Australian (Open) Tennis and COVID-19

jakeseven7 said:
Sure and to assist with the compelling message every single restaurant in Melbourne booked out, per normal on Friday night should have also closed early on their own account / own choice to support the message as well. Indoors, no masks - much better message to send. Many more people impacted. BIG message!
Click to expand...
They are reeling enough, tennis isn't and sure isn't shown on TV.
 
Pushka said:
They are reeling enough, tennis isn't and sure isn't shown on TV.
Click to expand...

Everyone is reeling. A quick google will show you how precarious a position TA is in as well.

Sure, a few 100 thousand viewers in VIC watching the tennis v a few 100 thousand actual people with plans - all directly disrupted if the government pulled it all forward a few hours. I know what would impact me more... watching an empty seat on the tennis that they wouldn’t even show anyway, or having my own actual plans disrupted...
 
jakeseven7 said:
I guess because it’s the law.

Alternatively we could allow commercial entities to interpret the law differently to suit our / their own purposes. Now that would be a wonderful democracy.
Click to expand...

What law? The Australian Open organisers could have unilaterally barred the crowd from the evening's matches due to 'safety concerns'. It wouldn't have been the first time people with tickets for a sporting event were refused admittance due to COVID. I'm not suggesting that there would not have been some strife in doing that, but again, if the "your safety is our first priority" mantra is applicable, knowing that the Government had declared a lockdown with severe restrictions on movement and gatherings - you, know, to stop the spread - then to have a gathering immediately before the government deadline is pretty poor. Individuals can do what they please before a deadline, but I don't think organisations, operating in lockstep with a government have (or should have) the same licence.
 
RooFlyer said:
What law? The Australian Open organisers could have unilaterally barred the crowd from the evening's matches due to 'safety concerns'. It wouldn't have been the first time people with tickets for a sporting event were refused admittance due to COVID. I'm not suggesting that there would not have been some strife in doing that, but again, if the "your safety is our first priority" mantra is applicable, knowing that the Government had declared a lockdown with severe restrictions on movement and gatherings - you, know, to stop the spread - then to have a gathering immediately before the government deadline is pretty poor. Individuals can do what they please before a deadline, but I don't think organisations, operating in lockstep with a government have (or should have) the same licence.
Click to expand...
Not sure lockstep is the right word. I’m not sure the tennis organizers even knew there would be a lockdown. Their answer to what they would do pre-curfew? ‘Good question’

My feeling is that they are just lobbying for their own self-interest, business as usual.
 
HappyFlyerFamily said:
My feeling is that they are just lobbying for their own self-interest, business as usual.
Click to expand...

As is every business. Complying with the directive and law of the state. Unless we expect everyone to do the ‘right’ thing and shut X hours earlier than the health directive I guess.
 
HappyFlyerFamily said:
Not sure lockstep is the right word. I’m not sure the tennis organizers even knew there would be a lockdown.
Click to expand...
Fair enough. "In cooperation with the government" would be more accurate ( ie lots of special exceptions etc given to the players and their support, state money etc).

The lockdown was widely tipped on the media( and on AFF 😊) before the press conference and was announced well before the evening session of tennis. Tennis Australia made the concious decision to let the crowd in when it could have acted more cautiously.
 
Meanwhile everyone's favourite player Tennys Sandgren and his team mate Koepfer are into the second round of the men's doubles today. Minimum pay $45,000 even if they lose. (Not sure if that is each or between them).

The Aus Open website is still showing a 'buy tickets' option even for today's matches 😯

I feel a bit sorry for De Minaur who would normally have got a boost from the crowd support for his AO matches - in saying that I am not implying that there should be a crowd for tonight's match. Or even that the match should be going ahead, but seeing that it is, I'll probably watch.

Interesting that the overall AO prize money is more evenly spread in 2021 than in 2020. Finalists get about 20-30% less this year, whereas the earlier losers this year are getting more than last year. $80m prize money in total.
 
RooFlyer said:
Fair enough. "In cooperation with the government" would be more accurate ( ie lots of special exceptions etc given to the players and their support, state money etc).

The lockdown was widely tipped on the media( and on AFF 😊) before the press conference and was announced well before the evening session of tennis. Tennis Australia made the concious decision to let the crowd in when it could have acted more cautiously.
Click to expand...

Sure as did thousands of businesses last night in Victoria. Don’t blame them, any of them for not. They all followed the health directive they were given.
 
jakeseven7 said:
Sure as did thousands of businesses last night in Victoria. Don’t blame them, any of them for not. They all followed the health directive they were given.
Click to expand...
Friend of mine posted on Facebook. Local florist flagged down the public bus and gave everyone on board a dozen roses because they were otherwise going in the bin due to cancelled orders.
 
Must...Fly! said:
Friend of mine posted on Facebook. Local florist flagged down the public bus and gave everyone on board a dozen roses because they were otherwise going in the bin due to cancelled orders.
Click to expand...
Lucky them to receive flowers a day before Valentines day!
 
Seat0B said:
Does anyone else find it incongruous that the tennis players are essential workers??
Click to expand...
Yes but I also lean towards the opinion that the State-wide lockdown is unnecessary. If the players (or their entourage with whom they have contact) had not been to any of the exposure sites, I feel there is practically no risk.

AO player are playing at least every 2nd day and usually practice on their off day/time.

The main problem is if tennis players think they are exempt even though they (or entourage) have been to an exposure site.

Maybe my non-local views are misplaced/misguided, but the list of Vic exposure sites so far doesn’t really ring to me as possible places an AO player (or entourage) would visit.
 
Greek player Michail Pervolarakis has revealed he’s tested positive for COVID-19 after travelling from Australia to South Africa.
 
Unlock 20,000 Bonus Points on just $10K in Business Expenses
Turn business expenses into Business Class! Process $10,000 through pay.com.au to score 20,000 bonus PayRewards Points and join 30k+ savvy business owners enjoying these benefits:

- Pay suppliers who don’t take Amex
- Max out credit card rewards—even on government payments
- Earn & Transfer PayRewards Points to 8+ top airline & hotel partners

AFF Supporters can remove this and all advertisements

jase05 said:
Greek player Michail Pervolarakis has revealed he’s tested positive for COVID-19 after travelling from Australia to South Africa.
Click to expand...
From the ATP round? Millman? Any dates like when he left Australia? He olayed doubles with Tsitsipas.
 
Last edited:
Apparently he left on Feb 9 so there is certainly time for him to have contracted it during travel. Presumably he flew via DXB or DOH
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Become an AFF member!

Join Australian Frequent Flyer (AFF) for free and unlock insider tips, exclusive deals, and global meetups with 65,000+ frequent flyers.

AFF members can also access our Frequent Flyer Training courses, and upgrade to Fast-track your way to expert traveller status and unlock even more exclusive discounts!

AFF forum abbreviations

Wondering about Y, J or any of the other abbreviations used on our forum?

Check out our guide to common AFF acronyms & abbreviations.

Recent Posts

Currently Active Users

Total: 134 (members: 15, guests: 119)
Back
Top