Wimbledon is under pressure to end its sponsorship of Barclays as SW19 protests are planned

Tony Burdon, CEO of Make My Money Matter, said: “Wimbledon says it is proud of its partnership with Barclays. But Barclays was Europe’s biggest financier of fossil fuels in 2023 – the hottest year on record.

“Barclays is the new Shell, using Wimbledon’s great reputation to cover up its role in funding the climate crisis. No decent organisation should be funded by Barclays and if Wimbledon is serious about its legacy and commitment to the environment, it should drop them.”

Fossil Free London will protest against Barclays’ sponsorship during the tournament, which runs from July 1 to July 14 at the All England Club. “Wimbledon, our national treasure, can do so much better than Barclays, which is hijacking the tournament’s sustainability efforts to cover up its many sins,” said Joanna Warrington, chief executive of Fossil Free London. “The sponsorship deal is now untenable as public confidence in Barclays plummets. It’s time for Barclays to stop leaking Wimbledon.”

Responding to the negative comments last year, an AELTC spokesperson said: “Barclays’ commitment to making sport accessible to all is something we are passionate about and thanks to their generous support of the Wimbledon Foundation, this will be a central theme of our partnership are.

“We believe that Wimbledon, together with other major sporting organizations and events, plays a meaningful role in helping to protect the environment today and in the future. Our ambition to have a positive impact on the environment is central to our daily activities and is an essential part of organizing successful championships.”