Quidditch, which has become popular all over the world, is coming to Lithuania: will it replace basketball?

Quidditch has existed in the world for centuries, and although this sport has many fans in Lithuania, an official competition has never been organized. With a slight change in the rules, the first Quidditch Championship is organized by members of the Student Representative Council of Vytautas Magnus University. It will take place on May 14 of this year on Nemunas Island, Kaunas. Participants and fans from all over the country are expected to attend.

For those who don't know, let's explain: Quidditch is an incredibly popular game all over the world. A Quidditch team consists of seven players: a defender, two defenders, three forwards and a catcher. Quidditch is played on a huge field with six hoops (three on two opposite sides). Seven players, flying on magic broomsticks, try to score as many points as possible by throwing the ball, the Quidditch, into the hoops (10 points are awarded for one successful throw) and catching the Golden Snitch (150 points for catching it). Once this ball is caught, the game ends.

Quidditch was first mentioned in written sources by the chronicler Gertie Keddle in the 11th century. However, at that time it was played a little differently: it was played with a leather ball called a Crit (very similar to the modern Crit), and only two players took part in the game - forwards and defenders. A little later, around the middle of the 12th century, the Fists were added to the game, so the bouncers automatically appeared. The rules and game of modern Quidditch were finally formed in 1269 during the raids in Kent. The then President of the Wizarding Council, Barberus Bragge, first included catchers in the match, who had to catch the Golden Snitch.

Quidditch became completely popular worldwide only in the 19th century. For a long time, British teams dominated the world, and Quidditch was popularized by players such as Ludo Baggins and Charlie Weasley. However, the greatest popularity worldwide was achieved by Harry Potter, who played as a catcher. Although his career did not work out, at school he was considered one of the most promising players in the world, and the eyes of many teams were focused on him. Also famous in the world were such players as Oliver Wood, Kate Winslet, Fred, George and Ronald Weasley, Cho Chang and Viktor Krum.

"Quidditch is a sport that has not yet been discovered in Lithuania, but it already has a lot of fans. Hundreds, maybe even thousands of people have watched Quidditch matches on TV. For this reason, together with my colleagues, we decided that it was time to organize the first Quidditch championship in Lithuania," said Erika Gudliauskaitė, one of the event organizers.

Quidditch has long conquered the world, but will it take root in Lithuania? Perhaps this sport with deep traditions, but completely new to Lithuania, will replace basketball, which is called our second religion? We will probably find out only after the first championship.