Even if you only have a very casual understanding of Harry Potter, you’ll likely know that Quidditch is the most popular Wizarding World sport.
The game is played across an oval pitch, atop broomsticks of course.
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The sport has actually taken off in real life, although clearly us mere mortals cannot ride atop a broom with players instead running around on a wooden stick with their feet firmly on the ground.
I’ll admit, it looks a little odd but Quidditch has really proved to be popular. I recall walking past games back when I was at university.
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In recent years though, the real life iteration of the sport has drifted away from the name Quidditch, instead referring to itself as quadball.
In part, this was to distance the sport from Harry Potter author JK Rowling following her numerous transphobic controversies.
“The name change indicates a firm stance with our trans players and members,” the QuidditchUK governing body previouslysaid.
Fans can partake in virtual Quidditch games thanks to the newly launchedHarry Potter: Quidditch Champions.
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You see, naturally, fans want the sport to thrive.
And while distancing quadball from JK Rowling is one way to do that, so too does it protect the sport from any copyright issues.
“Sponsorship is a part of almost any sport’s growth, but that’s always been a hard line we couldn’t cross,”wroteReddit user supapwn404.
Accompanying the discussion was a poll recording that 49% of fans agreed with the name change, with 9% more unsure and 14% wanting to “see how things go”.
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QuidditchUK itself has confirmed how the name change has “[given] us more firm legal footing and opening up greater opportunities for funding and external partners."
All in all, it sounds as if the change is for the better.
Topics:Harry Potter,TV And Film,Real Life
