Novak Djokovic: Is his vaccine saga an unforced error for Australia?

Author: Editors Desk Source: BBC News:

January 8, 2022 at 19:29

REUTERS /, Rallies have been held outside the Park Hotel, where Djokovic is being held in Melbourne

The story of the world's top ranked tennis player being held at an immigration detention centre after arriving in Australia last week caused dismay and anger on all sides.

Most of it has been directed at the authorities, be they in the federal or the Victorian state government.

There's almost a sense of incredulity at how the situation has been mishandled - the monumental breakdown in communication and the political tussling.

Djokovic, who is not the most popular of tennis players here, was expected to land late on Wednesday to a wave of Australian ire.

At that point the story seemed fairly straightforward.

A world-famous athlete, who has publicly said he is opposed to vaccination, granted an exemption to play at the Australian Open in a country that has implemented some of the world's strictest Covid-19 measures.

It was hardly surprising that it caused an outcry in a country whose citizens had been told that full vaccination was the condition to freedom of movement and travel.

But after Djokovic touched down at Melbourne Airport, things became a little murky.

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