Innovations at Roland Garros and Their Effects
It is a big mistake to think of the Roland Garros organization simply as a tennis tournament. The prize money distributed to athletes is in second place after the Australian Open with 36 million euros. An average of 450 thousand people watch the tournament live. The center court Philippe-Chatrier has 15 thousand people and the Suzanne-Lenglen Court has 10 thousand people.
Roland Garros is not just a tennis tournament, it is a great two-week festival, and its economic dimensions are not to be underestimated at all.
The number of ball Kids who collect balls is 250 and they are selected from among 2500 children. They train regularly and undergo behavioral training on the court a week before the tournament. I don’t know about the others, but being a ball collector at the Roland Garros and Wimbledon tournaments is important enough to be written in one’s biography. Exactly 8700 people, including volunteers, work to do a perfect job.
The History of Roland Garros
Roland Garros, named after I. It is a prestigious tennis tournament that took the French pilot from Roland Garros in World War II. First held in 1891, the tournament was open only to French players and was known as the “French Championship”.
In 1925, the tournament gained an international character and was opened to the participation of all world players. Since that date, it has become known as the “French Open” and has quickly become one of the most important tennis organizations in the world.
The most remarkable feature of Roland Garros is that the matches are played on a dirt floor. This ground causes the ball to slow down and bounce higher, which significantly affects the players’ strategies and playing styles.
The Roland Garros complex is home to more than 20 courts. The Philippe-Chatrier Court, the main court, is the stage for the most important matches and has a capacity of about 15,000 spectators.
Roland Garros Features
It is known that an average of 6000 bananas are consumed, matches are played with 65 thousand balls, and Havana hats are icons. Those who come to watch Roland Garros make an average purchase of 60 euros at the gift shop. When you calculate, it becomes clear that the turnover is beautiful.
When food-beverage, accommodation and tourism are considered, it is seen what the tennis industry adds to France in two weeks.
Roland Garros has a special place among the four Grand Slam tournaments in the world. It is the only tournament played on a clay court. Although Wimbledon is also the only tournament played on grass, and the history of tennis therefore began with the transitions between the two countries.
In all international tournaments, the referees’ score notifications are made first in the native language of the country and then in English. The exception to this is Roland Garros. English Frenchmen only announce the score in matches, referees do not call in English! Frenchmen announce the score in matches only in French, referees do not call in English! Those who know explain the reason as follows: the French only speak French, they don’t know any other language; that’s why the referees make calls in a language that they can understand!
