Looks like Djoker is out of the Australian as he refuses to Vax (or disclose). Good for him.

[festeringZit]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/...defence-australian-open-title-doubt-official/

<header class="grid-col grid-col-12 article__layout article__layout--header " data-test="article-header" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto; grid-column: 3 / 10; flex-direction: column; color: rgb(73, 73, 73); font-family: "Austin News", georgia, times, serif; font-size: 16px;">[h=1]Novak Djokovic's defence of Australian Open in doubt as unvaccinated may not get visas[/h][FONT=&quot]World No 1 has not revealed his vaccination status, but has said he may not defend his title in the new year[/FONT]
</header>[FONT=&quot]ByBen Rumsby and Tom Morgan, SPORTS NEWS CORRESPONDENT<time class="e-published-date u-meta " itemprop="datePublished" datetime="2021-10-19T16:27+0100" data-test="time" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-size: 1.2rem; color: rgb(118, 118, 118); font-family: "Telesans Text Regular", Arial, sans-serif;">19 October 2021 • 4:27pm

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<iframe id="google_ads_iframe_/6582/tmg.telegraph.sport/sport.tennis_1" title="3rd party ad content" name="google_ads_iframe_/6582/tmg.telegraph.sport/sport.tennis_1" width="100%" height="164px" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0" data-google-container-id="2" data-load-complete="true" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: bottom; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: initial;"></iframe>Novak Djokovic could boycott the Australian Open and surrender his title if mandatory coronavirus vaccinations are imposed on players.
​

The world No 1, who has become sport’s most high-profile anti-vaxxer, said he would refuse to divulge whether he had been jabbed amid the growing likelihood of those travelling to Melbourne being forced to do so.
A health order was issued two and a half weeks ago that meant players faced being banned from the first grand slam of the year if they failed to get fully vaccinated by the end of next month.
Speaking to the online edition of Serbian daily Blic, Djokovic said: “Things beings as they are, I still don’t know if I will go to Melbourne.
“I will not reveal my status whether I have been vaccinated or not. It is a private matter and an inappropriate inquiry.
“People go too far these days in taking the liberty to ask questions and judge a person. Whatever you say – ‘Yes, no, maybe, I am thinking about it’ – they will take advantage.”

​

Defending nine-time Australian Open champion Djokovic is among several top tennis players known to have held out against the jab.
The Serb revealed his anti-vaccine stance in a Facebook chat last year, saying: “Personally I am opposed to vaccination and I wouldn’t want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel.
“But, if it becomes compulsory, what will happen? I will have to make a decision. I have my own thoughts about the matter and whether those thoughts will change at some point, I don’t know.”
Britain’s Johanna Konta has also expressed reservations about taking the vaccine, despite missing Wimbledon and the Olympics after contracting Covid-19.
She said in August: “This is a tricky thing to talk about because it’s a very inflammatory subject and there’s no real right answer. I don’t want to talk about it because I wouldn’t be able to get my point across without it being a case for argument.”
More than a third of players on the men’s and women’s tours had not been fully vaccinated by the start of last week, according to figures provided by the ATP (35 per cent) and WTA (40 per cent).
In football, almost 70 per cent of Premier League players are now double-jabbed following warnings about uptake in the sport from scientists including Jonathan Van-Tam.
The most detailed assessment carried out by clubs shows a total of 68 per cent are fully vaccinated, and 81 per cent have had their first dose, Telegraph Sport can disclose.


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The league was unable to disclose like-for-like previous figures on uptake, but club sources previously revealed how, as of last month, the squads of only seven teams in the top flight were more than 50 per cent fully vaccinated.
All unvaccinated players faced being barred from the Australian Open under a health order issued by the state of Victoria that included a requirement for “authorised workers” to have their first jab by October 15 and second by November 26.
The man behind that order, Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews, has warned that tennis players could not count on being handed an exemption from it.
“I don’t think any unvaccinated tennis player is going to get a visa to come into this country,” Andrews said. “If they did get a visa, they’d probably have to quarantine for a couple of weeks when no other players will have to.
“Professional sport is part of that authorised worker list and they have to be double-dose vaccinated.”
The men’s and women’s tours have so far refused to force players to get jabbed but have recommended that they do so.


