Djokovic speaks out

The right to choose vaccination or not is there. Being allowed to choose which rules to follow, whether you are famous or not can never be right.

AreWeThereYet

^but this past year it has been happening . . . 294 Athlete Cardiac Arrests and Serious Issues, 168 Dead, after having the COVID Shot^

I was a bit surprised by those figures so I've been doing some research to check. Can you tell us where those figures came from?

Because all I can find is articles (media and science articles) that completely refute all the conspiracy theories about loads of athletes dying. In many cases these lists are simply lists of athletes who have died, many had not even been vaccinated. One list contained the name of an 82 year old ex basketball player who died 2 weeks after his vaccination. Of natural causes.

very sad report.. .if you read through details, only in athlete was not vaccinated while all others were vaccinated; I think 82 year old was added to the list because he sadly died shortly after receiving vaccine...

but this past year it has been happening . . . 294 Athlete Cardiac Arrests and Serious Issues, 168 Dead, after having the COVID Shot

I was a bit surprised by those figures so I've been doing some research to check. Can you tell us where those figures came from?

Because all I can find is articles (media and science articles) that completely refute all the conspiracy theories about loads of athletes dying. In many cases these lists are simply lists of athletes who have died, many had not even been vaccinated. One list contained the name of an 82 year old ex basketball player who died 2 weeks after his vaccination. Of natural causes.

He was unvaccinated and Australia has strict rules that the unvaccinated visitors have to adhere no matter how famous they are. The Australian government could not risk letting him flout the rules otherwise there would have been an outcry of one rule for us and another rule for the rich and famous. Remember Dominic Cummings and Barnard Castle? Not to mention Boris Johnson and the now infamous Party gate.

Oh, Markoni40, it’s in your opinion. That’s fine.
It doesn’t match my opinion and it was you who mentioned the payment to Australia in your list of reasons, complete with a snide comment at the end which may have been yours not his, but certainly implied that Australia should do something in return-in this case, let him flout the rules. But that’s my opinion and it’s just as valid as yours

Personally, I think he has done a lot of damage in the fight against Covid-19. I think he is a selfish, privileged man who thinks he has the right to put other people's lives at risk for the sake of his sport. Whether you agree with Australia's quarantine rules or not, they ARE the rules and his obvious attempt to get around them shows a lack of respect for the health and well being of the people of Australia.

Mollygo

Markoni40, still waiting for your evidence that Novax would refuse to play if another player couldn’t play. He chose to break a rule denying other players the chance to play against him.
Interesting that you think giving money to a country for whatever reason means you should be allowed to flout the rules of that country.

Mollygo I would never assume that giving donation to anyone or any country would make you eligible to break the rules. That would be a case of corruption, no? However, you incorrectly state that Djokovic didn't follow the rules of Australia. The Australian government persuaded a federal court to deport Djokovic not because he hadn’t had the jab (two independent panels cleared him to compete) but because his presence was, they argued, a threat to public health. If they could deport him on the bases of not following the rules, it would be their first and foremost argument. But they couldn't. He did follow the rules. As such I think it was ungrateful from Australian government to return a gift in this manner.

Regarding proof that he would refuse to play in support of his peers, as I said, it is my opinion based on his character and his actions so far, of which I provide a list already.

I think we all need to open our minds in judging people not by personal dislikes, but by fact, or not judge at all which is even better.

Markoni40, still waiting for your evidence that Novax would refuse to play if another player couldn’t play. He chose to break a rule denying other players the chance to play against him.
Interesting that you think giving money to a country for whatever reason means you should be allowed to flout the rules of that country.

Who says he gave the most? They tend to do these things privately.

Zoejory

Most top tennis players do a great deal for charity. Do some research.

Not all are deciding not to have the vaccine though. And most of them are pleasant and don't sulk when the crowd cheers his opponent in a match.

I've seen him play many a time. Great player. Unfortunate demeanour. He is rather unhappy that most matches see his opponent being the crowd's favourite. Maybe it's due to the fact they don't snarl and growl and glare.

they do indeed.. but he gave the most.. and not all of them stand for his peers or women in sport like he does

"Great player. Unfortunate demeanour" yes on both points Zoejory and unfortunately this recent sequence of events has done nothing to improve some people's opinion of him.

Most top tennis players do a great deal for charity. Do some research.

Not all are deciding not to have the vaccine though. And most of them are pleasant and don't sulk when the crowd cheers his opponent in a match.

I've seen him play many a time. Great player. Unfortunate demeanour. He is rather unhappy that most matches see his opponent being the crowd's favourite. Maybe it's due to the fact they don't snarl and growl and glare.

Well, just to mention a few:
1) campaign he is leading to redistribute pay from top players to lower ranked players in tennis world (taking money practically from his own pocket)
2) campaign he is leading for equal gender pay in sport
3) significant financial support he donated to Italy and other countries to fight with Covid
4) significant financial support he donated to Australia to fight last year fires (nice how they pay it back..)
5) many other charities and causes
6) his foundation which supports children worldwide....

so not sure all this could be done by selfish, arrogant, etc. person like you picture him... check your facts..

Proof of your final sentence?
His selfish attitude towards flouting rules doesn’t exactly support that does it?

4allweknow Well, this is not correct...people should really check the facts before they state their opinions. I have closely followed the case as I think it was a blunt violation of human rights from Australian government...The exception rule stated that who had Covid in the recent period can apply for exception, and he did. The exception was given based on anonymous data submission and based on that he applied and received visa from local embassy - all within rules. Then Australian government decided that they want to show off on his example what happens to those that are not vaccinated...Note that he was not the only player with same type of exception and the others were allowed to play. I have never seen this kind of violation of human rights in, what is considered, first world country....It is just very sad that other players didn't stand up for him and refused to play like he would have certainly done for them.

will have

Jjebe

It’s your autoimmune system which determines how you fare against Covid not your level of fitness

Immune system, not autoimmune system.

This is a new virus so the body has built up no antibodies against it so we have no natural immunity to it.
It is curious how some people have no symptoms and others can become very sick or die from Covid.

Those who have had Covid and recovered with have immunity but it hasn't stopped some people catching it again as it mutates.

I think he’s entitled to his own views. I don’t think he’s entitled to choose which rules he abides by and which he flouts. I think his parents couldn’t have known how appropriate his name would prove to be.

It’s your autoimmune system which determines how you fare against Covid not your level of fitness

He forgot to say this: ( Djokovic has 80% stake in biotech firm developing Covid treatment )
www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/jan/19/novak-djokovic-stake-biotech-firm-quantbiores-covid
And, also, he had said that he had Covid-19 already....

LilacChaser

He should have spoken out sooner because his comments came across really well. He's sticking up for his principles even at risk of his tennis career. Good for him!

I agree, he should have said all this earlier, it was good to hear that he accepts that his actions have consequences.

He faked his positive Covid test so he could play in Australia…I remember seeing his certificate on telly and it was completely out of sequence. He’s an entitled idiot and I am glad the Aussies gave him short shrift. I don’t believe he is remotely principled…he was just trying to save face yesterday…he didn’t pull the wool over my eyes…

What makes him so special ?,maybe his view not mine.
Clearly no thought given and takes little if we are to see the eradication of this virus for generations yet to come
I salute Australia.

NoVax Jabovic!

It's his decision whether to have the jab or not but he shouldn't expect countries to allow him in if it's there policy to only allow vaccinated people in he has become a poster boy for the anti vax mob