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LONDON, July 20 (Reuters) – Quidditch, the sport encouraged by the wizarding sport in the “Harry Potter” publications, will now be known as quadball, its governing bodies mentioned, a identify improve meant in aspect to length themselves from creator J.K. Rowling’s views on transgender issues.
In a statement on its web page on Wednesday, the Intercontinental Quidditch Association (IQA) said it was joining US Quidditch and Key League Quidditch – now rebranded as US Quadball (USQ) and Main League Quadball – in adopting the new identify immediately after all a few bodies experienced beforehand declared their determination to make the modify.
At the time they cited two explanations: Rowling’s viewpoints on transgender issues which have brought about controversy, and Warner Bros., which was behind the “Harry Potter” movies, proudly owning the trademark for “quidditch”, limiting the sport’s expansion.
In 2020, Rowling voiced her worries around trans gals currently being permitted entry to feminine spaces, drawing praise from some women’s rights campaigners as properly as accusations of transphobia, which the writer has rejected, by trans activists.
Chris Lau, chair of the IQA Board of Trustees, mentioned IQA was “very psyched to be becoming a member of USQ and MLQ in modifying the title of our activity and supporting this change across our customers around the globe”.
He added: “We are assured in this move and we appear ahead to all the new chances quadball will deliver. This is an critical instant in our sport’s history.”
Quadball, referring to the quantity of balls and positions in the sport, was picked out adhering to surveys.
First released in Rowling’s textbooks, the activity was adapted to true lifetime in 2005 with two teams of seven players operating around with broomsticks among their legs in a full get in touch with activity.
Right now virtually 600 groups in 40 international locations play the video game, in accordance to the IQA.
The USQ and MLQ will possess the quadball trademark in the United States, the IQA explained, incorporating that it expects to enter into a license arrangement to use the time period.
It explained the last intercontinental quidditch event, the IQA European Online games 2022, will be held on July 23-24 in the Irish town of Limerick, that includes 20 groups from Europe, Australia and Hong Kong.
(Reporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian Enhancing by Mark Heinrich)
((Marie-Louise.Gumuchian@thomsonreuters.com))
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