Wimbledon Preemptively Bans Vuvuzela

How awful is the vuvuzela, the plastic trumpet ruining World Cup matches? Awful enough to spark international outrage and even inspire an ingenious German invention to block its sound from TV broadcasts. But the Wimbledon Tennis Championship is having none of it. The staid British event has already banned the vuvuzela from its forthcoming 133rd annual tournament. The Associated Press reports:

Organizers are making sure there will be no racket from vuvuzelas at the Wimbledon tennis championships.

The plastic horns which have provided a constant drone at the World Cup in South Africa will be banned from the Grand Slam tournament, which starts Monday at the All England Club.

"Out of courtesy to the players and their fellow spectators, we make a point of asking spectators not to bring items which could either cause a distraction or interfere with the enjoyment of the occasion," All England Club chief executive Ian Ritchie said in a statement Thursday.

"Rattles, klaxons and vuvuzelas all fall into that category and they will not be allowed into the grounds. Our message is do not bring them in the first place."