Finalist Hosts Announced for the Continental Games and World Cup
The International Quidditch Association (IQA) has announced the finalists for the honor of hosting the upcoming IQA Continental Games 2019 and IQA World Cup 2020.
Chosen from a number of bids placed earlier this year, each one of the finalists had to complete a bid package, submitting a proposal with a potential date, location, and venue, accommodation options, and other factors. With a focus on ensuring high-quality events for players, volunteers, and fans, the IQA will explore each of these bids more closely to decide which will present the most suitable event.
With governing bodies in the Asian and Oceanic regions electing not to place any bids for the 2019 Continental Oceanic-Asian Games, the list of finalists for the Continental Games concern both the IQA European Games 2019 and IQA Pan-American Games 2019.
The European Games will take place in either Bamberg, Germany, or Gexto, Spain, which were both selected out of three bids. Previous European Games in 2015 and 2017 took place in Italy and Norway, respectively, moving this elite tournament across the continent.
The Pan-American Games are sure to take place in the United States, with both Richmond, Virginia, and Dublin, California, making the list. This is the first time these Games will take place, but they should provide a valuable opportunity for regional teams to gain new match-play experience and test their skills outside of the World Cup.
Teams from each region are all eligible to participate, and though many are expected to play as a national team, this is not mandatory. With regional teams like Scotland expected to send a squad to the Games, it is already apparent how the Games are promoting greater development in nontraditional regions.
The finalist locations for the World Cup are spread across North America and Europe. In 2018, the World Cup took place in Florence, Italy, but in 2020, it may be located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, or in either Richmond or Gexto. In fact, both Richmond and Gexto have put in a bid to host both their respective Continental Games and the World Cup and may potentially end up hosting both.
All of the locations considered will take place at established athletic grounds with all of the facilities and amenities teams and visiting fans will need to enjoy their stay. The high caliber of venues should ensure that the tournaments meet the high expectations of visitors, mirror the elite nature of these competitions, and safeguard the long-term future of the Continental Games and the World Cup.
Currently, the final location of the Continental Games will be released on December 21, 2018, and that of the World Cup on February 1, 2019. This timeline will give both the IQA enough time to evaluate the location and teams to prepare for the tournament.
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