The Department of Magical Games and Sports is a department at the British Ministry of Magic.
About[]
This department is responsible for:
- Upholding laws on every wizarding game and sport, including the International Statute of Secrecy. Quidditch teams that do not abide by these laws are immediately forced to disband.[1]
- Providing strict guidelines for security measures to ensure that broom-tampering does not occur. This has greatly reduced the risk of referees being targeted and such incidents are now a rarity.[1]
- Choosing the right candidates to be a referee through rigorous flying tests, a written examination on Quidditch rules and a series of intense trials to find out if the candidate can keep calm under pressure when faced with offensive players.[1]
- Limiting the number of games played every year to lower the risk of Muggles discovering Quidditch.[2]
History[]
In 1692, department was established when the International Statute of Secrecy made every government responsible for consequences of magical games and sports within its territory.[1]
In 1750, the department decided to create seven new Quidditch rules.[3]
In 1814, they disbanded the Banchory Bangers after a Quidditch game against the Appleby Arrows. After they let Bludgers escape the confines of the pitch and tried to capture a Hebridean Black, they were apprehended over Inverness.[1]
In 1883, the department decided to change the scoring baskets used for Quidditch into scoring hoops. They needed to regulate the size of the equipment after local teams created unfair sized baskets, with a team in Barnton having a giant basket for their team to score through and a grape-sized one for the opposition. The decision did not receive a good reaction from Quidditch fans who protested and demanded the return of the scoring baskets.[3]
After news spread that the department was planning to burn the baskets, there was a gathering in the hall of the department. A representative denied that they were planning to burn the baskets and explained why they had to change the baskets. The fans in attendance were still unhappy with the decision and started throwing baskets at them. The riot was reported in the Daily Prophet.[3]
In 1884, the department upset Quidditch fans for the second time when they introduced a new rule to prevent stooging. Under the new rule, only one Chaser can be in the scoring area with the Keeper at the same time or the goal will be disallowed. Fans were stunned and upset because they did not consider this cheating. A representative tried to explain that stooging is on the increase and Keepers have been injured so they needed to level the playing field. The fans were still unhappy and started throwing Quaffles at them, causing the Department of Magical Law Enforcement to have to disperse the crowd.[3]
In 1894, they banned the Appleby Arrows from shooting arrows with their wands into the sky when one pierced the referee, Nugent Potts, through the nose. This had been an old tradition of the fans who did it in celebration whenever their Chasers scored.[2]
In 1958 to 1969, the department gave Kevin and Karl Broadmoor, Beaters who played for the unruly Falmouth Falcons, no fewer than fourteen suspensions for their behaviour.[2]
The department has a full record of every cheating method ever used during Quidditch. These are not available to the public out of concern that these will give witches and wizards ideas. Kennilworthy Whisp was given access to the records while he was writing Quidditch Through the Ages. In the book, he only listed the top ten common fouls.[3]
Arthur Weasley received tickets to the 422nd Quidditch World Cup final from Head of the department, Ludo Bagman. During the preparations, the department and others in the Ministry were very busy. The Department of International Magical Cooperation didn't feel they were getting enough support from the Department of Magical Games and Sports.[4]
Notes and sources[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Quidditch Through the Ages, Chapter Five: Anti-Muggle Precautions
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Quidditch Through the Ages, Chapter Seven: Quidditch Teams of Britain and Ireland
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Quidditch Through the Ages, Chapter Six: Changes in Quidditch Since the Fourteenth Century
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 5