Real life Quidditch is fast becoming one of the most inclusive sports
The game is based off the sport created in the 'Harry Potter' franchise
By Steve Brown
Words: Steve Brown
Quidditch is becoming the most inclusive sport – despite ‘Harry Potter’ author JK Rowling’s previous anti-trans comments.
Based on the fictional game from the Harry Potter franchise, the game – which is often referred to as muggle Quidditch – debuted in real life back in 2005 with the first Quidditch World Cup taking place in 2007.
The game involves two teams of seven players who run around a hockey-sized pitch while mounting a broom – obviously not flying like in the Harry Potter franchise.
And now, Emma Humphry – a Quidditch player from New Zealand – revealed the sport is the ‘only full-contact mixed-gender sport’ and is one of the most inclusive ever.
She told the RNZ Summer Report: “When I say mixed gender sport I mean male, female and everyone in between.
“So you’ve got trans … agender, and people in transition as well.
“We do attract a lot of people from the LGBTQ community… Because generally when you look at most segregated sports, they’re not given a platform to get some serious competition.”
And according to the International Quidditch Association (IQA), the sport is fast becoming one of the most inclusive and does not ‘discriminate’ against players.
They said in a statement: “Quidditch is an inclusive sport that does not accept any kind of discrimination.
“All Quidditch athletes have the right to define how they identify and it is this stated gender that is recognised on pitch.
“Many players have found, for the first time, a team sport that recognises them as they are.
“The ‘four maximum’ rule of Quidditch states that there may be no more than four players of the same gender on pitch at one time, ensuring the sport is inclusive to all genders and that gender diversity is always maintained on the field of play.”