Wimbledon 2015: Organizers ban Selfie Sticks
Tennis fans who plan on watching players compete at Wimbledon this year must leave their selfie sticks at home. The All England Lawn Tennis Club announced that these sticks will not be allowed inside the venue.
A spokesman for the club stated that the decision was made due to the selfie stick's "nuisance value." The spokesman added that that club did not want the sticks to "interfere with spectators' enjoyment."
The selfie stick can extend up to around 40 inches. With the phone attached to one end, users can take a wider self-portrait. The stick also allows people to capture more of their surroundings into one shot.
The Club's guide now says: "In common with many other major sports and entertainment events and cultural attractions, the championships will not allow selfie sticks into the ground." Other items that are prohibited include knives, flares and klaxons.
This is not the first time that the selfie stick has been banned. The stick is currently banned from the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, the Palace of Versailles in Paris, the Coliseum in Rome, and the Smithsonian in the U.S.
It has also been banned by Churchill Downs, the site for the Kentucky Derby, which takes place on May 2.
The Australian Open was the first grand slam to implement rules regarding the use of selfie sticks. The tournament asked fans to use the sticks in designated "selfie zones."
Wimbledon takes place from June 29 to July 12.
