ICP
ICP is an Australian-based company focused on indoor climbing. ICP will manage your project from initial design to completion and beyond, whether you're building an international-level climbing…
read moreFormer tennis Grand Slam winner's Margaret Court's remarks gays and same-sex marriage have provoked a number of current tennis players to say they would object to playing on the court at Melbourne Park named after her.
Court, now aged 74 and a pastor in Perth, has reignited debate about her legacy and how the sport should celebrate her by making a series of inflammatory comments recently about gays and same-sex marriage.
The recent furore started following Court's open letter to The West Australian, when she declared she would not fly on Qantas "where possible" in protest at the support of its Chief Executive Alan Joyce for same-sex marriage. She then told a Christian radio station "tennis is full of lesbians".
Her beliefs are not new - her public comments first stirred protests in 2012 - but her unflinching remarks have provoked some current players to say they would object to playing on a court named after her.
Richel Hogenkamp, who is gay, said after winning her first-round match Monday at the French Open “I think it would be a good thing to see if the Australian Open can maybe change the name of the stadium.
“Because I think if you’re in that kind of position, maybe some players, they don’t feel so comfortable playing in a stadium named after Margaret Court.”
Hogenkamp’s sentiments have been echoed by many other players, past and present, including tennis great Martina Navratilova wrote an open letter to Court on the Sydney Morning Herald’s website condemning her comments and calling for the arena’s name to be changed.
Navratilova wrote “we should not be celebrating this kind of behaviour, this kind of philosophy.
“The platform people like Margaret Court use needs to be made smaller, not bigger.”
Tennis Australia and the operator of the Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne and Olympic Parks, have distanced themselves from Court's views, but have no plans to rename the 7,500 seat venue.
A statement from Tennis Australia, which organises the Australian Open, explained “as a legend of the sport, we respect Margaret Court’s achievements and her unmatched playing record. Her personal views are her own, and do not align with Tennis Australia’s values of equality, inclusion and diversity.”
Maintaining the venue’s current names is backed by Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who stated “whatever people may think about Margaret Court’s views about gay marriage - and she’s entitled to have them and she’s entitled to fly on whatever airline she likes or not - you know, she is one of the all-time greats.
“The Margaret Court Arena celebrates Margaret Court the tennis player.”
Court, who played from 1960 to 1977, won 24 Grand Slam singles titles, one more than Serena Williams. Court’s record of 62 major titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles is unlikely to be broken.
Images: Margaret Court with Rod Laver at the opening of the redeveloped Margaret Court Arena in 2014 (top) and Australian Open action at the Margaret Court Arena (below).
30th March 2017 - FREE RAINBOW LACES DISTRIBUTION BOOSTS ONGOING CAMPAIGN FOR INCLUSION IN SPORT
19th September 2016 - COX ARCHITECTURE REVEALS ROD LAVER ARENA REDEVELOPMENT DESIGNS
12th November 2015 - LENDLEASE TO CONSTRUCT $338 MILLION ROD LAVER ARENA REFURBISHMENT
4th September 2015 - MARGARET COURT ARENA RECEIVES LEED GOLD CERTIFICATION
16th March 2015 - MELBOURNE’S MARGARET COURT ARENA EMERGES AS A NEW VENUE FOR LIVE MUSIC
3rd February 2015 - RECORD CROWDS ATTEND 2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN
24th January 2015 - MARGARET COURT ARENA GAINS ACCLAIM DURING AUSTRALIAN OPEN WEEK ONE
8th January 2014 - MARGARET COURT ARENA SET FOR THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN
23rd February 2013 - IMPROVING SPORT’S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTAsking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?
The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.
However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.
Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.
Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.
Click here to subscribe.
Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?
As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.
The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.
ICP is an Australian-based company focused on indoor climbing. ICP will manage your project from initial design to completion and beyond, whether you're building an international-level climbing…
read moreAs of February 2023, Ungerboeck Software has rebranded as Momentus Technologies.
read morePROVEN BUSINESS CONCEPTS WITH XBODY XBody’s goal is to see you and your EMS business succeed. That is why we don’t just sell equipment, we provide know-how, expert knowledge, business support…
read moreOriginally founded to meet the specific training requirements of its own venue management operations, Ampd Academy now embraces a broader mission to combat skill shortages across Australian…
read moreWhether your goal is increasing your centre's revenues or creating an engaging environment, why not add play to your project? If you're looking for stylish aquatic play features, kid-tested…
read moreTurnstile Entry Systems and Access Control Centaman Entrance Controls’ Award Winning Range of Access Control Systems includes tripod & triarm turnstiles, speedgates, full height…
read moreClubware’s online gym software is not your run of the mill management system. It has been carefully designed to incorporate all the elements that a fitness club would need. How did we do that?…
read moreHumanforce is a global provider of workforce management solutions for companies who need flexibility to manage complex workforces. Companies use Humanforce to manage everything from time and…
read moreGet your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!