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Even the very name leaves you in no doubt that we are not only
talking the premier tennis event in the world, but also one of the
world’s most prestigious sports events witnessed by millions of
viewers across 164 territories. Some events may pay more prize
money, but in terms of sheer class it’s Wimbledon that leads the
way.
Not that Wimbledon exactly lags behind in this area either as the
All England Club has again recognised the talent and commitment of
the competitors with an increase in the prize money to over £9
million. In addition, all players receive ‘per diem’ payments, to
help with the cost of accommodation, travel and other expenses –
especially important in helping the younger players at the beginning
of their careers.
All of this is a far cry from the garden party atmosphere of the
first meeting in 1877, witnessed by a few hundred spectators, and
for which the prize was the princely sum of 12 guineas.
Traditionally, the event starts each year six weeks before the first
Monday in August and lasts for a fortnight or for as long as
necessary to complete all events. This year, then, it will be Monday
21 June when the reigning Champion Roger Federer, arguably the most
graceful player of recent times, walks out on to Centre Court at 1pm
precisely to defend his title.
By the scheduled end of The Championships on the evening of Sunday 4
July and after some 619 competitors have battled through 687 matches
using over 40,000 tennis balls in the process, we should know
whether there are new names to add to the famous trophies – that
unpredictable Wimbledon weather permitting, of course.
The whole show takes place in one of the most modern sports
complexes, a fact that is sometimes overlooked. Even the venerable
Centre Court, while outwardly remaining much as it was when
originally opened in 1922, has had many a makeover.
Over the years, the Club has constantly been aware of the need to
provide facilities and ground improvements compatible with the pace
and demand of modern day sport, but it is in the last 10 years that
the momentum of achieving these improved facilities has really
gathered speed. Since 1993, when the Club announced its long term
plan for development, major works programmes have provided greatly
improved facilities for the players, spectators, officials and
media. In fact, it’s fair to say the grounds have been transformed.
In 1997, a new No.1 Court, a permanent Broadcast Centre capable of
housing thousands of television journalists and engineers, two new
courts (18 and 19) and the highly popular Aorangi Picnic Terrace
(perhaps more widely known to a British audience by its vernacular
title of Henman Hill) were opened.
Three years later, the Millennium Building opened on the site of the
old No. 1 Court, providing state of the art accommodation for the
players, media, officials (referees, umpires and ballboys/girls) and
members. The west side of Centre Court meanwhile gained extra
seating and new locker rooms for the players.
In both cases carefully thought out landscaping has contributed in
no small part to hugely improved spectator access to the courts and
general comfort around the grounds.
The latest proposal will help take The Championships to the next
plane. Innovative plans for the Centre Court include provision for a
larger 15,000 capacity, more comfortable seats and a roof over the
court.
The main emphasis of the construction will be the creation of the
modern and lightweight retractable roof, which will enable
all-weather play during The Championships. And it was this aspect
that had the world’s media flocking to the Club on a cold wintry
January day to hear the announcement of the plans.
The roof will provide a first-class, consistent and safe
(non-slippery) playing environment in both open and closed
positions. It has been designed to close/open in under 10 minutes
and will be closed primarily to protect play from inclement (and, if
necessary, extremely hot) weather during The Championships. Of
translucent construction to allow natural light to reach the grass,
the roof will offer protection to the grass under all adverse
weather conditions, while importantly helping to improve growing
conditions throughout the year as well.
The Centre Court plans also include new catering facilities for the
public and debenture holders, which will offer much improved
ambience with views of the neighbouring golf course.
Work on the project will begin in 2006 and the last piece of the
jigsaw, the roof itself, is scheduled for completion in 2009. Not
everyone is happy however. As one hack complained, ‘what are we
going to talk about when it rains?’
Interestingly, and to an extent amazingly, every one of these
improvements have been funded internally by the Club without
recourse to the public purse. Instead, as far back as 1920 some
clever person decided that the best way to raise money for capital
developments was via a debenture scheme and the sale of debentures.
A debenture is essentially the right to a reserved seat for a
certain period of time, in this case five years. In five year cycles
Centre and No. 1 Court Wimbledon Debentures are sold and it is from
this source that The All England Lawn Tennis Ground plc, jointly and
equally owned by The All England Lawn Tennis Club and The Lawn
Tennis Association, derives these funds to meet capital expenditure.
Recently, The All England Lawn Tennis Ground plc announced a new
Centre Court issue for the years 2006-2010 inclusive, which went on
sale at £23,150 each and could raise around £50m.
