Ahead of Wimbledon 2023, the organisers of the prestigious Grand Slam have taken major steps to bulk the security amidst countless protests in sporting events across England. The Championships will kick off on July 3 as the likes of Novak Djokovic and Elena Rybakina hope to defend their titles.
The ongoing Ashes 2023 Test between England and Australia was interrupted on Day 1 as the ‘Just Stop Oil’ protesters as English wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow had to physically carry one pitch invader outside the boundary line. Incidents like these also were in horse-riding and snooker events.
Talking about the security arrangements at Wimbledon, the Operations Director Michelle Dite talked about how they have been working in tandem with the Metropolitan Police to identify and avoid further issues at All England Club. Dite also expressed that the safety of the crucial elements of the event like the ‘players, colleagues and visitors’ will be the first priority.
Michelle Dite said, “We have plans in place to mitigate the risks working in partnership with specialist agencies and the Metropolitan Police and should an incident occur the appropriate specialist teams will respond. The safety and security of all our players, colleagues and visitors is paramount.”
“Throughout the year we work closely with the Metropolitan Police and other relevant organisations to ensure that The Championships are as safe and secure as possible and that our plans and measures are commensurate with the threat level and prevailing risks,” Dite added.
The Operations Director further talked about learning from other sporting events to ensure the smooth functioning at Wimbledon. Dite said, “Based on what has happened at other sporting events, and on the advice from our key partners, we have reviewed our security plans which have now been uplifted for The Championships accordingly.”
Further, Michelle Dite also revealed that Wimbledon organisers are set to ban items like glue, cable ties, chalk dust and chains, and padlocks are added to the prohibited list. “Our Conditions of Entry, which were updated in April 2023, include guidance on prohibited items and disruptive behaviour, any breaches of these conditions will be dealt with in accordance with our code of conduct,” Dite said.
