‘Muggle Quidditch:’ A bunch of dudes and ladies run around in capes and goggles with broomsticks between their legs while throwing balls at mounted hoops. This is an official sport, with a World Cup in November. Feel free to take a moment to weep now.

The fourth Quidditch World Cup will take place in New York City on the 13th and 14th of November this year. There are over 60 high school and college teams signed up to play, the majority of which are American. No comment on the legality of the tournament, organized by the International Quidditch Association has been made by J.K. Rowling.

The game has apparently become fairly physical in the years since its inception in 2005 – so much so that rules have had to be introduced to prevent the serious injuries that occurred in previous tournaments. Because apparently having your ego butchered isn’t enough.  My favourite bit is the part when the nerdy kids who struggled to bring the fictional sport into the real world realize that it’s been co-opted by more physically able folk.

[Via WSJ]
[Image source]