Wimbledon 2021 will not be able to insure against new pandemic
Next year’s Wimbledon will not be protected by pandemic insurance, according to outgoing chief executive Richard Lewis.
The All England Club’s imperturbable image has scarcely been dented by the cancellation of this year’s tournament – which would have started today – thanks to the foresight of those who spent a seven-figure sum on an insurance package against communicable disease. This investment should also allow the Lawn Tennis Association – which received £52million from the All England Club in its last pubby lished accounts – to get away without slashing budgets too alarmingly.
But Lewis confirmed that the same trick could not be performed next summer. “That’s impossible in the current climate,” he explained. “When I started in 2012, there were signs that things were not insurable, because of communicable diseases like Sars and swine flu.
“In the immediate aftermath, you can’t get insurance, but fairly soon, the market returns. So, there won’t be insurance next year.”
Wimbledon’s turnover would normally be in excess of £250million. A long-term agreement with the LTA states that, after operating costs and facility investment, 90 per cent of the annual surplus is forwarded into British tennis.
Lewis added: “There are over 10 insurance companies involved in the claim, and we’re probably about a third of the way through. It will take two or three months to work through, but I’m optimistic that the surplus will be pretty well protected and the impact will be somewhat minimised.”
The recent fiasco of Novak Djokovic’s Adria Tour underlines what can go wrong, but Lewis hopes that responsible behaviour will be the norm by the time next year’s Wimbledon comes around.
“I am sure by this time next year, people will be much more into the new normal,” Lewis said.