AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2022, pre-event discussions

[cazza99]

Shocking if Tennis Australia are paying Djokovic's legal fees. Not so long ago I heard Wimbledon just say they would follow Government guidelines though will need to see . Organisations can still use the Covid Pass in England if they wish but will no longer be mandatory,different in Scotland/Wales/Northern Ireland. obviously France will have tough rules for athletes on covid vaccinations.

France are behind UK with Omicron so we will just have to wait and see regarding the French Open. But with all the new scientific evidence emerging over Omicron being milder and double vaccines not being very effective against it, it should change things a lot unless another strain pops up. Even the Health Department is now pushing to reverse the decision for mandatory vaccinations for NHS staff as there is now no justification based on the latest science according to the Guardian.

[cazza99]

BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/60065562) - Australian Open: Tennis Australia's Craig Tiley will not resign despite Novak Djokovic controversy


He denied Tennis Australia had funded Djokovic's legal and travel costs during his failed attempt to remain in the country, saying the reports were "simply untrue".

However, Tiley did confirm the governing body would reflect on the controversy as part of its annual post-tournament review.

"We spend weeks together reviewing what we did, what we did well, what we could do better, what we need to change, and that is the process we go through every year and this year will be no different," said Tiley

[Hawkeye]

I have never understood the "something has gone wrong so it has to cost someone their job" culture.

[cazza99]

BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-60066404) - Djokovic could have inspired anti-vax Australians, court says

Sun (https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/17377639/novak-djokovic-sue-australian-open/) - DJOK DRAMA Novak Djokovic in talks to sue Australian government for £3.2million due to ‘ill treatment’

[cazza99]

From facebook :lol:

https://scontent-lcy1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/p180x540/272000896_489897319164660_6244144894217803045_n.jp g?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_ohc=F-57_IaQW60AX_I9FLi&_nc_ht=scontent-lcy1-1.xx&oh=00_AT_lke4xcSyDWpnntSQbDYIMZJwmMZ8QO5uEF3ueqlLC Jw&oe=61F329E5

[cazza99]

Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/jan/23/craig-tiley-says-novak-djokovic-not-suing-tennis-australia-and-will-return-for-2023-australian-open)- Craig Tiley says Novak Djokovic not suing Tennis Australia and will return for 2023 Australian Open


Speaking to the ABC on Sunday, Tiley refused to say why his organisation seemingly ignored letters from federal health authorities that clearly stated that “people who contracted Covid-19 within the past six months and seek to enter Australia from overseas and have not received two doses of an [TGA] approved … vaccine are not considered fully vaccinated”.

Tiley declined to answer directly, but he suggested at the time decisions were being made about Djokovic’s participation, the Covid rules and conditions were frequently changing.

“It’s important to know we have always tried to do the right thing … We were at the beginning of Omicron and that’s why we were constantly seeking clarity and there was a lot of complexity and contradiction of information before, after and there continues to be all the way through,” he said.

Tiley implied the letters from the federal government in November 2021 did not paint a full picture of all the conversations Tennis Australia had with the commonwealth concerning unvaccinated players.

“We tried to do the right thing … leading into the event were forever-changing conditions. You seek clarity, and one or two bits of communication doesn’t define all the amounts of communication that continued to go on leading into the event.”


tennis365 (https://www.tennis365.com/tennis-news/novak-djokovic-news-world-no-1-will-be-allowed-to-play-at-the-french-open/) - Novak Djokovic news: World No 1 WILL be allowed to play at the French Open

Eurosport (https://www.eurosport.com/tennis/australian-open/2022/will-hurt-him-for-a-long-time-novak-djokovic-s-coach-fumes-at-unjust-deportation-from-australian-ope_sto8726555/story.shtml) - 'WILL HURT HIM FOR A LONG TIME' – NOVAK DJOKOVIC'S COACH FUMES AT 'UNJUST' DEPORTATION FROM AUSTRALIAN OPEN

[Gary D]

BBC Report casting doubt on date of Djokovic's positive Covid test date. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/59999541

[cazza99]

BBC Report casting doubt on date of Djokovic's positive Covid test date. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/59999541

That was brought up on twitter with Nole was still in Australia and discounted by various parties. There was a technical reason for it - can't remember exactly but the number wasn't to do with the timing of when the test was done (assuming it is the same number in question). It may have been to do with when a request to print was made or something.

[Alis]

Hmmmm ..... the BBC report is very measured and certainly does raise questions which the Serbian authorities seem reluctant to answer.

[pabbers]

Yes the examination of the tests has been done by proper researchers. The BBC report of the findings makes for interesting reading.