Novak Djokovic is from Serbia. A great tennis player. No doubt about that.
Novak is opposed to vaccine for covid epidemic. So, he did not get a vaccine injection. He wanted to play the Australian Grand Slam in Melbourne, Australia. On arrival in Australia, he was refused entry into the country because he did not have vaccine certificate. Novak said he has exemption certificate because he was covid positive. On the days he said he had covid, Novak was awarding prizes to children. The very next day he was giving interview to a French Magazine.
The Border Control Officers did not believe his story and refused him entry into the country.
In the form to be filled at the airport, there was a question whether he has visited any country in the past 14 days. He answered NO. But he visited Spain for a few days before arriving in Australia. When this was pointed out, Novak said he made an error and by mistake ticked NO in the form.
They cancelled his visa and Novak was taken to a temporary detention facility.
Novak is not a poor man. He is very rich. He can afford high price lawyers. He wanted to fight the Australian Government through the courts. According to newspaper reports, he has 4 lawyers at the rate of $50,000 each lawyer per day. So he paid $200,000 per day and fought it out.
Novak had initial success. A lower court judge ruled in favor of Novak on a technicality. But Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has special powers and he has the right to cancel Novak’s visa.
Australia's immigration minister revoked Djokovic's visa ahead of the Australian Open, saying "it was in the public interest to do so."
Novak’s lawyers appealed to the higher federal court. Judgement from the high court arrived. Novak lost. He will be deported. He cannot come back to Australia for the next 3 years.
Novak thinks he is a demi-god because of his tennis prowess, ala some Indian cricket players. I have a new name for him. Novax Jackassovich.
Australia is a democracy. He can pay high prized lawyers and make the judges hear his case on a Sunday. I would advise him to show this “courage” in a socialist republic country or in an absolute monarchy. It will be 6 months before his high prized lawyers even find out in which jail he is in.
If you don’t like Australian rules and regulations, don’t go there. Visa approval is a privilege and not a right.
Maybe he is a nice guy but has bad advisors.
Well said, one can not be good in all.. as rightly pointed he may be a good guy, but the environment in which he is associated may be wrong.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Murali. You are right.
DeleteGood to see the Australian Govt. not making exceptions to 'VIPs' and enforcing their rules strictly.
ReplyDeleteI think it was a bad idea to even fight this in a court.
Thanks for your comments Rajesh. You cannot fight the City Hall (American slang for Government).
DeleteMr. K. Parthasarathi wrote the following comments:
ReplyDeleteMy comments are not going. Some problem in my iPhone. I have to try many times.
I agree with the view i received from a friend.
“ Pharma companies are no angels. The COVID vaccine, for all we know, may cause long term damage. By then, the Companies would have walked away with billions. So, i can understand Novak's reluctance in taking a vaccine.
But the Novak saga is Aus Open's fault. AO and Victorian govt gave the go ahead to Novak without taking the vaccine (medical exemption).
Then AO tried checking with Aus Immigration Control if this was sufficient for Novak to gain entry. And Immigration Control responded saying they can't review individual applications beforehand. Only at the border.
At this time, AO folks should have advised Novak not to come. They didn't. “
Anyway the loss is that of Aus Open playing without number one in the tournament.
Thanks for your comments Mr. KP. Mr. Djokovic has every right not to get vaccinated. In that case he should stay home and not wish to travel internationally. Just because AO officials are at fault (in your opinion) it does not give any right to Mr. Djokovic to enter Australia. The ultimate deciding authority is the Australian Government. In addition, having a valid visa is no guarantee to enter a country. People can be denied entry at the border even with a valid visa. Many travelers to USA have been stopped at the border/airport by the immigration officials for different reasons.
DeleteRafael Nadal has said Australian Open is more important than any player.
Agree with your post... every country's rules and regulations should be adhered to....if you dont want to.... dont go there......
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Dee. I agree with your comment.
DeleteI am of a different opinion here. Djokovic's failure is the failure of those who believe in natural rights, that is beyond the social contract.
ReplyDeleteHe wasn't Covid positive at the time of entry, he has only chosen not to take the vaccine forced upon by the Governments. It's a pity that - "Visa approval is a privilege and not a right."
Thanks Ajeya for your comments. I understand what you are saying. He has every right not to take the vaccine. But if a foreign country insists on vaccination as a requirement to enter, he should stay home. Should not challenge a foreign government. Yes, he can challenge but will never win his case.
DeleteI fully agree with you. It was a different matter he was wrongly given an exemption by two boards.
ReplyDeleteNovak should have known better, and stayed away from playing instead of attempting to be in Australia when rules don't allow him to.
He should play in countries where they allow unvaccinated people to play.
Olympians respected the rules of Japanese government and either made adjustments or stayed away from Olympics.
Novak should have played by the rules.
Thanks for your comments Pradeep. Thanks for pointing out the Olympics held recently in Japan.
DeleteI like Djokovich. Not getting vaccinated is his right. He may take risk but he should not put others at risk. If he loves Tennis that much, he should get vaccinated and participate in the tournament setting aside his ego and other reasons/principles otherwise don't participate and just leave the country. This is my contention
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Gowri. Your contention is correct.
DeleteIt was very much in the news.
ReplyDeleteWe need to follow the rules. "As in Rome do as the Romans."
Thanks for your comments Anita. Whether we like it or not we have to follow the rules.
DeleteCorrect,SG,when we enter country, it is our duty to abide by their law. However great may be he in his country, he can show his 'Show Of' nature there. Humility,not ego or pride provides a person seats in minds. A relevant topic,SG.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Sarala. You are correct.
DeleteWell said! Agree. If he really loves the sport, he should abide by the rules.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Rohitha. Pleasant surprise to receive your comments. Hope you and your family are doing well. Did you organize any more art exhibition. We still remember and talk about your art exhibition here in San Francisco.
DeleteThank you! So happy you remember me. We're doing alright, we moved to DC. I do follow your blogposts and love that you still post so often and probably left a few comments a while ago, but I forgot my blog credentials so maybe it was anonymous. I was deeply saddened to read about Mrs. Lalitha's passing :( I have fond memories of meeting you both at HSB and of course, attending my art exhibition was just so nice of all of you! I haven't had any other exhibitions - corporate life and motherhood sucked me in but I will get back to it for sure! Hope you are doing well , stay safe and take care.
DeleteThanks for your reply Rohita. Please let me know when you arrange for another exhibition. I certainly will attend wherever it is. (Remember I said I will attend your art exhibition when you were in Bangalore! You saved my travel expenses by moving to Bay Area and had your exhibition here. HeHeHe)
DeleteDefinitely, I will let you know for sure! And yes, I remember you kept your word indeed about my previous exhibition - glad it was only a car ride away for you at the time lol :)
DeleteCovid-19 is such a global issue and if there are solutions like the vaccine which can even help like 5%, everyone needs to volunteer for them
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Pooja. And, welcome to my blog. I fully agree with your suggestion.
DeletePooja, please visit here as often as possible. Thank you,
Jackassovich cannot have worse advisors than himself! I wonder what he was thinking when he played out those theatrics.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Rakesh. And, welcome to my blog. May be he thought he is a demi God and win his case.
DeleteRakesh, please visit here as often as possible. Thanks.
Djokovic should have followed rules prevalent.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Kirtivasan. I agree with you.
Delete