Wimbledon is tightening security to prevent protests when the tournament starts
Wimbledon officials have beefed up security and will deploy undercover “behavior tracking officers” in an effort to prevent environmental protests during the tennis tournament, which began Monday.
Perfectly manicured green lawns with crisp white lines are the global image of the tournament and the prospect of someone sprinkling orange powder, the trademark of protesters who have invaded other major sporting events, is something the organizers are desperate to avoid.
Last week’s cricket test between England and Australia at Lord’s Cricket Ground was briefly halted by protesters linked to the Just Stop Oil movement following similar incidents at the World Snooker Championship and England’s Premiership rugby final.
‘Increased’ security
“As we’ve seen with other sporting events, we can’t guarantee anything, but we’re very confident that the measures we’ve taken are the right ones and we’re ready to fix anything if something happens. Sally Bolton, chief executive of the All England Club, told reporters at the club shortly before play began.
“Each year we work with the Metropolitan Police and other agencies to review our security arrangements in line with the relevant threat assessment… We have certainly increased security in areas such as the gates and around the track, with improved bag searches, and we are communicating with people to explain how that might take a little more time.”
Bolton said all visitors to Wimbledon can expect their bags to be searched before the tournament. Spectators have been warned not to bring spray paint, personal protective equipment or glue onto the club’s grounds.
Bolton said the heightened security wasn’t just about the number of people involved.
“Part of it is about the type of intelligence we use and the tactics we use,” she said. “Part of our security arrangements is a group of so-called behavior tracking officers – we have them every year, but maybe they’ll be looking for slightly different things than in any other year.”
Bolton emphasized that the championships were “environmentally friendly” and appealed to spectators “to respect the fact that others who come … want to watch tennis in a pleasant, quiet and safe environment.”
Disturbances expected: former champion
British two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray expects the tournament to be disrupted by protesters at some point during its two-week run, according to a report published by The Guardian on Sunday.
“I think there’s probably a good chance something will happen,” Murray said. “I’m not sure how many times I’ve had someone run across the field while I was playing. It may have been once, but I’m not sure it’s been more.”
Murray said he agrees with Just Stop Oil’s case but disagrees with their tactics to disrupt sporting events.
As the game got underway, a group of celebrities and actors, including actor Emma Thompson and film director Richard Curtis, urged the All England Club to break its new sponsorship with Barclays over the bank’s backing of projects in the field of fossil fuels.
“Simply put, Barclays is financing and profiting from climate chaos, and accepting a sponsorship deal from them is an endorsement of these actions,” the group said in an open letter addressed to Bolton.
