Wimbledon to allow capacity crowds for finals a year after COVID-19 forced cancellation

A year after Wimbledon was cancelled for the first time since World War II, the 2021 finals will be played with full crowds in attendance on centre court.

They will be the first outdoor sporting events in the United Kingdom to have capacity crowds since the start of the coronavirus pandemic last year.

The move comes despite British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement on Monday that the final stage of easing lockdown restrictions was being delayed to July 19.

The All England Club, which runs the only grasscourt grand slam, said it had worked with the federal and local governments and public health bodies to come to the decision.

“We are pleased to have worked closely with the government, public health bodies and our local authority in Merton, to confirm that, as part of this next phase of pilot events, the Championships 2021 will begin on Monday 28 June with 50 per cent capacity across the grounds, building to full capacity crowds of 15,000 on Centre Court for the finals weekend,” the All England Club said in a statement.

The decision however has caused unrest on social media as the UK, on Monday, recorded 7,742 new COVID-19 cases and three deaths, and Mr Johnson said the country was seeing cases rise by 64 per cent per week due to the highly transmissible Delta variant.

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Despite Britain experiencing the seventh-largest coronavirus death toll in the world, which currently stands 127,907 people, organisers say gradually increasing fan capacity over the tournament is the safest and most effective strategy for all involved.

“This will enable us to fulfil our aspiration of staging the best Wimbledon possible within the current circumstances, with the health and safety of all those who make Wimbledon happen — our guests, competitors, members, staff, media, officials, local residents, and partners — remaining our highest priority,” the All England Club said.

The women’s singles final will take place on July 10, while the men’s singles final is scheduled for July 11.

Recent French Open champion Novak Djokovic is the reigning men’s singles champion, while Simona Halep won the women’s title in 2019.

Wembley will also host matches at 50 per cent capacity

The changes also mean that at least 40,000 fans will be able to attend the knockout stages of Euro 2020.

Wembley and Wimbledon will be treated as “fan pilots” akin to the World Snooker Championship final at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre, which was the first British sporting event to be held with a full capacity crowd since the pandemic.

“We want to gather further evidence on how we can open up all big events safely, and for good,” Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said.

“The expansion of trials of the NHS App and Lateral Flow Testing will mean that bigger crowds will be able to attend a limited number of major sporting and cultural events early this summer as part of our events research program.

“In the next few weeks this means more fans enjoying the Euros and Wimbledon, and some of our biggest cultural and sports events.”

Discussions of extra fans are also ongoing with British Grand Prix bosses who are holding an event scheduled for July 18 at Silverstone.

Reuters/ABC