CITY SAFARI - London & Partners

SIGHTSEEING13MONTHSTOGOOLYMPIC COUNTDOWNSplashing aboutDiamond Jubilee River PageantMaria SharapovaWe can’t wait for the London Olympic Games and ParalympicGames next year, but in the meantime, the ‘test events’schedule will whet our appetites. In June it’s the turn of tennis.Plus we look at the awe-inspiring events surrounding nextyear’s Diamond Jubliee River Pageant.WimbledonThe Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships (20 Jun-3 Jul)is one of the oldest tennis tournaments in the world. First heldin 1877 for men and in 1884 for women, it has always been ahugely popular event, and now the championship fortnight seeshalf a million visitors throng the pretty borough of Wimbledon. Asit’s also hosting the 2012 Olympic tennis events, this is the perfectopportunity for the London Organising Committee of the OlympicGames (LOCOG) to find out how the event will operate next year,from timings and scoring to crowd organisation.It’s also an opportunity to discover some very British traditions.In keeping with the convention that the president of the club is a member of the royal family – since 1993 it’s beenthe Duke of Kent – all players have to bow or curtsey to the royal box before they start play. Other customs includestrawberries and cream at half time, and completely partisan cheering for any British player. But despite its royalpatronship, Wimbledon remains egalitarian. In order to prevent them being entirely bought up by the wealthy, tickets aredistributed by public ballot (now closed), through other tennis clubs, and a few are sold on the day. For these, people willoften camp for outside long periods, so get there very early if you want to try and visit.If you can’t get tickets, why not have a go at tennis yourself? Such is the sport’s popularity, you’ll find courts in justabout every park, from tiny, pretty Lincoln’s Inn Fields (WC2. camden.gov.uk Map B6) to courts in royal parks (p. 29)like Holland, Greenwich and Hyde Parks, as well as the Regent’s Park Tennis Centre – see royalparks.org.uk forbooking. And of course a trip to the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum (p. 49) is a fabulous experience. You canvisit Centre Court (not during the championships) and see where everyone from Fred Perry to Andre Agassi hasplayed this elegant game, plus discover ths stories behind the championships.WIMBLEDON FROM ABOVE © OLYMPIC DELIVERY AUTHORITY; MARIA SHARAPOVA AT WIMBLEDON 2004 © AELTC; FLOTILLA ILLUSTRATION © JOSH KNOWLESIn other news, we’re looking forward to the incredible spectacle that will be the Diamond Jubliee RiverPageant, on 3 Jun 2012. In celebration of the Queen’s 60 years on the throne, a vast flotilla of some1,000 boats (the largest since Charles II’s time) will float down the River Thames with Her Majestyat its head. The pageant will feature music, fireworks, water cannons and much, much more– see thamesdiamondjubileepageant.org. This is just one facet of a Britain andCommonwealth-wide celebration, so 2012 is going to be very special indeed.32 | visitlondon.com | LONDON PLANNER | June 2011