Quidditch, the existent-life "sport" inspired by the magical game in the Harry Potter book series, has undergone a name change in order to "distance" itself from writer and creator JK Rowling.

Rowling has faced criticism in contempo years for views regarding trans issues that many have perceived as transphobic, which has led to several Harry Potter stars, such equally Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, speaking out against the writer.

In a nutshell

United States Quidditch (USQ) and Major League Quidditch (MLQ) appear on Tuesday that the game of Quidditch will now be be known Quadball, also confirming their own rebranding equally U.S. Quadball and Major League Quadball.

READ MORE - JK Rowling falls victim to 'distasteful' prank past Russians impersonating Ukraine president Zelenskyy on Zoom telephone call

READ MORE - Love Island hit with thousands of Ofcom complaints as misogyny accusations mount

The International Quidditch Clan (IQA), which governs the sport at the international level, is also planning to adopt the new name worldwide.

"Bringing full creative command of the name of our sport to the vibrant customs of players and fans that has grown and sustained information technology will allow our organizations to accept the next footstep," MLQ co-commissioner Amanda Dallas said in a statement.

"We are now able to pursue the kinds of opportunities that our community has dreamed about for years."

Fans and players were polled every bit part of the name change process, MLQ said, with "quadball" receiving "strong support across demographic groups in the surveys."

The proper noun refers to both the number of balls and the number of positions in the real-life sport.

USQ and MLQ volition own the trademark for "quadball" in the U.s.. The trademark for "Quidditch" is owned by the Warner Bros. film and entertainment visitor.

Background

USQ and MLQ announced their intention to find a new proper noun for the sport in December.

While the leagues said at that place were a number of reasons behind the their desire for a name change, the main factor behind the rebrand was to "distance themselves from the works of J.K. Rowling, who has increasingly come under scrutiny for her anti-trans positions in recent years."

"Our sport has developed a reputation as one of the most progressive sports in the earth on gender equality and inclusivity, in part thanks to its gender maximum rule, which stipulates that a team may not take more than four players of the same gender on the field at a time," Dallas said at the fourth dimension.

4th Quidditch Title of the Czechia was held on October 2, 2021, in Brno, Czech Commonwealth

"Both organisations feel it is imperative to live upwards to this reputation in all aspects of their operations, and believe this move is a step in that direction."

The governing body for Quidditch in the United kingdom, QuidditchUK, announced it would support proposals by US Quidditch to rename the sport.

Criticism of Rowling

Critics have accused Rowling of being transphobic, an allegation which she strongly denies.

In 2020, the Scottish writer came under heavy criticism after tweeting a link to an article almost admission to menstrual hygiene products during the pandemic. The article referenced "people who menstruate" – a framing Rowling seemed to have effect with because it did not refer to "women."

"'People who menstruate.' I'm sure there used to be a give-and-take for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?" she wrote on Twitter.

The tweets drew a flood of criticism from members of the LGBTQ+ customs, gender activists, and from a number of Harry Potter stars such every bit Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint.

Rowling so released an essay to defend comments that led to her being accused of transphobia, and to explain why she felt the need to voice her opinions.

Last year, Rowling came under fire for defending a British researcher, Maya Forstater, who lost her task at a call back tank in London in 2019 after posting letters on Twitter proverb that transgender women cannot change their biological sex.

"Dress however you please," Rowling wrote on Twitter at the time. "Telephone call yourself whatever you like. Sleep with any consenting adult who'll accept yous. Live your best life in peace and security. Merely force women out of their jobs for stating that sex activity is real? #IStandWithMaya #ThisIsNotADrill."

How is real-life quidditch played?

Quidditch was originally adapted from the Harry Potter book serial in 2005 at Middlebury College in Vermont past Xander Manshel and Alex Benepe. Information technology has since exploded in popularity across the country and effectually the world. The game is now played past nigh 600 teams in 40 countries.

In the Harry Potter books and films, quidditch is played on flying broomsticks with enchanted balls, while in the real-life sport, players run effectually with brooms between their legs while throwing volleyballs, dodging dodgeballs, and chasing a yellowish-dressed runner around the field.

Quidditch is the but total-contact mixed-gender sport in the world, "greatly encouraging" those who place with the trans and non-binary community to partake.

Us Quidditch, the sport's governing body in the U.s., oversees competition featuring an average of 150 teams and 3,500 players in each season. Major League Quidditch was established in 2015 and features fifteen franchises located in the US and Canada.

The IQA European Games 2022 will have place in Limerick on 23-24 July.

READ Side by side - Australian adult female fined €1,834 for not declaring Subway sandwich at airdrome

READ Adjacent - Netflix to accuse a fee if subscribers stream outside dwelling house for more a fortnight

READ NEXT - New docuseries to offer backside-the-scenes look at Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's Wrexham AFC takeover