Phones and tablets allowed at Wimbledon for fans to follow World Cup
Wimbledon fans on Centre Court will be allowed to use phones and tablets to follow the World Cup final, the head of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) has said.
The men’s singles final, scheduled to begin at the traditional time of 2pm on Sunday, will not be moved to avoid a clash with the climax of the football tournament, organis- ers have confirmed. Wimbledon rules state that phones, tablets and radios must be switched off “in and around the courts in play”.
However, Richard Lewis, chief executive of the AELTC, indicated the conditions of entry would be relaxed as the two sporting events go headto-head, with use of electronic devices permitted if they do not cause disruption.
On Saturday, a stream of ticket-holders left the tennis club for nearby pubs to watch England’s triumphant quarter-final after Wimbledon bosses opted not to show the game on the big screen, while others gathered around ipads and phones on site.
Mr Lewis, who described it as “one of the special days at the Championships”, said: “We had superb tennis going on and we were benefiting from modern technology where people were able to follow the football and enjoy it, without disturbing other people. And I thought that went really well.”
He acknowledged people were using smartphones on Centre Court on Saturday, adding: “Our attitude is if people aren’t affecting other people’s enjoyment of the tennis, which they weren’t, because they’ve got it on silent or whatever, or they are listening with an earphone, or whatever, that’s fine.”
Despite the possible clash on Saturday, with the World Cup final due to kick off at 4pm, Mr Lewis said the grandstands would be “packed” and spectators could use “modern technology” to follow the football at the same time.
He denied that this represented a relaxation of rules, which he said referred to mobile phone calls, talking loudly, and behaviour that causes disruption to the tennis and spectators.
“It’s a completely different issue,” he said.