Wimbledon bans selfie-sticks

Selfie-sticks have been banned from this year's Wimbledon tennis championship, organisers have announced.

The All England Lawn Tennis Club has confirmed fans won't be allowed to take the sticks -- which help users take self-portrait photos that have become increasingly popular on Twitter and other forms of social media -- into their Wimbledon headquarters in south-west London during the Grand Slam tournament.

In its guide for ticketholders, the AELTC -- often accused of being hidebound for its insistence that players at Wimbledon still wear predominately white clothing -- said it was merely following an increasing trend.

"In common with many other major sports and entertainment events and cultural attractions, the championships will not allow selfie sticks into the grounds," the guide said.

The devices, which extend the reach of a user trying to take a photo with a smartphone or camera, have been banned from a number of venues because they obstruct the view of other spectators.

English Premier League football club Tottenham Hotspur have prohibited selfie sticks from their White Hart Lane ground in north London, while they have also been barred from the Colosseum in Rome and the Smithsonian museum in Washington.
Source: AFP