Sports thread: Everything sport related here.

getready

Senior Member
Appealing to the Courts is rather pointless on this occasion because in a democracy Parliament is the highest Court in the land. So IMO if the government wanted Novak gone, that's the way it's going to be.


P/S
After giving it a bit more thought, I think it was the Victorian state government that was ok with the ATP inviting Novak. However, in the Federal Government revoked it. It's not dissimilar to the Federal government overturning Victoria's Belt and Road proposal with China or revoking The lease on the Port Of Darwin.
Tennis aus definitely wanted djoko in. He was a big attraction. World no 1 and if he won it will be record 21 slams. Aus open will be in the history books.
I think Dan Andrews is okay with him entering, as long as rules are followed. He probably thought the medical exemption would be enough.

But scomo is a different matter. I believe he wanted djoko in but later changed his mind when he saw that he could earn political points by refusing to let him in.

It turned out to be political show. The final arguments by Hawke, the immigration minster were that djoko was a health risk and civil order risk due to his anti vaxx position. Which is kinda dumb.

First of all melb is covid crisis now with tens of thousands daily cases. More chance of djoko getting infected then him a tennis player pretty much limited to his hotel and tennis courts infecting many people.

Second, the civil disobedience is already in aus. There have been so many anti vaxx and anti Masking protests already here. Djoko ain't gonna add much to this. Heck, george christensen the well know anti vaxx mp is a member of the ruling government own party lol.



In the end, the mess is all scomo. His gov granted djoko the visa. Then renegated on it when he realized it was wasn't a popular decision letting a rich privileged guy in with a exemption while other Australians had to endure quarantine and lockdowns.

While I think hkgov should have did that with Nicole kidman and that entitled wall Street CEO, the way aus gov did it was very embarrassing
 
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plawolf

Lieutenant General
I think China should proactively use this fiasco to push for the Australian Open to be scrapped outright and have the China Open elevated to grand slam status in its place.

They could make a compelling case in pretty much all areas, with environmental grounds probably being the most pertinent since the carbon footprint of so many people flying down to the middle of nowhere is enormous.
 

B.I.B.

Captain
Tennis aus definitely wanted djoko in. He was a big attraction. World no 1 and if he won it will be record 21 slams. Aus open will be in the history books.
I think Dan Andrews is okay with him entering, as long as rules are followed. He probably thought the medical exemption would be enough.

But scomo is a different matter. I believe he wanted djoko in but later changed his mind when he saw that he could earn political points by refusing to let him in.

It turned out to be political show. The final arguments by Hawke, the immigration minster were that djoko was a health risk and civil order risk due to his anti vaxx position. Which is kinda dumb.

First of all melb is covid crisis now with tens of thousands daily cases. More chance of djoko getting infected then him a tennis player pretty much limited to his hotel and tennis courts infecting many people.

Second, the civil disobedience is already in aus. There have been so many anti vaxx and anti Masking protests already here. Djoko ain't gonna add much to this. Heck, george christensen the well know anti vaxx mp is a member of the ruling government own party lol.



In the end, the mess is all scomo. His gov granted djoko the visa. Then renegated on it when he realized it was wasn't a popular decision letting a rich privileged guy in with a exemption while other Australians had to endure quarantine and lockdowns.

While I think hkgov should have did that with Nicole kidman and that entitled wall Street CEO, the way aus gov did it was very embarrassing
That's dumb. Why didnt they just throw him out for making a false declaration on his passport application?. That's what one gets to see on the tv show "Australian Border Control" or what ever its called.
 

B.I.B.

Captain
I think China should proactively use this fiasco to push for the Australian Open to be scrapped outright and have the China Open elevated to grand slam status in its place.

They could make a compelling case in pretty much all areas, with environmental grounds probably being the most pertinent since the carbon footprint of so many people flying down to the middle of nowhere is enormous.
I think that would depend on how the vote was taken. I wouldn't have a clue if Chinas' chances are better if it was left up to the six regions that make up the ITF or the individual members numbering 211 at the last count.
 

getready

Senior Member
That's dumb. Why didnt they just throw him out for making a false declaration on his passport application?. That's what one gets to see on the tv show "Australian Border Control" or what ever its called.
My take is that scomo wanted to make this into a political issue. He wants the public to see him as a tough leader protecting the border from privileged non vaxxed person. He got his reputation from "STOP THE BOATS" basically getting tough on poor refugees coming by boats.

I dun think he wanted to use the clerical error to deport him. which is perfectly valid as djoko himself admitted and blamed his agent for filling form wrongly.
Although I heard I'd they lost the case again, they would use that argument lol. But they cleverly waited till late fri evening to announce the decision so that didn't leave djoko much time left as the aus open was on Mon.

Yeah the TV show is called border security. Australians have this cringe obsession with border control.
If they show this fiasco on TV it will be the most interesting episode.
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getready

Senior Member
I think that would depend on how the vote was taken. I wouldn't have a clue if Chinas' chances are better if it was left up to the six regions that make up the ITF or the individual members numbering 211 at the last count.
Didn't know it required a vote. I thought it was just based on reputation . I think china open was on its way to becoming an unofficial fifth Slam before covid. But it needs time. Most of the top players skipped it, except djoko, cuz they want to concentrate on the shanghai masters that was scheduled right after it. I think the Asian Tour swing needs to be lengthened first so the china open and shanghai masters are not too close to each other.
 

B.I.B.

Captain
Didn't know it required a vote. I thought it was just based on reputation . I think china open was on its way to becoming an unofficial fifth Slam before covid. But it needs time. Most of the top players skipped it, except djoko, cuz they want to concentrate on the shanghai masters that was scheduled right after it. I think the Asian Tour swing needs to be lengthened first so the china open and shanghai masters are not too close to each other.
Neither do I. I was just assuming it was like the World cups in Soccer and Rugby. But i guess if one looks at Grand Prix F1, Its the money that does the talking, and it took one guy to remove the WTA from China.

P/S Has there been any regrets amongst the populace in giving up on zero covid? Hmm I thought the "masters" was a season ending rotational series.
 
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SteelBird

Colonel
By the way, is there any requirement for athletes, diplomats or audient who join the Beijing Olympic to be vaccinated or would be rejected entry into China?
 

getready

Senior Member
Neither do I. I was just assuming it was like the World cups in Soccer and Rugby. But i guess if one looks at Grand Prix F1, Its the money that does the talking, and it took one guy to remove the WTA from China.

P/S Has there been any regrets amongst the populace in giving up on zero covid? Hmm I thought the "masters" was a season ending rotational series.
I mean you may be right. I genuinely have no idea how a tennis tournament gets to be a major Slam. There may be some politics behind it like Fifa and IOC woth world cup and Olympics.

Masters tournaments occur round the calender year. Basically they are just a step down from grand Slams in terms of prestige, prize money and points available.
 
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