England just bid to host the Quidditch World Cup in 2012.  We face an uphill battle.  The last time we hosted the cup was in 1994.  As the Potter biographies detail, a disastrous post-game incident occurred when some Death Eaters decided to run amok.  Tourism by foreign Wizarding folk dropped for the next two years, and disappeared entirely after the revelation of Voldemort’s return.

The industry has picked up since the conclusion of the second war, but not to 1993 levels.  People remember the World Cup incident--and that Voldemort had not regained power at that time.  Added to the rumours of Death Eaters who escaped after Voldemort’s death, and the average witch or wizard considers us a dangerous place to visit.

It is possible that some Death Eaters escaped prosecution--but the same is true of any large-scale crime investigation in any country.  I can say with certainty that England does not belong on any Wizarding governments’ travel advisory list.  Our crime statistics over the last seven years prove it.  All but America and Kazakhstan have officially conceded this fact, though the average citizen in all countries still avoids us.

 Without the tourism galleon, our economy has weathered some tough years post-war.  Getting selected for the World Cup would revitalise England.  Quidditch fans will brave anything for a match.  Until then, jobs will be created for the construction of the stadium complex, team quarters, security spells, and other essentials.  More witches and wizard shall travel here on business, as contracts and international agreement get finalised.  As they have safe trips, their friends and family may consider us a leisure destination.

 But we have to convince the World Quidditch Federation to select us first.  For over a year, the Departments of International Magical Cooperation, Magical Games and Sports, Magical Law Enforcement, and various members of the administrative staff have worked to plan an appealing, detailed, functional, safe and superior stadium complex with embedded security protocols.  After some false starts, countless logistical headaches and more than fifty thousand man-hours, I believe we have succeeded.

Now the hard work begins.