Novak Djokovic: Exemption as a certificate of poverty for all involved
Novak Djokovic is allowed to participate in the Australian Open 2022 without a vaccination against the corona virus. This decision is an indictment for everyone involved. A comment.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Jan 04, 2022, 06:56 pm
Well then: Novak Djokovic is thanks to a medical one Exemption to start at the Australian Open 2022. While the field undoubtedly gains in quality from a sporting point of view through the participation of the world number one, this is a heavy slap in the face for the Australian population.
The so far last lockdown was only ended in Melbourne on October 22 of last year, in total the metropolis was in lockdown mode for 262 days and thus longer than any other city in the world. The fact that with the unvaccinated Djokovic, of all people, the player who was one of the most irresponsible players in the corona pandemic is returning to Melbourne can hardly be surpassed in absurdity.
Djokovic and the Adriatic Tour
It was Djokovic who launched the Adria Tour in the summer of 2020, enjoyed party nights with his colleagues far away from reality and put all viewers who were present with practically no safety measures in potential danger. That the Serb infected himself with COVID-19 was just the tip of the iceberg.
If Djokovic had left his vaccination status open until the end, he positioned himself clearly on Tuesday. Of course, the 34-year-old is also free to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, but in view of the questionable decision by the two Australian bodies, the impression is given that there is at least a two-class society globally.
The rich and powerful can take care of themselves, while the "normal people" have to adhere rigorously to the measures. For months, numerous Australians were not allowed to return home, families were separated, and a 14-day quarantine was initially mandatory anyway. But Djokovic receives a medical exemption without giving a precise reason? It's not fair.
Medical exemptions are "no loophole for privileged tennis players," said Deputy Prime Minister James Merlino a few days ago: "It is a medical exception under exceptional circumstances when you have an acute illness." It is not known what Djokovic suffers from.
It is at least questionable, however, from which "acute illness" the probably fittest tennis player of the present suffers and how he should survive with this in a Grand Slam tournament. Questions to which there will probably never be a satisfactory answer.
Unacceptable knee fall
Now, of course, it is not Djokovic's fault that he received such approval. Rather, it is appropriate to criticize the assessment of the independent bodies in this regard. Natalia Vikhlyantseva was not allowed to enter Australia despite (or because of) a vaccination with Sputnik V , the Indian junior player Jr. Aman Dahiya was denied a special permit. The only reason why this is not vaccinated is that vaccination has not yet started for children under 18 years of age in India. It doesn't help that the anonymous assessment of all applications was always placed in the foreground.
In any case, this decision was not doing itself a favor in Australia. Tournament director Craig Tiley, the committees and Djokovic himself found themselves exposed to mostly violent criticism hours after the statement by the industry leader. Rightly. Because the fact that Djokovic is allowed to enter Australia without a vaccination is an unacceptable kneel to the world number one. Or just a certificate of poverty for everyone involved.
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