Harry Potter breaks a sweat: Quidditch World Cup in Germany

In its original version, Quidditch has players flying high up on their broomsticks, where they can spend days trying to win a game - no matter if it rains, snows or storms.

Here are the basic rules of the Harry Potter game: Two mixed-gender teams of seven players play against each other. Three players, the Chasers, try to score points by throwing the Quaffle, a ball, through the three hoops of their opponents. The Keeper tries to stop them from doing this.

There are two other massive balls, the Bludgers, flying around indiscriminately to knock players off their brooms. Two other players, the Beaters, are in charge of blocking them. The Seeker is the player in charge of catching a small golden ball with wings, the Golden Snitch. The game ends once this is achieved and it also gives the team extra points.

From Harry Potter to reality

About 10 years ago, the fictional wizard's game was transposed to real life. Its popularity has been growing quickly ever since - and not only for Harry Potter fans.

To play the game, you don't need to have read the books, insist the players of the 21 international teams that are meeting this weekend for the Quidditch World Cupheld in Frankfurt.

"I think most people find it strange that we play quidditch because they see it as a Harry Potter thing," explains Laurens Grinwis Plaat Stultjes, President of the Belgian quidditch association and manager of Belgium's team.

Even among the most hard-core Harry Potter fans, some of them don't get why quidditch should be played in real life, he adds. Yet the number of players is growing proportionally very quickly in Belgium compared to the rest of Europe. The Belgian team hopes to make it among the top four teams this year.

Adding to the weirdness of quidditch is the fact that players have to hold a plastic broomstick between their legs. One has to admit, it takes some time getting used to the sight - as these brooms obviously can't fly.

Yet they're not completely pointless, says UK player Bex McLaughlin: "They're a handicap. Just like you can only throw your ball towards the back of the field in rugby or that you're not allowed to play with your hands in soccer. Without the brooms, the game would be a lot faster and more dynamic, but it would also be more dangerous. There would be a much bigger difference between male and female players."

US team a favorite - Germany aims to reach Top 10

Meeting a day before the beginning of the championship to train and take part in demonstration games, most players DW asked believe that the US has the best chances of winning.

This is not surprising, as this form of the sport was invented in that country in 2005 by a handful of people. There are now several hundreds of teams and thousands of players there now.

The coach of the US team, James Hicks, is still surprised by this development: "It began with just a few kids who played that on campus and it is now an international sport," he told DW. He couldn't predict his team would win before seeing the matches of the championship - after all, everything can happen in a game of quidditch.

Other favorites are the Australian, the French and the British teams.

The German team aims to be among the best 10, revealed the team's Seeker Christian Zimpelmann, who plays for Bonn's Rheinos. "Compared to other countries, we might have some catching up to do, but I believe we can reach our goal," he said.

The first teams were created in Germany over two years ago. From the initial four teams, there are now 12 official ones. Zimpelmann believes they will gain several new players with the World Cup being held in Frankfurt. There are already several hundreds of tickets sold before the start of the event.

Fun and ambition go hand in hand

Despite all athletic ambitions, a friendly atmosphere characterizes the Quidditch World Cup in Frankfurt. The players greet each other before matches with a hug and the active cheering of the audience adds to the good mood.

"In a game of quidditch, everyone can be themselves," the German co-trainer and Keeper Adrian Schleen told DW. It doesn't matter if you're a woman or a man, everyone can play. There are, however, some gender-related rules: There can never be more than four players of the same sex on the field at once - and transgender people are also included in this rule.

Kann Bolat, the Turkish coach - whose team only has 15 players at the championship instead of 21 because of the current political unrest in Turkey - summarized well why so many people are excited about the game: "Quidditch welcomes everyone; it is open and stands for equal rights. People all get along, switch their jerseys, and have fun. That's why I think quidditch is the best sport in the world."