Each of J. K. Rowling's four best-sellers features at least one important contest, be it an intramural match or the International World Cup, and a great deal of skinny little Harry's acceptance at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry is based on his talent for the game.
While Americans are focused on the campaign for the presidency, the second most important political contest is playing out in the rural towns and sparsely populated cities of South Dakota, a heavily Republican state where Mr. Daschle, the Democratic leader, is fighting for survival in a race that could well determine the balance of power in the Senate.
But in Britain the documents have constitutional force; the Salisbury convention implores the House of Lords to let a government's manifesto commitments pass through.The manifestos for this general election, to be held on May 6th, are all the more important because the contest is close.
For the first time in its 58-year history, the final of Europe's most important football contest was a wholly German affair.From the football pitch to politics to the economy, Germany has become Europe's most powerful country.
But the contest is important to control of the Senate in Washington, DC.
A particularly tasty dish – a cordon bleu irony, an irony worthy of a rating from Michelin – is produced by the important contest to be the next leader of the scunnered Scottish Labour party.
Mr. Perry, who could also lose control of the Senate if a Democrat won the seat, said in a fund-raising letter on behalf of the Republican candidate, "This contest is personally important to me".
Ron Paul has historically been able to capitalise on his supporters' enthusiasm no matter where he is in the polls, and one doubts he would throw in the towel even if it meant campaigning from the back of a truck, so the cash contest is less important for him.
But that is not to say that predictions cannot be wrong, nor that this contest is not important.
