Wimbledon set to be bathed in color for Olympics

ROME (AP) Wimbledon's all-white dress code won't be in place for the Olympics. And the traditional dark green backdrop around the courts will be gone, too.

"The look will be the look of the games. There will be more color. It will be a special Wimbledon," International Tennis Federation president Francesco Ricci Bitti told The Associated Press on Tuesday. "The rule for clothing will be the rule for the Olympics, so there will be much more color in terms of what the players wear, too.

"Some people might not like it, but I think the majority will," Ricci Bitti added. "It will be memorable."

Venus Williams, who has won three Olympic gold medals, is embracing the opportunity to wear something different at the All England Club.

"It's the Olympics and so at that point it won't be Wimbledon, so that's what makes it different," Williams said. "We'll be wearing team colors. Red, white and blue all the way - and hopefully gold."

Williams swept gold in singles and doubles - with sister Serena - at the 2000 Sydney Games, then won doubles again with Serena in 2008 in Beijing. In London, she could aim for three more medals, with mixed doubles also on the program.

Ricci Bitti said the most difficult thing with hosting Olympic tennis at Wimbledon has been setting up better security, noting that there will be separate entrances for players and fans.

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