Wimbledon To House Ukraine's Players, Fund Relief Efforts After Allowing Russians, Belarusians To Compete

The chairman of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club said that letting Russians and Belarusians compete at Wimbledon after banning them a year ago was “probably the most difficult decision during my chairmanship.” 

The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club will pay for two rooms for Ukrainian tennis players and their teams during the grass-court season and will donate one British pound (about $1.25) from each ticket sold at Wimbledon to relief efforts in Ukraine, which could amount to more 500,000 pounds ($620,000). The All England club made the announcement after deciding to allow players from Russia and Belarus back into the tournament despite the ongoing Ukraine war. Club chairman Ian Hewitt said on April 25 that letting Russians and Belarusians compete after banning them a year ago was “probably the most difficult decision during my chairmanship.” To read the original story by AP, click here.