London: Quidditch, the sport inspired by the wizarding game in the Harry Potter books, will now be known as quadball, its governing bodies said, a name change meant in part to distance themselves from author J.K. Rowling’s views on transgender issues.
In a statement on its website on Wednesday, the International Quidditch Association (IQA) said it was joining US Quidditch and Major League Quidditch – now rebranded as US Quadball (USQ) and Major League Quadball – in adopting the new name after all three bodies had previously announced their decision to make the change.
University of Maryland quadball team member Heather Farnan, centre, stands on defence with a bludger during training for the sport previously known as quidditch.Credit:The Washington Post/Will Newton
At the time they cited two reasons: Rowling’s opinions on transgender matters which have caused controversy, and Warner Bros., which was behind the Harry Potter films, owning the trademark for “quidditch”, limiting the sport’s expansion.
In 2020, Rowling voiced her concerns over trans women being allowed access to female spaces, drawing praise from some women’s rights campaigners as well as accusations of transphobia, which the author has rejected, by trans activists.