Two climate activists interrupted the first-round match between 21st-seed Grigor Dimitrov and Japanese qualifier Sho Shimabukuro at Wimbledon 2023. It was a bizarre scene on Wednesday as two persons entered Court 18 and disrupted a match by scattering orange confetti and puzzle pieces on the grass.
A man sat down near the net and removed his jacket while a woman was escorted away by officials. They were wearing T-shirts from Just Stop Oil — a protest group that wants the British government to stop new oil, gas and coal projects.
One fan shouted “Get off the court” as spectators booed and jeered.
The group issued a statement confirming it was behind the demonstration.
“The supporters threw environmentally friendly orange confetti glitter and jigsaw pieces onto the court, before being removed,” it said.
“Play was briefly delayed whilst marshals picked up the pieces.”
Simon Milner-Edwards, 66, who took part in the action, said in the statement: “I’m here for my grandchildren and everybody else’s.
“I’m not prepared to let our politicians wreck everything and leave the next generation to pick up the pieces.”
A spokesman for the All England Club said: “Following an incident on Court 18, two individuals have been arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass and criminal damage and these individuals have now been removed from the grounds.
“Play on the court was temporarily paused and, following a suspension in play due to a rain delay, play is about to resume.”
Wimbledon chiefs have tightened security following demonstrations elsewhere.
Three protesters from Just Stop Oil ran onto the ground during the second Ashes cricket Test at Lord’s last week, sprinkling the group’s trademark orange powder.
There were similar demonstrations during the recent World Snooker Championship and English Premiership rugby final, while the group has also targeted Premier League matches.
Former world number four Tim Henman, who sits on the board of the All England Club, said it was difficult to guarantee protests would not happen.
“You prepare as best you can,” he told the BBC. “Obviously, the challenge when you’ve got 35,000-plus people coming to your grounds and you’ve got 18 fields of play, it’s not easy.
“So it will be important for everyone to understand the facts and where these people have come from but it’s frustrating.
“We’ve had enough disruptions with the weather. To get a disruption like that as well is disappointing.”
(With AFP Inputs)
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