Quidditch isnB次元官网网址檛 just for those at Hogwarts anymore.

And, for the second time, a tournament is coming to Surrey, when the city will play host to the Western Regional Quidditch Championships in 2019 after winning its bid.

The event is set to take place at Hjorth Road Park (10275 148th St.) on Nov. 9 and 10 in 2019, Quidditch Canada announced on Aug. 10.

The sport is becoming more mainstream, if you ask Sachin Kotecha, bidding and league tournament manager for Quidditch Canada.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 definitely more known now, but you still definitely get the looks of surprise and there are still people who are very surprised itB次元官网网址檚 a sport,B次元官网网址� he told the Now-Leader.

B次元官网网址淭he question you always get is, B次元官网网址楧o you fly?B次元官网网址� Unfortunately, no,B次元官网网址� Kotecha laughed.

What started as a fictional game in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling has become a popular sport around the world, with an estimated 600 athletes in Canada alone.

Quidditch involves two teams, made up of at least seven players, who must mount broomsticks at all times during play.

There are four main positions: Chaser, beater, keeper and seeker. The goal of the game is to score more points that the opposing team.

Kotecha said he got involved with Quidditch Canada after playing in his first and second year of university.

B次元官网网址淚t was just something different, and something I had heard about,B次元官网网址� he told the Now-Leader.

B次元官网网址淎lso, I think the concept that itB次元官网网址檚 a mixed-gender, full-contact sport was pretty unique and interesting. And I heard it had a great community, so that drew me into the sport.B次元官网网址�

Kotecha said the vast majority of teams competing in Quidditch Canada events are from universities, with a few community teams in the mix.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e working, though, to create interest at a younger level,B次元官网网址� he said, noting some cities are already working hard to generate that interest.

B次元官网网址淪o Guelph, (ON) they have one of the most developed programs,B次元官网网址� said Kotecha.

B次元官网网址淕ood partnerships with elementary schools in the region and youth summer camps, so lots of sessions for younger kids to teach them how to play. ItB次元官网网址檚 pretty common in Alberta, too.B次元官网网址�

Currently, no teams are registered in Surrey, he noted.

B次元官网网址淭he UBC team would be the closest,B次元官网网址� said Kotecha. B次元官网网址淏ut there could be, because this tournament is two years down the road. If thereB次元官网网址檚 interest, check out our website, . We will always help teams get started.B次元官网网址�

Kotecha said hosting these events is becoming B次元官网网址渧ery popularB次元官网网址� for cities across the country because B次元官网网址渋tB次元官网网址檚 very differentB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址済ets a younger audience, too.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e worked with cities across Canada,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎nd this isnB次元官网网址檛 actually the first time itB次元官网网址檚 come to Surrey. Surrey hosted this exact same event two years ago.B次元官网网址�

That event was the runner-up for the City of SurreyB次元官网网址檚 inaugural Sport in the City Award.

B次元官网网址淪o we are definitely getting more recognition,B次元官网网址� Kotecha said of Quidditch Canada, which was formed in 2014 to B次元官网网址渓ead, promote and advance the sport of quidditch in Canada.B次元官网网址�

Kotecha noted planning the events two years in advance B次元官网网址渂rings us in line with other Canadian sport organizationsB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渁llows our host cities to have more time to help us create memorable events.B次元官网网址�

Quidditch Canada says itB次元官网网址檚 the first quidditch organization in the world to successfully implement a multi-year bidding cycle.

Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner expressed her excitement about the event in a statement, saying the 2019 tournament will be a B次元官网网址渦nique opportunity for us to host a growing sport with a dedicated community of players.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚t is also a chance to showcase the game to those not familiar with it,B次元官网网址� she added, B次元官网网址渁nd hopefully inspire a few to take up this fun and inclusive sport.B次元官网网址�

Meantime, the University of Victoria will host the 2018/19 Western Regional Championship on Nov. 10 and 11 this year.

McMaster University in Ontario will host the 2019 national championships on March 23 and 24 next year.

And, the University of Alberta will host the following yearsB次元官网网址� national tournament, on March 28 and 29, 2020.

amy.reid@surreynowleader.com
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