AELTC cancels Wimbledon 2020 over COVID-19

Due to the widespread of the deadly coronavirus disease, Wimbledon has been cancelled for the first time since the Second World War.

Ian Hewitt, AELTC Chairman, who made this known in a statement on their official Twitter account, stated that the decision to cancel the 2020 championship was due to public health concerns linked to the coronavirus epidemic.

Hewitt said that the tough decision to cancel the Championships, which was slated to initially hold on 29 June to late July was made by the England Club chiefs at an emergency board meeting on Wednesday.

According to him, the championship has been moved to 28th June to 11 July 2021. The statement read “It is with great regret that the Main Board of the All England Club (AELTC) and the Committee of Management of The Championships have today decided that

”The Championships 2020 will be cancelled due to public health concerns linked to the coronavirus epidemic.

”The 134th Championships will instead be staged from 28 June to 11 July 2021.

”Uppermost in our mind has been the health and safety of all of those who come together to make Wimbledon happen – the public in the UK and visitors from around the world, our players, guests, members, staff, volunteers, partners, contractors, and local residents – as well as our broader responsibility to society’s efforts to tackle this global challenge to our way of life.

”Since the emergence of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in January, we have followed guidance from the UK Government and public health authorities in relation to our year-round operations, alongside developing an understanding of the likely trajectory of the outbreak in the UK.

”This has enabled analysis of the impact of the Government restrictions on the usual commencement in April of the significant preparations required to stage The Championships, either on the original date of 29 June, or at a later date in the summer of 2020.

”These considerations are particularly related to the concerns brought about by mass gatherings and the strain on the medical and emergency services, as well as movement and travel restrictions both within the UK and around the world.