Wimbledon
Setting out plans for the future development of the
Grounds under the Wimbledon Master Plan alongside
detailed enhancements for The Championships 2018, the
AELTC also restated its commitment to integrity as one of the
seven international governing bodies of tennis, following the
publication of the Independent Review Panel’s (IRP) Interim
Report.
“The All England Club’s mission statement is embedded in
our Articles of Association; it guides our actions and ensures
we keep our focus,” commented Philip Brook, Chairman of
the AELTC. “We recognise that to stay true to our mission
statement we cannot afford to stand still, and we remain
devoted to ensuring that we act in the best interests of our
Championships, our Club, and our sport.”
Competitors at The Championships 2018 will receive £34m
in total prize money, a 7.6% increase on £31.6m from last year.
The singles champions will each receive £2.25m, a rise from
£2.2m in 2017. Over the last 10 years, the AELTC has nearly
trebled the total prize money on offer at The Championships,
rising from £11.8m in 2008 to £34m in 2018.
The Wimbledon Foundation
Established in 2013, the Wimbledon Foundation, the official
charity of the All England Club and The Championships, uses the
resources and heritage of Wimbledon to help improve people’s
lives, with a focus on the local community in the neighbouring
boroughs of Merton and Wandsworth, but increasingly on a
national and international scale.
Earlier this year, the Wimbledon Foundation announced its first
international charity partner, WaterAid. This three-year partnership
will help transform lives in some of the poorest communities in
Ethiopia, Malawi and Nepal through access to clear water, decent
toilets and good hygiene education.
On a national scale, the Ticket Resale scheme at The
Championships supports causes such as the military and
emergency service benevolent funds in recognition of the role
their personnel play at The Championships (Ticket Resale prices
for 2018 are £15 for Centre Court tickets, and £10 for No.1 Court
and No.2 Court tickets).
In addition, the Road to Wimbledon, the UK’s largest junior
tournament on grass for players aged 14 and under, sees more
than 7,000 children from 750 parks, clubs and schools competing
to play at the National Finals in August at the All England Club.
The Road to Wimbledon’s international competition, which
gives the best juniors in Asia the opportunity to develop their grass
court skills and qualify for the UK Finals, expanded further this year
with the first tournament being staged in Japan, alongside existing
events in India, China and Hong Kong. Visit roadtowimbledon.com
to find out more.
Locally, the Wimbledon Foundation has donated more
than £1.35m to over 130 projects through structured grant
programmes and in-kind support. The Wimbledon Junior Tennis
Initiative began in 2001 and visits two state primary schools in
Merton and Wandsworth each week introducing 14,000 children
a year to tennis, while 300 children attend free coaching sessions
during the week.
More information, including the Wimbledon Foundation annual
review for 2017, is available at wimbledon.com/foundation
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