Wimbledon great Boris Becker hails London 2012's 'perfect tennis site'
Tennis legend Boris Becker today backed the London 2012 Olympic bid's proposed tennis venue at Wimbledon as 'the perfect tennis site'.
Becker, an Olympic gold medallist (Barcelona 1992) and multiple Grand Slam tennis title champion, said he supported the Olympic Games in London and in particular the Olympic tennis competition at Wimbledon.
"I'm sure Wimbledon will host an incredible Olympic tennis tournament," Becker said today at a media briefing on the London 2012 bid.
The three-time Wimbledon champion said he supported the Olympic Games and Olympic tennis in London because of the special relationship he has with the United Kingdom and London through tennis.
"This particular city, and in particular Wimbledon, are obviously very close to my heart. I call this my second birthplace," Becker said.
"Since Germany is no longer in the race [to host the 2012 Games], I support this country. I had the pleasure of competing at the Olympic Games and at Wimbledon and was fortunate enough to win gold medal in both events.
"I know from first-hand expeience that both are fantastic events, and I'm sure Wimbledon will host an incredible Olympic tennis tournament."
Becker also spoke of the strong support he had received from British tennis crowds as a teenager playing at Wimbledon and Britain's passion for sport, which is at the heart of the London campaign to host the 2012 Games.
"I remember thinking that these spectators not only support this German kid, they have this incredible passion for sport regardless of almost who plays on Centre Court and all the other courts. I don't know how many hundreds of thousands of people are coming through the gates every year, but they are big, big sports fan, in particular tennis fans."
Becker said he found the prospect of playing the Olympic tennis competition on grass at Wimbledon in 2012 very appealing.
"I have supported lawn tennis for over 20 years. That's the reason I'm here and I'm supporting this very, very strong idea," Becker said.
Tim Phillips, Chairman of the All England Tennis Club at Wimbledon added: "You may not know that the Olympic tennis event was held at The All England Club at the 1908 London Games." [London hosted the Games after the 1908 host city, Rome, had to withdraw from staging the event due to a volcanic explosion].
"And at the end of the official IOC report, it said that its strong recommendation was that tennis should be held on grass."
Mr Phillips also spoke of the UK's passion for sport as a key reason for the All England Club's total support for Wimbledon as the official Olympic Tennis venue if the London bid is successful.
"I think the reasons why they're in favour is British people are very passionate about sport, as we see from the spectators we get at Wimbledon. I think there's a feeling that in this country sport needs to move up the national agenda to deal with a range of social issues health, obesity, delinquency, drug issues, assimilation of minority communities into society at large. And we believe, we really do believe, that sport, all sport, can play a fundamental role in doing that."
London 2012 Director of Sport, Debbie Jevans, said that Wimbledon was just one of London's several world famous venues and much loved landmarks that along with new sporting facilities for Athletics, Swimming, Cycling, Hockey and other sports, would help to leave a legacy for 'every Olympic sport'.
"That's something that is very important," Jevans said. "The Olympic Games aren't only for a couple of weeks. What's important is what happens afterwards. And every single sport does have a legacy from the London Games."
Other famous London landmarks and sporting venues that will be used as Olympic sport sites in the 2012 Games include the new Wembley for football finals, Lord's for archery, Hyde Park for triathlon, the 02 (The Dome), for gymnastics and basketball and ExCeL which will host a total of 6 sports.
In addition, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey and the London Eye will be used as landmarks in outdoor Olympic events, such as the Marathon and road cycling.
- Ends -
For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office on 020 7093 5100
Becker, an Olympic gold medallist (Barcelona 1992) and multiple Grand Slam tennis title champion, said he supported the Olympic Games in London and in particular the Olympic tennis competition at Wimbledon.
"I'm sure Wimbledon will host an incredible Olympic tennis tournament," Becker said today at a media briefing on the London 2012 bid.
The three-time Wimbledon champion said he supported the Olympic Games and Olympic tennis in London because of the special relationship he has with the United Kingdom and London through tennis.
"This particular city, and in particular Wimbledon, are obviously very close to my heart. I call this my second birthplace," Becker said.
"Since Germany is no longer in the race [to host the 2012 Games], I support this country. I had the pleasure of competing at the Olympic Games and at Wimbledon and was fortunate enough to win gold medal in both events.
"I know from first-hand expeience that both are fantastic events, and I'm sure Wimbledon will host an incredible Olympic tennis tournament."
Becker also spoke of the strong support he had received from British tennis crowds as a teenager playing at Wimbledon and Britain's passion for sport, which is at the heart of the London campaign to host the 2012 Games.
"I remember thinking that these spectators not only support this German kid, they have this incredible passion for sport regardless of almost who plays on Centre Court and all the other courts. I don't know how many hundreds of thousands of people are coming through the gates every year, but they are big, big sports fan, in particular tennis fans."
Becker said he found the prospect of playing the Olympic tennis competition on grass at Wimbledon in 2012 very appealing.
"I have supported lawn tennis for over 20 years. That's the reason I'm here and I'm supporting this very, very strong idea," Becker said.
Tim Phillips, Chairman of the All England Tennis Club at Wimbledon added: "You may not know that the Olympic tennis event was held at The All England Club at the 1908 London Games." [London hosted the Games after the 1908 host city, Rome, had to withdraw from staging the event due to a volcanic explosion].
"And at the end of the official IOC report, it said that its strong recommendation was that tennis should be held on grass."
Mr Phillips also spoke of the UK's passion for sport as a key reason for the All England Club's total support for Wimbledon as the official Olympic Tennis venue if the London bid is successful.
"I think the reasons why they're in favour is British people are very passionate about sport, as we see from the spectators we get at Wimbledon. I think there's a feeling that in this country sport needs to move up the national agenda to deal with a range of social issues health, obesity, delinquency, drug issues, assimilation of minority communities into society at large. And we believe, we really do believe, that sport, all sport, can play a fundamental role in doing that."
London 2012 Director of Sport, Debbie Jevans, said that Wimbledon was just one of London's several world famous venues and much loved landmarks that along with new sporting facilities for Athletics, Swimming, Cycling, Hockey and other sports, would help to leave a legacy for 'every Olympic sport'.
"That's something that is very important," Jevans said. "The Olympic Games aren't only for a couple of weeks. What's important is what happens afterwards. And every single sport does have a legacy from the London Games."
Other famous London landmarks and sporting venues that will be used as Olympic sport sites in the 2012 Games include the new Wembley for football finals, Lord's for archery, Hyde Park for triathlon, the 02 (The Dome), for gymnastics and basketball and ExCeL which will host a total of 6 sports.
In addition, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey and the London Eye will be used as landmarks in outdoor Olympic events, such as the Marathon and road cycling.
- Ends -
For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office on 020 7093 5100
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