Wimbledon Will Be Transformed For Olympics

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Town centre will be 'dressed' to mark event

Wimbledon town centre is going have a "celebratory" look when the Olympics come to London this summer, local businesses were told.

The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) is hosting the 2012 tennis events from July 29-August 5 and the town centre will be "dressed" to mark the occasion.

A business forum meeting on Wednesday (January 25), organised by Merton Chamber of Commerce, was told that Wimbledon town centre would be promoted as the destination hub for visitors to the tennis events - unlike the annual Wimbledon Tennis Championships.

Plans have already been unveiled for "Wimbledon Way" - a marked walkway from Wimbledon station the AELTC, which earlier this month received Lottery funding.

Diana Sterck (left), Chief Executive of Merton Chamber of Commerce, said: "Wimbledon is going to be dressed when people arrive at the town centre for the Olympics. It will look pretty celebratory."

The banners and other elements of the Olympic look will extend down to the New Wimbledon Theatre on The Broadway and will remain until September, she said.

"The footfall through the town centre will be higher and there are a lot of opportunities for businesses to take advantage of that footfall. Our view is that it can also give a legacy to Wimbledon," she added.

The Chamber plans to produce a 'Welcome to Wimbledon Guide' to inform Olympic visitors about the area.

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January 26, 2012