Wimbledon is open!

Thousands join the infamous SW19 queue

Thousands shuffle in the queue for Wimbledon
Author: Aileen O'SullivanPublished 3rd Jul 2023

Thousands of fans have started shuffling towards the Wimbledon gates after Love Island star Kem Cetinay opened the first checkpoint for day one of the championships.

The show's 2017 winner started a short countdown before yelling: "Let's go" and running through an arch in Wimbledon Park.

Our reporter joined the masses to get a good spot, speaking to those who'd braved a chilly night to get into the All England Club on the first day of the tournament.

Thousands camped out overnight to get a decent spot in the queue

Security is tight

Chief executive of the All England Club Sally Bolton said security arrangements at Wimbledon have been "uplifted" in the wake of a series of environmental protests at other large sporting events.

Asked about whether she is expecting a protest at the tournament, she told reporters: "Of course we've taken account of what we've seen elsewhere so security has been uplifted in various places around the grounds."

Ms Bolton added: "We are really confident in the measures that we've taken but I think as we've seen at other sporting events we can't guarantee anything but we're extremely confident that the measures we've got in place are the right measures and we are ready to deal with something if it happens."

She went on: "We have 100% bag search in place at all gates and then we have selective body search at the gates as well. We will do that on the basis of intelligence so there will be some pat down searches."

"Every year a part of our security arrangements are a group of what are called Behavioural Detection Officers," she continued. "We work very closely with the Met with their BDOs as they are called.

"They're not a new thing this year we have them every year so again they're part of our operation this year and in a slightly enhanced way and maybe looking for slightly different things than they would in any other year."

Federer honoured

Wimbledon will celebrate Roger Federer's achievements at the All England Club with a special ceremony on Centre Court on Tuesday.

The eight-time champion, who announced his retirement last September, will visit the scene of his greatest moments and be honoured before the start of play.

Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2021

Chief executive Sally Bolton announced the news, saying: "I'm pleased to say that Roger will be with us tomorrow and we will have a special celebratory moment on Centre Court before play starts just to honour him as the man holding the most gentlemen's singles titles here at Wimbledon.

"For those lucky enough to have a seat on Centre Court tomorrow I'd encourage them to get into their seats about 1.15pm and we'll have a moment just to celebrate his achievements and to say thank you for all the memories."

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