Quidditch Through The Ages is coming to the University of Sydney Quidditch Club in Upper Lachlan Shire Council! So, if you're a fan of Harry Potter and always dreamt of playing this magical sport, now is your chance to get in on the action.
This competitive sport has been growing rapidly around the world. It's not just for university students; community teams, schools, and players of all ages are getting involved. Quidditch was created by fans in 2005, inspired by JK Rowling's novels. They brought it to life as a real-life sport, maintaining many of its essential elements.
Now, Quidditch has become a worldwide phenomenon! It's the only mixed-gender full contact sport, played in over 30 countries and governed by the International Quidditch Association (IQA). And guess what? We are part of this incredible journey, being one of the 30 teams across Australia within university and community clubs. We are proudly governed by Quidditch Australia and the various state governing bodies, including QNSW.
If you've always wondered how Quidditch is played, this is the perfect opportunity to join us and learn the ropes. The sport has an intriguing history of international development. It all started in 2005 at Middlebury College in Vermont, USA, when two students decided to give bocce a miss and play Quidditch instead. They codified the rules through regular intramural games and in 2007, the first intercollegiate match took place, leading to the rapid growth of the sport.
Quidditch kept spreading its wings internationally, with the first international Quidditch games and the establishment of the IQA in 2008. The sport reached Australia in 2011, and guess where the first tournament outside the US was held? Right here in Sydney! The Summer Games in 2012 marked the first proper World Cup and helped raise awareness for the sport across Europe.
Since then, Quidditch has become significantly international. In 2014, the IQA split into US Quidditch and a truly international IQA. And here's an exciting milestone: the 2016 IQA Quidditch World Cup featured 21 teams from 5 continents, with the Australian Dropbears defeating the US for the first time ever!
Today, Quidditch is played in over 25 official member nations, and we can't wait to be part of the 2018 IQA Quidditch World Cup set to be held in Florence, Italy at the end of June.
So, come and join us, the University of Sydney Quidditch Club, for an epic Quidditch event that will transport you to the magical world of Harry Potter. Let's make history together and continue the tradition of this amazing sport!
See you at the event!
