That ever so English institution called Wimbledon

Wimbledon is quite something. It is such an English thing. For months leading up to the competition, the speculations are rife as to whether a Brit could possibly win it this time and just for a change. And the pressure on the poor English players is horrific.

Today is the first day of the competition and already there are all sorts of strange and wonderful things popping up. Some tabloid magazine has sent reporters to measure the grunt factor. They want to expose the tennis player with the loudest grunt. Have you ever?

Besides the obligatory tabloid ’scandals’, it’s wonderful to see how Wimbledon is so much more than just a tennis tournament. I’ve been fortunate in that I’ve managed to attend a day. My daughter took me as a birthday treat three years ago. It was amazing. Prices quite high, food dreadful - really awful, including the strawberries and cream. And expensive. All in all it was a fabulous day.

From the first moment when you stand at the top of the hill, miles away or so it seems from the entrance and inch your way slowly towards the styles it’s one big experience. The whole queuing thing is part of the Wimbledon day. We didn’t send in our application to get pre-sale tickets! Those have to be in December the year before. So the line it was.

We got certificates to say that we had queued! Whoever does the marketing knows a thing or two about how to hook your people in by creating experiences even when it’s standing in a queue. But nobody minded, well I suppose being in England, who would! Still, lots of chatting and sharing of the experience helped to make the walk a pleasure.

Inside the grounds it seemed like total pandemonium. But it wasn’t actually. Everything was well organised. Everywhere queues. Everywhere loads of volunteers making sure that the show ran smoothly. And does it just. Like clockwork. And the discipline of the young ball boys and girls, the volunteer lines people and umpires. It’s incredible, the way everything is marshaled.

So on the first day of Wimbledon that’s all about competitive spirit and will a Brit finally win it again I read a fascinating story in the Independent online. It was about Mumsnet and its message board and what the modern mum in England has to say.

One of the conversation streams was about the lack of competition allowed at schools! When the kids play a team sport such as hockey they are not allowed to cheer if their team scores or boo if somebody makes a mistake. They are not even told the score at the end of the game.

There are no more sports days, just ‘outdoor pursuits days’ and there are such bizarre events as relay teams running on their own, so there is no competition, heaven forbid, with another team.

Sounds all nice and cuddly doesn’t it. Kids don’t have to worry about coming second because there is no more second place. We are all winners.

So how do you get a winner at Wimbledon then? I watched Federer play in his first game today. He came on court and his total intention within the first few minutes was to absolutely intimidate his much weaker opponent. Needless to say he had a fairly easy win.

Not competitive? So where between their school’s non competitive outdoor activities and adult games such as Wimbledon, do kids in England suddenly find that competitive spirit that they would need to win this tournament? Bit of a quandary I would imagine.

The media might have to wait a very long time before they can celebrate an English Wimbledon champion again. In desperation they’ve had to attach their hopes to a Scotsman who refuses to be considered English by wearing a wristband with the Scottish flag on it. Well that was last year anyway. Let’s see what Murray does this year. Let the games begin!