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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Tom Blow

Wimbledon targeted by Just Stop Oil activists with threat of 'iconic' Centre Court protest

Just Stop Oil will target Wimbledon next month, according to reports.

The environmental activists have disrupted several major events since the group was founded last year. It's claimed they are planning to glue themselves to SW19's Centre Court during this year's event, which starts in two weeks' time and will last for a fortnight.

Mirror Sport contacted Just Stop Oil for comment. They replied: "Just Stop Oil supporters will continue to do whatever is nonviolently necessary to end new oil and gas.

"This government is destroying everything we know and love to enrich themselves. But you can’t eat money: we are on a course for mass hunger and societal collapse if we do not act urgently.

"The sports industry has failed to admit this truth and failed to address the urgency of action. It is immoral for them to stand by and watch whilst our society faces inevitable collapse.

"The only way for sporting events, like Wimbledon, to be sure that there will be no disruption is for them to make a statement demanding that the government end new oil, gas and coal. Those working in the sports industry must join in civil resistance against this criminal and illegitimate regime."

Just Stop Oil disrupted this year's World Snooker Championship (PA)

What's your opinion on Just Stop Oil? Let us know in the comments below!

Just Stop Oil have faced criticism for their methods, which includes blocking roads and disrupting events. As per the group's website, "Just Stop Oil is a nonviolent civil resistance group demanding the UK Government stop licensing all new oil, gas and coal projects."

Members of Just Stop Oil have told an undercover reporter for The Sun they are considering gluing themselves to Centre Court's net, umpire's chair and grass. "An image of someone’s hand glued to something on Centre Court would be amazing," one activist told the reporter. "That would be very inspiring. There’s a lot of people up for that."

Wimbledon are expected to step up their security ahead of the rumoured protests. Just Stop Oil have previously targeted Premier League football games, Formula One's British Grand Prix and rugby union's Premiership final - creating headlines.

In April, a protester managed to climb onto a table at the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield and cover it with orange power. That halted play on that table for the night and ruined the occasion for paying punters.

The image of the protester and snooker table covered in orange powder was plastered across newspapers. One protester told The Sun: "Wimbledon is a bit of an open secret. It would be an iconic image. It would be an even better photo than the snooker."

Several Just Stop Oil activists have been jailed in the last 12 months. Two activists were sentenced to more than two-and-a-half years each for causing a public nuisance after scaling a bridge on the Dartford Crossing in 2022.

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