Seven-time Wimbledon tennis champion Roger Federer pitched up in South London, UK over the weekend to help launch sports goods giant Nike’s legacy project for this year’s Wimbledon tournament.
Nike has taken over four community tennis courts in Tanner Street Park, Bermondsey, investing £17,500 in resurfacing the ageing courts and setting up a branded tennis and activity hub.
The NikeCourt Club initiative will allow local residents benefit from a free 10-day tennis academy, which will run a host of training programmes ranging from beginners courses to high intensity workouts – such as Fast Tennis.
In addition to tennis programming, Nike will also provide Nike+ classes, yoga sunrise sessions and screenings of key Wimbledon matches, as well as other events featuring music and entertainment.
The NikeCourt Club programming will end on 4 July, but the resurfaced courts will be left as a permanent space for the London community. They will be serviced and managed by Nike in partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).
Each school in the area will also be entitled to 12 hours of free LTA tennis after the 10 day programming has finished.
“I think the new court is really cool," Federer said. "I've never played on a pink court before – although I am surrounded by pink in my life because of my daughters.
“In an area like this, to create something for the long term, for kids to take up tennis, I’m all for it. I hope it’s going to work out for the people here in the community.”
Councillor Barrie Hargrove, Southwark Council’s cabinet member for public health, parks and leisure, added: "We’re excited to welcome Nike and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) to Southwark this week to launch a fantastic community engagement programme that will run alongside this year's highly anticipated Wimbledon Championships.
"Over the next 10 days there’ll be more than 30 hours of free LTA coaching available to local people, and lots of other active classes run by Nike at the Tanner Street courts.
“There will also be an amazing opportunity for many local school children to try their hand at tennis for the first time with extra special coaching from some of the sports' elite players.”
LTA’s head of region Lisa Pearce said the partnership will create long-term playing opportunities for residents.
"The NikeClub Court is a fantastic facility and to have free events over the next 10 days, and is an opportunity not to be missed. To have world class athletes like Roger here today is truly inspiring for local young people to pick up a racket in their local park.”
To visit the NikeCourt website set up for the event,
click here.
