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Announcing: The International Confederation of Broomstick Athletes

To all Chasers, Beaters, Keepers, Seekers, Snitches, Referees, and Quidditch lovers and aficionados both on and off the keep:

It with incredible pride and excitement that we announce the official formation of the International Confederation of Broomstick Athletes – the ICBA.

When J.K. Rowling created the fictional sport of Quidditch in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone she captured our imaginations and sparked a world-wide interest in this fantastic form of athletics. In 2007 (?), this game was brought to life by what is now known as the International Quidditch Association. Through ingenuity and hard work, Alex Benepe, Xander Manshel, and countless other dedicated individual transfigured Quidditch into a figment of imagination into a real-life, sweat and blood sport.

Through the years, the IQA has done an outstanding and unparalleled job at bringing the magic of the game to the muggle world. The IQA is to thank for the lavish spectacle of the World Cup, where they gave us all an opportunity to experience Wizard Rock, dementors, and the most magical experience since The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The IQA has striven to ensure, with great success, that its event are the epitome of the Harry Potter fandom experience.

We cannot express our gratitude to the IQA with enough fervor; without the tireless efforts of the wonderful staff of the IQA, Quidditch may still be nothing more than a figment of our imaginations. The IQA’s tireless dedication to bringing the magic of Harry Potter to life cannot be praised too highly.

The sport of Quidditch is something of a two-faced coin. On one side, the magic of J.K. Rowling’s fantasy world gleams; on the other, the competitive spirit of the sport shines. It is this dual nature of the game that has brought about the formation of the ICBA. The IQA has done an extraordinary job of breathing life into Rowling’s world; now, the ICBA seeks to highlight the competitive aspect of the sport.

Because of our deep respect for the IQA, we want to stress that the ICBA was not, in any way or at any time, formed in an attempt to compete with the IQA. These organizations have entirely different goals, and entirely different standards. We will never ask teams or players to choose; these two organizations will exist in complete harmony. Our intention is for the ICBA to stand alongside the IQA, not in opposition but in cooperation; not in competition but in complement. Together, the IQA and the ICBA will truly be able to offer a Quidditch experience that appeals to everyone’s interests, whether those interests lie in the competitive or the fanciful side of the game.

The ICBA will attempt to raise standards for snitches and referees to provide the fairest and most professional competitive environment possible. We will provide truly competitive opportunities for truly competitive athletic teams to show their prowess and fight for glory. We intend to establish a competitive fall season for teams more interested in the athletic element of the game to come together and compete.

We are very, very excited at this opportunity to explore this previously uncharted aspect of the game of Quidditch. If you want a professional, competitive, athletic Quidditch experience, too, we invite you to grab your broomstick, stretch your snitch-snatching arm, and join us as we embark on our journey.

Brooms up!

We are currently setting up for our first season in Fall 2012. If you are intested in joining or want more information, post on this page or email us at icba.contactus@gmail.com.

Current Conferences:

Red River North Conference:

Texas Tech University
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Wichita State University

Red River South Conference:

Baylor University
Rice University
Sam Houston State University
Texas A&M University
Texas Christians University
University of Texas

Gulf Coast Conference:

Louisiana State University
University of New Orleans
University of Southern Alabama

Independents:

University of Kansas
Marquette University

Late November - 1st Annual Collegiate Cup

Please visit our site to keep up to date on quidditch tournaments, conference updates, and collegiate cup updates:

www.broomstickathletes.org