New threats to Wimbledon

Press, 14 June 1977, Page 25

New threats to Wimbledon

NZPA London The man who originated the Afro-Asian boycott at the Montreal Olympics last year has arrived in London—with a warning for the Wimbledon tennis titles.

Mr Denis Brutus, head of the South African Non-racial Open Committee for Olympic Sport, said that the centre court might be sabotaged if white South Africans were allowed to play at Wimbledon. He refused to explain exactly what he proposed to do but said, “I hope peaceful demonstrations will be sufficient to get white South Africa banned. If not, I hope there will be demonstrations which attack the courts.” Mr Brutus, who lives in Montreal, organised the AfroAsian boycott of the Olympic

Games in protest against the presence of New Zealand, because of its sports links with South Africa. He said that there might be a repeat of the oil-throwing incident which stopped a recent Davis Cup match in California. The first test for any antiapartheid groups should come today when the six-day Federation Cup tennis tournament opens at Eastbourne. Greer Stevens and Bridget Cuypers, both from South Africa, will take part. Sir Brian Burnett, chairman of the All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, said, “We have very tight security at Wimbledon, including guard dogs. Anyone up to no good will run into a few of these dogs, and that would be very nasty.”