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Wimbledon 2014: Tennis fans banned from bringing Thermos flasks to tournament over fears of terror attack | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Tennis fans hoping to enjoy the quintessentially British experience of drinking tea at Wimbledon have been warned not to try and bring in Thermos flasks – for “security reasons”. | |
Thousands of people bring their own hot drinks to the tournament every year because those sold inside the All England Club are prohibitively expensive - £2.10 for a cup of tea and £2.30 for a coffee. | Thousands of people bring their own hot drinks to the tournament every year because those sold inside the All England Club are prohibitively expensive - £2.10 for a cup of tea and £2.30 for a coffee. |
But spectators this year are being prevented from bringing flasks into the grounds by G4S guards at the gates, with angry fans reporting that they had to choose between paying £5 for left luggage facilities or watch them being thrown away. | But spectators this year are being prevented from bringing flasks into the grounds by G4S guards at the gates, with angry fans reporting that they had to choose between paying £5 for left luggage facilities or watch them being thrown away. |
One guard reportedly told a would-be flask-bearer that the rules, first brought in last year, were now being rigorously enforced in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings that killed three and injured 176. | One guard reportedly told a would-be flask-bearer that the rules, first brought in last year, were now being rigorously enforced in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings that killed three and injured 176. |
Those attacks, on 15 April, saw a pressure cooker used as an explosive device, and it has been claimed that vacuum flasks could potentially be used to similar effect. | Those attacks, on 15 April, saw a pressure cooker used as an explosive device, and it has been claimed that vacuum flasks could potentially be used to similar effect. |
Guards also reportedly said the flasks could be used as “weapons” or thrown at players – though there are no rules preventing fans bringing in bottles of wine, full cans or hard plastic water bottles. | Guards also reportedly said the flasks could be used as “weapons” or thrown at players – though there are no rules preventing fans bringing in bottles of wine, full cans or hard plastic water bottles. |
The clampdown has led to outrage among spectators, with the author Caroline Fiennes telling the Telegraph she had been made to check her flask in at the car park. | The clampdown has led to outrage among spectators, with the author Caroline Fiennes telling the Telegraph she had been made to check her flask in at the car park. |
She described it as a “disaster” and said she had “always thought it rather delightful that one can take in food and drink, adding: “Of course Brits want to bring tea.” | She described it as a “disaster” and said she had “always thought it rather delightful that one can take in food and drink, adding: “Of course Brits want to bring tea.” |
A tweet on the tournament's Twitter account told people planning a trip to SW19 to check the list of prohibited items, which includes coolboxes and camping chairs, adding: “Don't bring a thermos.” | A tweet on the tournament's Twitter account told people planning a trip to SW19 to check the list of prohibited items, which includes coolboxes and camping chairs, adding: “Don't bring a thermos.” |
And a Wimbledon official said: “Thermos flasks are banned for security reasons. They are big and bulky and they are hard-sided. This is not new.” | And a Wimbledon official said: “Thermos flasks are banned for security reasons. They are big and bulky and they are hard-sided. This is not new.” |
Spectators are allowed to bring alcohol into the venue but it is “limited to the equivalent of one bottle of wine or two 500ml cans of beer per person”. | Spectators are allowed to bring alcohol into the venue but it is “limited to the equivalent of one bottle of wine or two 500ml cans of beer per person”. |
There are 300,000 cups of tea and coffee consumed during Wimbledon fortnight, according to the Grand Slam's website – presumably costing fans more than £600,000. | There are 300,000 cups of tea and coffee consumed during Wimbledon fortnight, according to the Grand Slam's website – presumably costing fans more than £600,000. |