With The Championships just around the corner, the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) has launched a new campaign – It’s a Wimbledon thing – to celebrate the “uniqueness of Wimbledon fandom”.
The campaign focuses on “the passion that goes beyond tennis”, AELTC said. “No matter where they are around the world, Wimbledon fans take the traditions for which our tournament is known and loved, and make them their own. This campaign is a tribute to them.”
After being cancelled last year due to the pandemic, the 2021 Championships will start on 28 June and fans will be welcomed back to SW19.
AELTC chief executive Sally Bolton OBE said of the new It’s a Wimbledon thing campaign: “Last year’s cancellation provided a timely reminder of the immense passion that our fans have for Wimbledon, brought to life through the many different traditions they re-created, all around the world. This year’s campaign aims to put this fandom at the heart of our narrative, and we are really looking forward to everyone engaging with Wimbledon again, in whatever way you choose, when The Championships begins on 28 June.”
Capacity numbers announced
The grand slam on grass will begin with Centre Court and No.1 Court at 50% capacity, while the show courts will be 75% capacity, AELTC said in a statement. For the fourth round and quarter-finals the AELTC aims to increase Centre and No.1 Courts allocations, along with a number of grounds passes. For the semi-finals and finals the aim is to have 100% capacity on Centre Court, with a small number of tickets on No.1 Court and grounds passes.
AELTC chairman Ian Hewitt said: “It is with great enthusiasm and excitement that we are putting the finishing touches to our preparation for The Championships this year, and the return of the world’s best players to our grass courts, with ticket-holders in the stands. We very much look forward to staging an event that is a success for all, inspires players and fans alike, and creates a spotlight for tennis, and sport, in the UK and around the world.”
Culture secretary Oliver Dowden added: “We are the first country in the world to be able to return a grand slam tournament to full capacity for the men’s and women’s final since the pandemic broke. We are able to do so because of the success of the vaccine rollout and building on what we have learnt so far from the Events Research Programme. We will be trialling Covid-status certification at The Championships in order to get as many people back as safely as possible across all the sporting and cultural events that make the Great British summer so special.”
Image and video: Wimbledon/YouTube