The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, faced a chilly reception during the NBA game at the O2 Arena, as some fans booed upon his appearance on the arena’s big screen.
Sadiq Khan was among several notable figures present for the event where the Memphis Grizzlies triumphed over the Orlando Magic, marking the return of the National Basketball Association to London after a seven-year hiatus. This game represented the 10th competitive NBA regular season match held at the Greenwich venue since 2011.
VIP Attendance at the Game
Among the attendees were former football stars such as Declan Rice, João Pedro, and Virgil van Dijk, who occupied VIP courtside seats. Additionally, Arsenal and France legend Thierry Henry joined esteemed basketball Hall of Fame player Tony Parker next to the Orlando Magic bench.
However, the brief appearance of Mayor Khan was not well-received. As the large jumbotron displayed the names of the celebrities in attendance, the crowd expressed their discontent, resulting in boos directed at Khan’s image during the fourth quarter, after he had reportedly already departed.
Khan’s Support for Basketball Initiatives
Despite the negative reception, Khan has shown commitment to basketball initiatives over the past year, including the „More Ball Games“ campaign aimed at increasing the availability of public spaces for sports. He has also endorsed the London Lions‘ project that seeks to construct a new arena in the city.
The sell-out crowd for the game, which included various non-sporting celebrities such as actress Rosamund Pike and comedian Mo Gilligan, was officially announced at 18,424 attendees. During the customary singing of the national anthems, the crowd took the opportunity to voice their political opinions, interrupting Vanessa Williams’ performance of the U.S. anthem on several occasions, with one attendee vocally protesting, ‚leave Greenland alone.‘
Bildquelle: Bildquelle: Tim Rüßmann auf Unsplash
