Accordingly, entry for unvaccinated people is not possible with the documents submitted by Djokovic. The then contacted authorities of the Australian state of Victoria refused to support the world number one.
No help will be given to Djokovic to obtain a visa to participate in the Australian Open, Victoria Sports Minister Jaala Pulford tweeted. “We were always clear on two points: Visa approvals are a matter for the national government, medical exceptions a case for doctors,” wrote the politician.
The nine-time Melbourne winner Djokovic had always left his vaccination status open. The Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison had already requested sufficient evidence for the exemption of the 20-time Grand Slam winner. Otherwise the 34-year-old will be “on the first plane home”, warned Morrison and added: “There should be no special rules for Novak Djokovic, absolutely none.”
Morrison comments on the Djokovic case
Causa Djokovic causes widespread outrage
Before that, there had been a lot of criticism in the media and social networks of the decision that Djokovic was apparently allowed into the country without the actually required vaccination against the corona virus. One user called Djokovic’s participation a “slap in the face for all Australians” and spoke to many Australians from the soul. The broadcaster “ABC” spoke of “anger and confusion” across the country.
“A city that has survived six lockdowns and where double vaccination is a requirement for access to any public common room is unlikely to approve of tennis leading vaccination skeptic being led through the VIP lane at Tullamarine Airport,” so the daily newspaper “The Age”.
“A terrifying message”
“I don’t care how good he is as a tennis player. If he refuses to be vaccinated, he shouldn’t be let in, ”said prominent doctor Stephen Parnis. The exemption for the Serbian tennis star was “a terrifying message” to millions of Australians.
Sports reporter Andy Maher said that even many Australians had been denied such a permit to enter their home country for two years, “but this guy – who has taken extraordinary liberties in the face of the coronavirus – gets his exception”. Djokovic is a great athlete, “but he is not indispensable”. Journalist Samantha Lewis tweeted that it was “the patriotic duty” of all viewers to boo Djokovic during his entire stay.
Exemption ends speculation
Djokovic wrote on Instagram on Tuesday that he was about to travel to Australia with a special permit. With this, he ended the months of speculation about his participation almost two weeks before the start of the first Grand Slam tournament of the tennis season. The Australian Open in Melbourne starts on January 17th. Only players who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus or who have received a medical exemption are allowed to take part.
The nine-time Melbourne winner had always left his vaccination status open. The organizers of the tournament announced that the medical exemption had been granted after a strict review, in which two independent expert panels were involved. Djokovic made a “perfectly legitimate application” and went through the necessary process, said tournament director Craig Tiley. “Everyone who met the conditions received an entry permit from the authorities. Nobody was preferred, ”Tiley explained.
Apparently no preference for Djokovic
According to Tennis Australia and the Victoria State Government, 26 people have applied for a waiver and Djokovic is one of a handful of successful applicants. There was no preference for Djokovic in the anonymous application process.
Tiley hopes the tennis star will take a stand and clear up his situation. “It would certainly be useful if Novak explained the reasons why he applied for and received the medical exemption,” said the tournament director. “I would like him to speak to the community. We have had a very difficult period over the past two years and I would appreciate the answers. “
