French Open go for cover
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ByEurosport
Published 06/06/2004 at 17:13 GMT
Quick in the footsteps of Wimbledon, the French Tennis Federation announced on Sunday that Roland Garros would have a new stadium with a retractable roof, to be built on one of two sites in the nearby Bois de Boulogne and will seat 16,000 spectators at an
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Though this year's French Open was virtually rain-free, the Grand Slam's championship officials want to ensure play at all times on the main court.
"I think it would be a mistake not to cover ourselves, in every meaning of the word," French Tennis Federation president Christian Bimes said.
"I consider it the first priority, the top priority."
Bimes said it was vital to ensure that the tournament ran smoothly every year, regardless of the weather.
"It's been 25 years that we haven't had a catastrophic day with rain the whole day," he said.
"If it happens once, we will understand how important a stadium with a retractable roof will be."
Bimes said the stadium would go ahead whether or not Paris wins its bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games, a decision to be announced in July 2005.
"Even without Paris 2012, we will work on an extension program because President Chirac says he wants the stadium to extend," Bimes said.
"I believe it's reasonable, we will do it."
The Australian Open was the first of the four Grand Slam championships to build a retractable roof, first used in January 1988.
Earlier this year, Wimbledon announced its intention to build a retractable roof over Centre Court, which is schedule to be completed by 2009.
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