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Original poster

Djokovic gets medical exemption while Indian teen denied entry to Aus Open.

362 replies

CaliforniaDrumming · 05/01/2022 16:10

Vaccine inequity in operation. Novak Djokovic gets a medical exemption from being vaxxed for the Australian Open, while a 17-yr-old Indian player is denied entry because India has not begun vaccinating the under 18.

gulfnews.com/sport/tennis/australian-open-indian-tennis-teen-slams-double-standards-on-djokovic-1.84772010

OP posts:
GADDay · 05/01/2022 23:53

@Billi77

Just think of the viewing figures.. they’ll have to let him in now. Everyone has their bad guy to spice things up. He’s not my favourite player but is he really THAT bad? In interviews is charming enough and the Croatia thing was an attempt at getting previously warring countries in the arena. As for following ‘Australian’ border rules, it’s an international tournament FFS. And the money comes from the grand slam winners, all sport is about money. Making villains is about money. It’s gross but true. Saying he has to follow Australian rules is like saying gay athletes shouldn’t be allowed into the many countries where homosexuality is illegal to participate in temporary events. Diplomatic immunity should exist within sport. And yes, it should apply to all tennis players from all over the world who can qualify for AO. I think even Djokovic would agree with that one.
Are you living in Australia?
Cocoabutterformula · 05/01/2022 23:53

This is quite fascinating i must say, be interesting where it leads. I mean what if the French bring in same rule for the Open etc?

GADDay · 05/01/2022 23:58

@Cocoabutterformula

This is quite fascinating i must say, be interesting where it leads. I mean what if the French bring in same rule for the Open etc?
He is being deported - not due to the AOs rules - it's our border regulations that have kicked in - rightly so.
tigger1001 · 05/01/2022 23:59

I suspect he was originally given an exemption due to who he is without really considering how badly it would play out with Australian people. Of course he hasn't helped himself by plastering it all over social media.

I suspect once the political temperature was taken about the decision it was decided that it was a bad idea.

Just my thoughts on it. I disagree with vaccine mandates generally however when travelling you have the choice to accept the rules of a country and comply or decide not to go.

nancy75 · 06/01/2022 00:00

@Cocoabutterformula

This is quite fascinating i must say, be interesting where it leads. I mean what if the French bring in same rule for the Open etc?
I’m sure I read earlier that France do require all foreign sports people to be vaccinated, and to travel to the uk unvaccinated you have to do the hotel quarantine for 10 days. Novak is going to have a tough year ahead of him.
nancy75 · 06/01/2022 00:03

I really have no sympathy. Last year he whined about the quarantine in Aus, thinking he should be exempt even when actual Australians couldn’t get home. He held a superspreader tournament/party & he’s generally shown himself up to be a bit of an arsehole.

IndigoC · 06/01/2022 00:28

Australians didn’t seem to be bothered when American celebrities were merrily skipping hotel quarantine last year (whilst I, an Australian citizen, couldn’t get in to visit my dying mother).

Australia is such an angry country these days. Always off on a new witch hunt.

ShmeevilWeevil · 06/01/2022 00:30

#NovaxDjokovic is trending on twitter 😀

milkyaqua · 06/01/2022 00:32

Australia is such an angry country these days. Always off on a new witch hunt.

Meanwhile, over in Australia, we are all laughing our heads off and cracking bad jokes and enjoying our puns.

Skinnytailedsquirrel · 06/01/2022 00:33

He's a wally.

CalicoAnnie · 06/01/2022 00:36

Visa has been cancelled.

IndigoC · 06/01/2022 00:38

@milkyaqua

Australia is such an angry country these days. Always off on a new witch hunt.

Meanwhile, over in Australia, we are all laughing our heads off and cracking bad jokes and enjoying our puns.

The only humour I see on social media is the nasty/sneering/revelling in an individual’s misfortune kind. Everything else is full of vitriol (“how the f**k did ABF grant the visa in the first place?”).
GoodPrincessWenceslas · 06/01/2022 00:46

@ShmeevilWeevil

I don't particularly like djokovic but he is probably the greatest tennis player of all time. It would seem unfair to deny him the opportunity to compete and prove his GOAT status because he hasn't been vaccinated. Perhaps the tournament should have been moved to a remote island somewhere to avoid this situation.
Please tell me this wasn't serious?
GoodPrincessWenceslas · 06/01/2022 00:56

It won't stop the spread. And the testing means they aren't positive to spread it anyway

LFT testing definitely doesn't mean that. DD had a number of negative LFT tests but was obviously very unwell, and the PCR test confirmed it was covid all along.

GoodPrincessWenceslas · 06/01/2022 00:57

@EmmaH2022

I'm not sure Some outlets are saying he thought he was exempt because of having had covid

Anyway, hope the under 18s have a good tournament too. Would imagine Djokovic is just doing this for publicity or to make a point if some kind.

As he seems to have had covid over 18 months ago, he and all his advisers would have to be pretty thick to believe that gave him exemption.
GADDay · 06/01/2022 01:07

@IndigoC

Australians didn’t seem to be bothered when American celebrities were merrily skipping hotel quarantine last year (whilst I, an Australian citizen, couldn’t get in to visit my dying mother).

Australia is such an angry country these days. Always off on a new witch hunt.

I agree - people are pissed off. This the most democratic autocracy on the planet.

Our politicians are pale, male & stale. Our First Nations People are treated terribly - a deep, spiritual culture totally obliterated. Misogyny is rife. Racism is rife. Don't get me started on the treatment of refugees. Rules prevail - mostly meted out by the pale, male and stale brigade.

We have been locked up in our states for FAR too long. Logic does not prevail. It is no wonder we are angry.

Cocogreen · 06/01/2022 01:15

Scummo is trying to get Brownie points in an election year by sending him back.

There is no point letting him play.
He'd be booed every second he's on the court and the hotel staff would piss in his food.
Go home Novax.

Summerofcontent · 06/01/2022 01:19

@Cocoabutterformula

I am actually a bit sad that we won't get to see how the Aussie crowd reacts to him

Me too!! They don't hold back out there! 😂

The MCG on boxing day is testament to this
IndigoC · 06/01/2022 01:24

@GADDay

Exactly. I don’t blame Australians for being angry, the leadership is terrible. Frankly everybody, everywhere, is exhausted and frustrated at this point in the pandemic. Novak is an easy target. I have little sympathy for him but the current hullabaloo looks like a useful distraction for Morrison.

Dishhh · 06/01/2022 01:36

@MafaldaHopkirk

Dishhh

"Nope, they won't. Even if the Croatian President weighed in, and he did."

Why would the Croatian President comment on an issue with a Serbian national?

Oops. My error! The Serbian President had a few choice comments.

JambalayaOrGumbo · 06/01/2022 02:08

Scotty from Accounts must be loving this distraction.

Cocogreen · 06/01/2022 02:19

@JambalayaOrGumbo

Scotty from Accounts must be loving this distraction.
Scotty from Marketing. Josh from Accounts Wink.
FromEden · 06/01/2022 02:34

I dont get why people are angry at Djokovic and not the pathetic Australian government for implementing stupid discrimatory rules but I guess this is just how the world is now. Rabble rabble so people don't ask questions

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