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Andy Murray has been among those to voice concerns about the low uptake among his peers.
Speaking in August, Murray said: “I feel like I’m enjoying a fairly normal life, whereas for the players that haven’t, it’s different. I’m sure they'll be frustrated with that.
“Ultimately, I guess the reason why all of us are getting vaccinated is to look out for the wider public. We have a responsibility as players that are travelling across the world to look out for everyone else as well.
“I’m happy that I’m vaccinated. I’m hoping that more players choose to have it in the coming months.”
At this year’s Australian Open, all players had to quarantine for two weeks and get tested regularly under strict Covid protocols.
Anyone who tested positive, or was deemed a close contact of someone else who had, was not allowed to leave his or her hotel room.



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[Knightrofins]

Did they have the Australian open in 2021?

Australia has CRAZY strict rules when it comes to quarantining

 

[festeringZit]

Did they have the Australian open in 2021?

Australia has CRAZY strict rules when it comes to quarantining

Djoker won it this year (2021)

 

[jamerx]

Can't say I'd miss Djoker missing a slam

 

[Albatross]

Vax doesn't work

 

[StevieRay]

Fuck Australia, they need invaded and people set free

 

[michael777]

true

 

[bigbet1234]

I’m so sick of this bullshit.

If you want the vaccine take it, if not, fuck it! Who cares. If you are vaccinated you are protected so who gives a fuck if I am or not you asswipes!

It’s obvious the vaccine doesn’t work. But they keep shoving it down the unaware and feared people’s throats to turn us against one another. It’s beyond fucking annoying.

They are trying to force the vaccine in a manipulative way and that is bullshit and scary at the same time. And there are idiots falling for it!

Maybe this is a wake up call to get yourself in shape! If not, fuck you then you have less than a 1% chance of being a bad case if you get it, so eat your wings and drink your coke you fat fuck.

This ahit has went too far and I’m more than annoyed by it

 

[festeringZit]

I’m so sick of this bullshit.

If you want the vaccine take it, if not, fuck it! Who cares. If you are vaccinated you are protected so who gives a fuck if I am or not you asswipes!

It’s obvious the vaccine doesn’t work. But they keep shoving it down the unaware and feared people’s throats to turn us against one another. It’s beyond fucking annoying.

They are trying to force the vaccine in a manipulative way and that is bullshit and scary at the same time. And there are idiots falling for it!

Maybe this is a wake up call to get yourself in shape! If not, fuck you then you have less than a 1% chance of being a bad case if you get it, so eat your wings and drink your coke you fat fuck.

This ahit has went too far and I’m more than annoyed by it

Preach it brother!

 

[StevieRay]

One , Two , Freddy’s coming for you……

 

[carlitosway]

One , Two , Freddy’s coming for you……

lol...Iv'e said it before your kooky Stevie but you can crack me up.

 

[StevieRay]

You take a date to Freddy back in the day the girl is basically riding in ur lap on way home

 

[festeringZit]

[ it's official, not only do you need to be jabbed, you must have the 2-shot jab ]

Novak Djokovic will need to be vaccinated to play Australian Open: minister

Story by Reuters
Updated 1015 GMT (1815 HKT) October 20, 2021

Novak Djokovic will not be able to enter Australia to defend his Australian Open title unless he is fully vaccinated for Covid-19, the country's immigration minister said on Wednesday, putting the Serb's grand slam record bid in doubt.

World number one Djokovic, who is level with Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal on 20 grand slam titles, has declined to reveal his vaccination status, and said he is unsure if he will defend his Australian Open crown.
Clarifying Australia's visa requirements, Minister for Immigration Alex Hawke said foreign players would need to have had two vaccination shots to play the grand slam at Melbourne Park in January.

 

[thepropguy]

turns out being elderly is now the way to go. age 55 and up you can just retire and not get the vaccine and just watch the world on t.v

 

[Shub]

Hold the phone, looks like they are going let him play.

 

[festeringZit]

Hold the phone, looks like they are going let him play.

Where do you see this? I don't see any news out on this issue?

 

[festeringZit]

Novak Djokovic denied entry into Australia after initial COVID-19 medical exemption​

 

[festeringZit]

BRISBANE, Australia -- Novak Djokovic's chance to play for a 10th Australian Open title was thrown into limbo early Thursday when the country denied him entry and canceled his visa because he failed to meet the requirements for an exemption to COVID-19 vaccination rules.

