The Quidditch World Cup!
So, lovelies, the moment we have all been waiting for is at hand! The Quidditch World Cup's Opening Ceremonies commence at the equivalent of 5pm PST (whatever the maths of that turn out to be...next Tuesday probably). This post will be where you can discuss IC/OCC the events and matches. If you have a thread for anything, just link to the thread in the appropriate section!
Opening Ceremony
Much like the Olympics opening ceremony, each team in the Cup parades through the stadium in their team uniforms, accompanied by their various mascots. After all the teams have entered, the mascots of all the teams will perform to the delight of the audience, and there will be fireworks. The International Association of Quidditch representatives will come forward and together will hold up their wands and light the ceremonial torch to begin the games.
Opening Ceremony Ball
The ball is a huge international affair hosted in an outdoor pavilion. There are plenty of cocktails, including a special drink associated with all 32 represented nations. Passed horderves also include favorites from each nation, and the music is performed by various groups from each nation. The Weird Sisters, of course, play a set to much delight, as well as The Cauldrons, a popular US Wizarding rock group. Dancing goes into the wee hours of the morning, though many players will want to leave early to prepare for games.
The Games
The teams are divided into 8 groups with 4 teams. So there will be 16 games in the various smaller pitches the "first day" (actually over 2 days-there are 8 stadiums), then 8, then 4, then 2, then the final at the huge stadium that everyone wants to attend. Most people go to see their country as far as they get, but might only attend the final game (as the Weasleys and Harry/Hermione did in Goblet of Fire) Camp grounds nearby have many activities for those hearty enough to watch more games! The groups are: Block A: England, Azerbaijan, USA, Argentina Block B: Russia, Ireland, Sri Lanka, Brazil Block C: South Africa, China, Wales, Germany Block D: Israel, Chile, Poland, Scotland Block E: France, New Zealand, Portugal, Jamaica Block F: Canada, Switzerland, Egypt, Tonga Block G: Spain, Fiji, Bulgaria, Mexico Block H: Japan, Kenya, India, Australia
Check each day for the match ups, we will roll for winners etc but will not do injury rolls! There will be a day of rest between the first day and the second and between the semi-final and final. Otherwise each set of games is a day apart, so yes, it's very exhausting!
Closing Ceremony
After the final match, which is when the Cup is officially awarded atop the stadium by the chosen representative (this year it will be Octavian Pepper who will also be announcing the ceremonies), there will be a similar closing ceremony. All the teams march back in with mascots, and huge representative figures from all the countries are present and the representatives do the ceremonial 'un-lighting' of the torch.