Hurrah for the All England Lawn Tennis Club, which said on Sunday the accursed 'selfie stick' would be banned from entering this year’s Wimbledon tournament. The cumbersome devices, which are deployed by social media users to give the false impression their lives are an endless parade of stunning backdrops, will be prohibited, the AELTC confirmed.
A ticketholders' guide for this year's tournament says: "In common with many other major sports and entertainment events and cultural attractions, The Championships will not allow 'selfie sticks' into the grounds." A spokesman for the AELTC told the Sunday Times that the move was brought in partly because of the "nuisance value" but "primarily so it doesn't interfere with spectators' enjoyment".
The sticks have met increasing resistance in recent months, most notably being banned from the National Gallery. The venue in Trafalgar Square, central London, placed the devices in the same category as tripods, which are already prohibited, and the move prompted other cultural venues to consider following suit. Tottenham Hotspur banned them from White Hart Lane after a complaint from a fan, while they have also been barred at a number of galleries and museums in the US and France.