British tennis star Andy Murray acknowledged that Wimbledon 2023 could face interruptions from activists associated with Just Stop Oil. The Guardian captured his remarks.
“I think the chance of something happening is fairly high. I can’t recall exactly how many times someone ran onto the court while I was playing. Maybe once. Sometimes I’m not sure. I can imagine an incident occurring. I agree with the reasons behind the protests but disagree with how the activists chose to air their views on them. Perhaps there are other avenues to express concerns instead of running onto the court”, the two-time Wimbledon champion said.
Just Stop Oil supporters push to halt oil and gas production. In April, they disrupted the first round of the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield by spreading orange powder across the table. In May, they interrupted the final of the British Rugby Championship in London.
Wimbledon 2023 is scheduled to run from July 3 to July 16. Players from Russia and Belarus are treated as neutral for the event. Russian and Belarusian competitors were barred from Wimbledon in 2022 because the country’s actions in Ukraine led to sanctions affecting sporting events.
The BBC reported that athletes from these nations had to show they did not sponsor companies under British sanctions as part of the process to participate.
Historically, the tournament has featured a mix of political and sporting narratives, with various commentators noting the delicate balance between freedom of expression and the integrity of a global sporting stage. In this context, some observers view acts of protest as drawing attention to broader geopolitical issues, while others emphasize the value of keeping the focus on competition and athletic achievement. The evolving landscape of international sport continues to shape how events like Wimbledon handle security, sponsorship obligations, and the participation rights of athletes from different regions. (BBC) [The Guardian] [The Guardian].