 15 years old.

He once shot an arrow at the flag on the opposite roof when he was negotiating with Carlos' army in Barcelona, ​​but under the pressure of tens of thousands of people watching, will he really have no problem?

She also felt afraid to look at it.

"Don't worry, sister," Alfonso told her, smiling.

Mercedes was beside him, also smiling quietly.

The young king and his wife rushed to Barcelona to announce the opening of the Universal Exposition and Games.

"Parker Dier's a real man. Trust him."

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Park drew a full bow, and the burning arrows were very conspicuous in the night when everyone was holding their breath.

He raised his arms, and only the beautiful tower remained in his eyes.

Summer has arrived, and the nights in Barcelona are cloudless.

At this time, it was a southeast wind with a wind speed of about three or four meters per second.

Parker had practiced countless times for this moment.Strong winds from different directions, heavy rain, strong lights and even suddenly extinguished lights... The bow in his hand has almost become one with him.

The flexible bowstring was attached to his palm, giving him an unparalleled sense of intimacy.

Well, go for it.

The flames cut through the air soundlessly, drawing a pure arc.

Someone took Joey's hand and whispered in her ear: "I got hit."

In the next second, the flaming arrow stably hit the center of the torch tower, and the tower burst into flames in an instant!

At that moment, a cluster of flames lit up in everyone's eyes at the same time.

Warm and bright, it represents the warmest welcome and the pride of never giving up.

The author has something to say: Highlights of this chapter: The combination of World Expo + Olympic Games has historical origins.Except for the first Olympic Games in Greece, the first few Olympic Games were held simultaneously with the World Expo, trying to attract more audiences with the popularity of the World Expo, and then slowly developed independently.Also, the original Olympics did not allow professional athletes to participate (very amazing).

The idea of ​​archery lighting the torch came from the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games!Poirot, a disabled archer who suffered from polio, shot the arrow in one of the most creative flame lighting ceremonies.

Thanks to the big baby Shuiyan for the grenade!

Thank you for the tea-flavored little salted fish, Zijin, Qianli Yingti, and Amomo for their nutrient solution~