The top-ranked Djokovic landed in Australia late Wednesday after receiving a medical exemption from the Victoria state government that would shield him from the strict vaccination rules in place for this year's first major tennis tournament, which begins Jan. 17.



But border authorities did not accept the exemption. The Australian Border Force issued a statement saying Djokovic failed to meet entry requirements.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the visa cancellation followed a review of Djokovic's medical exemption by border officials who looked "at the integrity and the evidence behind it.''

The president of Djokovic's native Serbia's blasted the "harassment'' of the star, who was detained overnight at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport. The 20-time major winner had to wait more than eight hours at the airport to find out if he would be allowed into the country.

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison said nobody was above the rules.

"Mr. Djokovic's visa has been canceled. Rules are rules, especially when it comes to our borders," Morrison posted on Twitter. "No one is above these rules. Our strong border policies have been critical to Australia having one of the lowest death rates in the world from COVID, we are continuing to be vigilant.''

Hunt said Djokovic was free to appeal the decision. "But if a visa is canceled, somebody will have to leave the country.''

A source close to the tournament told Reuters that Djokovic would file an injunction to prevent him being sent back. In the meantime, Djokovic was on his way to a Melbourne hotel.

The same source told Reuters that the visa and paperwork that Djokovic had used to gain entry into the country was of the same kind as three other players who had already arrived. Australian media reported that Djokovic's team applied for the wrong type of visa.

The medical exemption had been designed to allow Djokovic to play in the Australian Open, regardless of his vaccination status for COVID-19. He has spoken out against vaccines in the past and has steadfastly refused to acknowledge whether he received any shots against the coronavirus.

Djokovic's father, Srdjan Djokovic, told the B92 internet portal that his son was held at the airport "in a room which no one can enter'' and guarded by two police officers.

Djokovic's participation in the Australian Open has been a hot political topic, with many Australians furious that he was granted an exemption to enter the country.

Meanwhile, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Instagram that he spoke to Djokovic while he was being held at the airport, prior to the ruling that his visa had been revoked. Vucic said Serbian authorities were taking measures "so the harassment of the best tennis player in the world be stopped in the shortest possible time.

"In line with all norms of international law, Serbia will fight for Novak, truth and justice. Novak is strong, as we all know."

Vucic had summoned the Australian ambassador in Belgrade and demanded that they immediately release Djokovic to play, Serbian media reported.

Djokovic's revelation on social media that he was heading to Australia seeking a record 21st major title sparked some debate and plenty of headlines on Wednesday, with critics questioning what grounds he could have for the exemption and backers arguing he has a right to privacy and freedom of choice.

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley defended the "completely legitimate application and process'' and insisted there was no special treatment for Djokovic.

The Victoria state government mandated that only fully vaccinated players, staff, fans and officials could enter Melbourne Park when the tournament begins.

Only 26 people connected with the tournament applied for a medical exemption and, Tiley said, only a "handful'' were granted.

Among the acceptable reasons for an exemption are acute major medical conditions, serious adverse reaction to a previous dose of COVID-19 vaccine or evidence of a COVID-19 infection within the previous six months.

Djokovic tested positive for the coronavirus in June 2020 after he played in a series of exhibition matches that he organized in Serbia and Croatia without social distancing amid the pandemic.

Speculation of a possible issue with Djokovic's visa emerged while he was in transit and escalated with mixed messages from federal and state lawmakers.

Morrison initially said the medical exemption decision was a matter for the government of Victoria, where Melbourne is the state capital.

"They have provided [Djokovic] with an exemption to come to Australia, and so we then act in accordance with that,'' Morrison said. "States provide exemptions for people to enter on those basis, and that's been happening for the last two years.''

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews then clarified the border process.


"While the Victorian government and Tennis Australia may permit a non-vaccinated player to compete in the Australian Open, it is the Commonwealth government that will enforce our requirements at the Australian border,'' Andrews said. "If an arriving individual is not vaccinated, they must provide acceptable proof that they cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons to be able to access the same travel arrangement as fully vaccinated travelers.''

When asked again about Djokovic's case later Wednesday, Morrison added: "If that evidence is insufficient, then he won't be treated any different to anyone else and he'll be on the next plane home.''

 

[Avocado33]

Not unexpected

 

[KennyB]

Looks like I won't be watching this year. Barring the best player. Fuck Australia with their bullshit. You can get and or transmit the virus if you are vaccinated.