Australian ‘Quidditch’ players drop name to distance themselves from Harry Potter author JK Rowling
Australian players of ‘Quidditch’, the sport made famous in JK Rowling’s Harry Potter novels, voted to change the name to ‘Quadball’ in a bid to distance themselves from the author for her views on copyright. trans people.
Members of Quidditch Australia, the sport’s governing body, voted to change its name to ‘Quadball’ at their annual general meeting in December last year.
Follow other Quadball organizations around the world who made a similar move last year.
Real-life Quidditch players must run with a broom between their legs because, unlike the wizards in JK Rowling’s books, they don’t have the ability to fly.
But artist and writer Alexandra Marshall criticized the decision as “delusional, false and empty”.
“They’ve never played ‘Quidditch’ because none of them have magic broomsticks,” he told Daily Mail Australia.
“It was a fitting name of the Harry Potter series by an international body that uses JK Rowling’s fame, presumably as a marketing ploy, and now they’re worried Generation Snowflake will be offended.”
The fictional sport, which first appeared in Rowling’s world-famous Potter books, involves schoolchildren who are witches and wizards competing to snatch a small golden ball on flying broomsticks.
In real life, players run around with brooms between their legs, and the Golden Snitch is a tennis ball hidden inside a long sock that dangles from the shorts of an impartial referee dressed in yellow.
The sport, which started in 2005 and is now played by nearly 600 teams in 40 countries, has never been endorsed by Ms Rowling.
Last year, the sport’s world governing body, the International Quidditch Association, announced it would change the name after Ms Rowling’s arrival.under scrutiny for their anti-trans’ positions. National governing bodies around the world did the same.
Now Australia has followed suit after the Sydney City Serpents’ Natalie Astalosh tabled a motion to change the name to Quidditch Australia, as it was then called, late last year.
“This name change moves the sport away from its Harry Potter origins, reaffirms the community’s commitment to support and advocate for trans and gender diverse members, and opens up new business opportunities for the sustainable expansion of the sport,” he wrote.
He added: ‘Not to accept ‘quadball’ as our new name would be a step backwards in the history of the sport in this country; it is time to move into this new era with the international community.’
Quadball, a version of the game played in the Harry Potter novels called Quidditch, is now played by nearly 600 teams in 40 countries.
Quadball Australia’s website and social media accounts were modified to reflect the name change. However, his merchandise and Wikipedia page still refer to him as Quidditch.
Ms Williams, writing for The Spectator Australia, scoffed at the move.
“I noticed that our Australian team is called ‘The Dropbears,'” he said.
‘Don’t you worry about the associated image of a monstrous tree bear coming down on tourists and tearing them to pieces? No.
“It’s easier to feel offended by one of the most successful authors in human history who has done so much, quietly, for those less fortunate than herself.”
Ms Rowling sparked controversy when she mocked the trans inclusive phrase “people who menstruate” in 2020.
“I’m sure there used to be a word for those people…” she wrote on Twitter.
Someone help me. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?’
Critics have accused Ms Rowling of being transphobic, a charge she strongly denies.
She has said that she was partially motivated to speak out about transgender issues due to her experience of domestic abuse and sexual assault.
Critics have accused her of being transphobic, a charge she strongly denies.
Stars of the Harry Potter movies, including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, have distanced themselves from her in the wake of her comments and have spoken out in support of transgender people.
However, some have defended it.
Robbie Coltrane, who played the beloved Hagrid in the movies, died following multiple organ failure at age 72 in October last year.
Before her death, she bucked the trend and spoke out in support of Ms Rowling.
“I don’t think what he said was offensive, really,” he told the Radio Times.
“I don’t know why, but there is a whole generation of people on Twitter who are waiting to be offended.
They wouldn’t have won the war, would they? That’s me talking like a grumpy old man, but you just think, ‘Oh, get over yourself.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the newly named Quadball Australia for comment.