Wimbledon just says no to vuvuzelas

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The World Cup will not be welcomed at Wimbledon.

Vuvuzelas at Centre Court? Don’t even think about it.

Watch the World Cup games on the big screens at Wimbledon? Don’t be daft.

No large flags will be allowed in either, just in case a tennis fan might want to quietly root for a World Cup team.

The world may be following World Cup play, but not the members of the All England Club who control the Grand Slam tennis event, which begins Monday.

The vuvuzelas, those droning horns that sound like an attack of giant bees, have become the music of the World Cup. But the All England Club already prohibits noise-making items, and vuvuzelas are certainly that.

“Out of courtesy to the players and their fellow spectators, we make a point of asking spectators not to bring items which could either cause a distraction or interfere with the enjoyment of the occasion,’ said Ian Ritchie, chief executive of the All England Club. ‘Rattles, klaxons and vuvuzelas all fall into that category, and they will not be allowed into the grounds. Our message is do not bring them in the first place.”

As for watching the games on the big screens, a Wimbledon spokesman explained, ‘We understand that people would like to follow the World Cup, but there are plenty of ways to do that without watching it here on the big screens.’

England and the U.S. each have games on Wednesday, so expect to hear cheers at odd times during matches.

-- Debbie Goffa