Quidditch becomes quadball as sport’s bodies change name

LONDON, July 20 (Reuters) – Quidditch, the activity inspired by the wizarding activity in the “Harry Potter” books, will now be recognized as quadball, its governing bodies claimed, a title adjust meant in section to distance themselves from author J.K. Rowling’s views on transgender problems.

In a assertion on its site on Wednesday, the Worldwide Quidditch Affiliation (IQA) claimed it was becoming a member of US Quidditch and Major League Quidditch – now rebranded as US Quadball (USQ) and Major League Quadball – in adopting the new name soon after all a few bodies experienced previously declared their choice to make the improve.

At the time they cited two motives: Rowling’s thoughts on transgender issues which have induced controversy, and Warner Bros., which was powering the “Harry Potter” films, proudly owning the trademark for “quidditch”, limiting the sport’s growth.

In 2020, Rowling voiced her problems above trans women currently being authorized accessibility to feminine areas, drawing praise from some women’s rights campaigners as well as accusations of transphobia, which the creator has turned down, by trans activists.

Chris Lau, chair of the IQA Board of Trustees, stated IQA was “incredibly excited to be signing up for USQ and MLQ in modifying the identify of our activity and supporting this change throughout our customers around the world”.

He included: “We are self-assured in this stage and we appear forward to all the new chances quadball will deliver. This is an essential minute in our sport’s historical past.”

Quadball, referring to the range of balls and positions in the sport, was picked out adhering to surveys.

Initially released in Rowling’s textbooks, the recreation was tailored to real everyday living in 2005 with two groups of seven gamers jogging around with broomsticks in between their legs in a total contact sport.

Today almost 600 groups in 40 nations enjoy the sport, according to the IQA.

The USQ and MLQ will have the quadball trademark in the United States, the IQA reported, adding that it expects to enter into a license arrangement to use the expression.

It claimed the very last global quidditch tournament, the IQA European Video games 2022, will be held on July 23-24 in the Irish town of Limerick, showcasing 20 groups from Europe, Australia and Hong Kong.

Reporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian
Editing by Mark Heinrich

Our Benchmarks: The Thomson Reuters Believe in Rules.