Wimbledon, the prestigious tennis tournament, experienced disruptions as the environmental protest group Just Stop Oil targeted the event, causing play to be interrupted twice on court 18. The protesters threw orange-colored confetti and jigsaw pieces onto the court, prompting the arrest of three individuals involved in the incident.
The first disruption occurred during the match between Grigor Dimitrov and Sho Shimabukuro, where two protesters stormed the court, showering it with confetti and jigsaw pieces from a Wimbledon 'Centre Court View' jigsaw puzzle box. One of the individuals even sat down on the court before being removed. Several hours later, another protester targeted Katie Boulter's match against Daria Saville on the same court. The crowd expressed their disapproval, booing the protesters and demanding they leave.
In response to the incidents, the All England Club (AELTC) released a statement, announcing the arrest of the individuals on suspicion of aggravated trespass and criminal damage. They were subsequently removed from the grounds. The disruptions prompted the Wimbledon shop to temporarily halt the sale of jigsaw puzzles.
Just Stop Oil, the environmental protest group responsible for the disruptions, defended their actions in a statement, claiming that their supporters had thrown "environmentally friendly orange confetti glitter and jigsaw pieces" and that play was only briefly delayed while the pieces were cleared.
The disruptions at Wimbledon mark another instance of Just Stop Oil targeting prominent sporting events to advocate for the cessation of new oil, gas, and coal projects. In the past, the group has disrupted the rugby union Premiership final and the World Snooker Championship. They also made headlines when they disrupted an Ashes Test and attempted to spread orange powder on the wicket at Lord's Cricket Ground.
The actions of the protesters have drawn criticism from government officials. Home Secretary Suella Braverman condemned the disruptions as "selfish" and "unacceptable" and chaired a meeting with representatives from various sports organizations to address the issue and prevent further disruptions. Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer emphasized the importance of protecting the right to peaceful protest while ensuring that such actions do not spoil events that millions of people enjoy.
Wimbledon organizers had anticipated the possibility of climate change protests and had implemented increased security checks for this year's event. However, despite their efforts, the tournament became the latest target of the Just Stop Oil protesters, temporarily transforming the green surface into an orange spectacle.
AELTC CEO Sally Bolton had previously stated that the club had taken precautions and heightened security measures based on previous incidents at other sporting events. Last year, during the French Open, an environmental activist tied themselves to the net post during a semi-final match between Casper Ruud and Marin Cilic.
Grigor Dimitrov, who was involved in the interrupted match, expressed his thoughts on the incident, acknowledging that it was an unpleasant experience but praising the staff's handling of the situation. He also noted that the subsequent rain delay provided an opportunity for players to regroup and move past the disruption.
As protests targeting high-profile sporting events continue to occur, authorities and organizers are grappling with the challenge of balancing the right to protest with the smooth running of events and the enjoyment of spectators.
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