At the Italian Open competition, protestors of climate change disrupted two matches by covering the court with confetti and clinging themselves to the stands, according to reports by the game officials. Before being taken out of the playing field by security personnel, protesters sat on the playing field wearing orange vests. Fans were audibly upset as these people ran onto the court unwelcomed.
Game interruptions
The match between US player Madison Keys and Romanian player Sorana Cîrstea in the round of 16 was postponed when protesters entered the court in the middle of the second set. With the unfortunate event, both players have both returned to their respective locker rooms.
In a statement provided by the organizers, it stated: “With the audience furious against the protesters, police officers and firefighters also arrived.”
Simultaneously, similar events were happening in a doubles match involving Santiago González and Édouard Roger-Vasselin against Marcelo Arévalo and Mate Pavić.
The protest group Ultima Generazione (Last Generation) took credit for the protests and stated that their goal was to “tirelessly reiterate that the climate and social crisis is here and that intervention is needed as soon as possible.”
As per the Italian Open organizers, Ultima Generazione was in Rome to discuss “some proposals” and “had already staged several protests.” The officials declared: “The request from the environmentalists of Ultima Generazione is for a reparations fund for climate disasters.”
Source: CNN
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