One of the age-old associations made with The Championships, apart
from the exceptional tennis of course, is Wimbledon and
strawberries. No one can quite trace the history of the association
– the best guess being the coincidence of summer – but the place of
the red berries in Wimbledon folklore is both assured and an endless
source of fascination. Since around 28,000 kilos or 112,000 punnets
are consumed each year one can see why.
To ensure utmost freshness the strawberries, usually Grade I Kent
strawberries of the highest quality are picked the day before and
arrive at Wimbledon at 5.30am prior to being inspected and hulled.
Thereafter they are married up with cream and sold for a reasonable
£2.00 for a punnet of 10. Pretty good value compared to some other
events.
It is not only strawberries that are consumed at The Championships.
As the largest annual catering operation in Europe, the quantities
of food and drink served is quite mind boggling. Here are just a
few:
• 300,000 cups of tea and coffee
• 190,000 sandwiches.
• 150,000 bath buns, scones, pasties and doughnuts.
• 135,000 ice creams.
• 100,000 pints of draught beer and lager.
• 150,000 glasses of Pimm’s.
• 28,000 kilos of English strawberries.
• 30,000 portions of fish and chips.
• 30,000 litres of milk.
• 22,000 slices of pizza.
• 17,000 bottles of champagne.
• 12,000 kilos of poached salmon and smoked salmon.
• 7,000 litres of diary cream.
Aside from the main action on the courts or in the restaurants,
modern Wimbledon sees itself far more as part of the community,
whether it be the community of sport, tennis or being a good
neighbour.
This year, for instance, The Championships has the added kudos of
having been chosen to launch this summer’s historic London Olympic
Torch relay, when London welcomes the Olympic Torch as one of the 34
cities across the world taking part in the Torch relay for the 2004
Athens Olympics.
Starting from Centre Court at 11.00am, the Torch will wind its way
around the Club on the middle Saturday of The Championships (26 June
2004), before exiting the world’s premier tennis event and
continuing its voyage around the landmarks and boroughs of the
capital.
Chris Gorringe, Chief Executive of The All England Club, said: “The
Olympics represent the pinnacle of sporting endeavour and it is an
honour for The Championships to have been selected as the start
point for the torch relay.”
On other days you can see extremely skilful demonstrations of
wheelchair tennis, while some of Britain’s top youngsters are given
the fantastic chance to entertain the crowds on Centre and No. 1
Court ahead of the main programme. Quite an accolade when you think
that even some professional players never get to feel that
experience.
And it is that very Wimbledon experience that the Club has put at
the core of its own junior tennis programme, ‘The Road to
Wimbledon’. Launched in May 2001, the aim of the scheme is to use
arguably the biggest draw in British tennis to act as a spur to
Britain’s young tennis players and to encourage children and young
people to participate in the sport.
At local level, the Wimbledon Junior Tennis Initiative (WJTI) works
with Merton and Wandsworth Councils and over 36,000 children from 93
schools have had the chance to have a go at the game in their school
through the visit of a special All England Club coaching team. In
addition, some 4,000 children have now attended free tennis coaching
and skills sessions held at the Club most weekends since the launch.
Selected players from the WJTI will also experience the thrill of
entertaining the crowds on Court 14 before play starts on the middle
Saturday (26 June).
At national level, a record number of young players are set to
compete in the National 14 and Under Challenge. Spurred on by the
prospect of playing in the finals which are due to be held on
Wimbledon’s Championship grass courts, 16-21 August, 2004, entries
have risen by 2,000 to 15,000 while another 27 clubs have joined,
bringing the total to 723.
The Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum also runs programmes that form part
of ‘The Road to Wimbledon.’ Over 2,000 children have taken part in
the specially developed workshops that are directly linked to the
National Curriculum and which capitalise on the Museum’s facilities
and artefacts. Children up to age 11 can benefit from the fun,
interactive and hands-on learning programme that is held in a
specially equipped classroom, set within Centre Court.
Most recently, Sports Minister Richard Caborn was on hand to perform
the official opening of the Playing for Success Study Support Centre
at Wimbledon. Run by the Museum, the Centre is a joint initiative
between the Club, the London Borough of Merton and the Department of
Education and Skills. Occupying a state-of-the-art IT suite set in
Centre Court, the SSC offers a stimulating tennis-based after-school
programme of numeracy, literacy and IT for children in Merton.
Modern Wimbledon is truly a blend of tradition with innovation. And,
who knows, one day it may be a child inspired by the ‘Road to
Wimbledon’ that stands proudly on Centre Court as champion.
Further information can be found at the official Wimbledon web-site
www.wimbledon.org
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