• London Olympics 2012

Murray and Co. to miss opening ceremony

ESPN staff
July 27, 2012
Andy Murray will not be at the London 2012 opening ceremony © Getty Images
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Team GB's tennis squad are not allowed to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympics, with the British Olympic Association saying "performance comes first".

The team, made up of eight players, were told they would miss the Games' curtain-raiser by email on Friday.

The news comes after Britain's swimming squad opted to miss Friday's opening ceremony due to the pool programme getting underway the following morning.

The BOA has made it clear the decision to attend or not rests with the management of each sport and the athletes themselves. "It is a choice made by each sport team leader together with the athletes," a BOA spokesman told BBC Sport.

"While the ceremonies are a significant occasion, performance comes first for Team GB's athletes."

With the opening ceremony starting at 9pm and going on beyond midnight, GB's tennis team leader Paul Hutchins, having consulted the players, told the eight-strong squad they would not be going to the event with competition at the All England Club the following day.

Anne Keothavong and Elena Baltacha get their singles campaigns up and running on Saturday, while Andy and Jamie Murray, Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins, and Heather Watson and Laura Robson go in the doubles.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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