Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer is confident that Russian and Belarusian players will adhere to strict neutrality guidelines, allowing them to participate in this year's Wimbledon tournament. The players from these countries were banned from competing at the All England Club in 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine. However, they have been granted permission to take part in the Championship this year, which commences on Monday, on the condition that they follow specific guidelines outlined by the government.
Frazer, responsible for the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport, emphasised the necessity of imposing conditions given the ongoing war, stating it would have been "totally inappropriate" not to do so. Speaking to the PA news agency, she expressed her anticipation for Wimbledon, emphasizing its significance in the sporting calendar.
"We’ve made our position very clear: there are certain circumstances in which it would be totally inappropriate for Russian and Belarussian tennis players to take part," Frazer said. "We put that in our guidance, and that is being followed by Wimbledon. There are procedures in place to ensure that they don't breach the rules, and I'm confident that those will be followed appropriately."
Wimbledon will align with the other three Grand Slam tournaments by allowing Russian and Belarusian players to compete. Prominent players like Daniil Medvedev, ranked third in the world, and Aryna Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion and second in the WTA rankings, are among those set to return.
Participation is contingent on players signing a personal declaration of neutrality, preventing them from expressing support for the invasion of Ukraine or the leadership of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko. Additionally, players must not receive state sponsorship and are prohibited from displaying symbols indicating support for the war or the Russian and Belarusian regimes.
Looking ahead to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Frazer stresses the importance of a unified international stance on the situation. "As a country, we are working with other countries in relation to, for example, the Olympics," she explained during her visit to Eastbourne, where the government and the LTA have invested £30 million to refurbish 1,000 public tennis courts across the UK.
LTA Chief Executive Scott Lloyd confirms that guidelines for Russian and Belarusian players have been respected during warm-up competitions such as Queen's and the ongoing Rothesay International at Eastbourne. He highlights the close collaboration between the government and international tennis tours, including the ATP, WTA, and ITF, in ensuring compliance with UK government guidance and the specific terms outlined for player participation.
"It's worked well so far over the last few weeks of grass court tournaments here in Britain, and I'm certain that will continue into the Championships next week," Lloyd stated. "Those relationships with the tours are extremely strong, and we are all aligned in making sure that the tournaments go according to plan."
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