Did you know that Magicians have their own equivalent of the World Cup?

They do!

At a time where billions of people around the world were tuning into their televisions to watch Russia’s surprise penalty shootout win over Spain, or Belgium’s 2-1 win over Brazil, a much smaller (but equally passionate) number of people were arriving in Busan, South Korea’s second city, for something altogether very different.

FISM: The ‘World Cup’ of Magic

Strictly speaking, it’s actually called the World Championships of Magic, rather than the Magic World Cup, but the comparison stays the same.

This year, in 2018, they took place at the Bexco Exhibition Centre in Busan, South Korea.

Between two thousand and three thousand magicians attend, watching some of the best magic, illusion and conjuring in the world.

First, a few facts on FISM and the World Championships of Magic:

FISM stands for the Federation Internationale des Societes Magiques (in French)
This translates in English to the International Federation of Magic Societies.
FISM was created in 1948
It consists of more than 97 magic societies
It represents 70,000 magicians
...from 49 countries.
The World Championships of Magic take place every three years
The last five World Championships have been held in Busan South Korea (2018), **Rimini ** Italy (2015), Blackpool England (2012), Beijing China (2009), and Stockholm Sweden (2006)
In July 2021 FISM will have its 28th World Championships of Magic in Québec, Canada. Their website is up and running and you can already buy tickets!

The event lasts for six full days, with a wide range of performances, gala shows, lectures, meetings, seminars, workshops and opportunities to visit the dealer hall - a room full of dozens of different magic shops selling their finest (and sometimes weirdest!) items.

Lectures and shows starting as early as 8.30am and finishing as late as midnight.

The Competitions have three categories: Close-Up, Stage & Special.

Within these categories, there are a number of different awards:

Close-Up: Micro, Card, Parlour
Stage: Manipulation, General, Illusion, Mental, Comedy
Special: Most Originality, [Best] Invention

Here's the fantastic English magician DMC (more about him in a future post) describing FISM - in his words the 'Olympics of Magic' - from his YouTube channel to give you a flavour:

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