"When the dust finally settles in the days after Sunday's eagerly awaited US Open men's final, the United States Tennis Association will issue its annual victory-lap press release. It will tout another record-setting Open: more than a million fans through the gates, unprecedented social-media engagement, double-digit growth in food and beverage sales, and hundreds of celebrities packed into suites from Rolex to Ralph Lauren. It will beam about growing the game, championing diversity and turning Flushing Meadows into a pop-culture destination."
"But for all the milestones the USTA is preparing to celebrate, this year's tournament will be remembered for a different kind of first: the governing body's lamentable decision to ask broadcasters not to show dissent against Donald Trump. In making that pre-emptive concession, the USTA has committed an unforced error that can't be undone: sacrificing authenticity and credibility in order to shield a politician any politician, regardless of party, ideology or affiliation from the sound of public disapproval."
The USTA plans to celebrate record attendance, social-media engagement, food and beverage growth, and celebrity presence at the US Open. The governing body instructed television partners to avoid showcasing disruptions or reactions when Donald Trump appears, and staff were reminded he would be seated in Rolex’s suite as a client guest. A brief USTA statement said broadcasters are regularly asked to refrain from showcasing off-court disruptions. The request contrasts with past televised incidents, including a climate protester gluing himself to a seat during Coco Gauff’s semi-final and numerous fan disturbances. The decision is presented as sacrificing authenticity and credibility to shield a politician from public disapproval.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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