483 ½ Wizolympics – Day 13 Update: Wizard Curling Qualifying Round

As the 483 1/2 Wizolympics arrive closer to their end, the events in store seem to be getting increasingly thrilling. Day 13 presents us with a wizarding tradition and fan favorite – that’s right – Wizard Curling. Earlier today, eight countries’ teams competed in qualifying rounds to determine who would ultimately be competing in the final round, which will be occuring at 3:00 pm this afternoon. If you are sitting on pins and needles waiting for the championship match to begin, fret not! We at the Daily Prophet have put together a brief history of one of the Wizarding World’s beloved sports, Wizard Curling.

This popular game originated in Scotland during the late 1500s. During the cold winters there were not many wizarding games that could be played in the snow or with a frozen ground (Quidditch did not reach international popularity until the 1700s). Children in Dunblane, Scotland, home from school for the duration of the winter holidays, created a game that could be played on frozen ponds. They used ordinary sticks to push stones across the length of the pond and competed to see who could push their stones closest a designated target (now known as the “house”). This simple game began to grow because it allowed young witches and wizards to play a game without using magic (which, even then, was forbidden to those under the age of seventeen when they ewre not participating in educational affairs). In time, adult wizards joined in the game and developed teams and leagues within their neighborhoods.

This was, of course, before the International Statute of Secrecy was put into action in the year 1689, and naturally it wasn’t long before Muggle children started to pick up on the game. Unlike games such as Quidditch and Gobstones, it doesn’t require any magical skill or object, making it suitable for Muggles, Squibs, and wizards alike.

Groups of Muggle players soon developed a name for the game – “curling” – because the stones would spin (or “curl”) across the ice when struck by the stick. The faster the stone would go, the more it “curled.”  Wizards found the name to be a bit less creative than they were used to, but since they couldn’t come up with a better name, this became its permanent title.

However, after wizards went into hiding, the true history of curling was lost among Muggles. As time went on, younger generations of Muggles (having no knowledge of wizardkind) assumed, of course, that it was a sport completely of Muggle origin.

Wizard Curling is curiously one of the most popular wizarding games today. Many ask why, since there is no magic involved, and it is a relatively nonviolent sport. True fans say that that can’t take away from its exciting gameplay, enthusiastic spectators, and riveting action, all of which will take place in Sochi later today. Surely the Muggle world is as passionate about the ancient sport of curling as we are!

Here are the outcomes of today’s qualifying rounds:

—– Round I: Qualifying Round —–

CANADA vs. UNITED KINGDOM → CANADA

NORWAY vs. SWITZERLAND → SWITZERLAND

UNITED STATES vs. SWEDEN → SWEDEN

CHINA vs. FRANCE → CHINA

—– Round II: Qualifying Round —–

CANADA vs. SWITZERLAND → CANADA

SWEDEN vs. CHINA → SWEDEN

—– Round III: Final Round —–

CANADA vs. SWEDEN → ???

You won’t want to miss any of the action! Who will bring home the gold? Tune in to the WWN at 3:00 pm today to get live Wizolympics updates. After the match, get exclusive interviews from the competitors on the Swedish and Canadian team right here at the Daily Prophet.

-Cordelia Emerald, Daily Prophet reporter