Activists of the Just Stop Oil organization demand with their statement that the British administration abandon new plans related to the use of oil, gas and coal.
Protesters from the environmental activist group Just Stop Oil interrupted two matches at the Wimbledon tennis tournament on Wednesday. Two protesters interrupted the Japanese Sho Shimabukuro and Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov match by throwing orange confetti and puzzle pieces onto the field.
The target of the third protester was a British man by Katie Boulter and the Russian one representing Australia Daria Saville match later on the same field.
According to the Wimbledon tennis club AELTC, the activists who interrupted the match between Shimabukuro and Dimitrov were arrested.
With their seizure, the protesters demanded that the British government abandon new plans related to the use of oil, gas and coal. The organization has protested at sporting events before, most recently at a cricket event at the end of June. In addition, the group has suspended the final of England’s rugby league and a match in the snooker world championship tournament.
Wimbledon had already tightened security measures in case of possible demonstrations since the first days of the tournament. On Monday, for example, spectators’ access to the galleries was delayed due to stricter inspections.
Grigor Dimitrov defeated Sho Shimabukuro in straight sets 6-1, 6-2, 6-1.
The match between Boutler and Saville ended 7-6, 6-2 for the British.
On Wednesday, Poland’s Iga Swiatek, number one in the women’s world ranking, won her second round match against Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-2, 6-0.
Daniil Medvedev, ranked third in the men’s series, beat Britain’s Arthur Fery 7-5, 6-4, 6-3 in the first round match. Medvedev is from Russia and plays in the tournament under a neutral flag.
In addition to the expressions of opinion, Wednesday’s games were made difficult by the rain.
Sources: BBC, Reuters and STT.