Wimbledon ups security

WIMBLEDON has ramped up security after a recent spate of terror attacks in London.

As the prestigious tennis tournament got under way yesterday, chief executive Richard Lewis told reporters at the All England Club that under-cover surveillance spotters, firearms officers and protective barriers were all in place to protect the two-week tournament, which typically sees around 40 000 people per day visiting the site.

Besides these measures a mobile reserve unit is on the ground to respond to emerging incidents and bBarriers have been placed along the route following vehicle-based terror attacks on pedestrians this year on bridges in London.

“They have been put in based upon a recommendation by the security service,” Lewis said.

“There’s an increase in surveillance from the security services and ourselves.

“There’s other increased measures in place but most of them are below the radar,” he said, refusing to divulge details for security reasons.

Lewis said the players were comfortable with the level of security. “The comments have been positive. They say they feel safe and secure and its something they’re used to around the world,” he said.

Police have not been informed of any specific threat to the championships.

Besides the barriers, the most visible difference this year is the roof of the 11 000seater Court One, which is being replaced with a retractable roof like the main Centre Court to keep play going through rain spells.

The old fixed roof is gone and the first parts of what will be a retractable roof are in place.

Construction will resume shortly after the tournament. The new £70-million (R1.1billion) roof will be in operation by 2019.

Wedged in a triangle between two roads, the All England Club has little room to expand within its current boundaries.

It owns a large swathe of parkland next to the tennis grounds but Wimbledon Park Golf Club has the lease until 2041 and has so far spurned the tennis club’s financial offers to leave early.

“The biggest thing on the horizon, long-term, is the park,” said Lewis.

“We’ll just continue monitoring the situation. The closer it gets to 2041 we might as well just wait till 2041. They turned down the invitation to negotiate. Long term, the future is secure because we know we’ll have more space in many years to come,” he said.

Last year the grass court season leading up to Wimbledon was extended from two weeks to three to give players more time to adjust from the clay courts of the French Open.

“It’s good. It helps a lot,” Lewis said.

“The players arrive feeling better prepared and more rested from Roland Garros. It affects us quite noticeably in terms of the number of players who arrive early and spend longer here. Strategically, it’s a big difference.”

Another British institution, parliament, has relaxed its dress code in recent days after an MP was allowed to address the House of Commons without wearing a tie.

But Wimbledon, a stickler for dress codes, will absolutely not be following suit. Players will still be wearing all white, match officials will still be in ties, and jackets and ties are required for gentlemen invited into Centre Court’s royal box.

“I think it’s part of the charm of Wimbledon that in some places, like the queue, it’s incredibly relaxed, and in other parts it’s jacket and tie, so there are no plans to change,” Lewis said. — AFP