Regardless of who made a mistake at the visa or the vaccination waiver or whatever, the fact on Friday for men’s tennis No. 1 Novak Djokovic changed into spending one of his vital spiritual vacations in an Australian detention inn operating on his undertaking towards deportation. He has been receiving calls from Serbia, along with from his dad and mom and the president, hoping to enhance his spirits.
A priest from the Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church in Melbourne sought permission from the immigration government to go to the nine-time Australian Open champion to rejoice in Orthodox Christmas. “Our Christmas is wealthy in lots of customs and it’s so vital that a priest visits him,” the church`s dean, Milorad Locard, informed the Australian Broadcasting Corp. “The complete aspect around this occasion is appalling. That he has to spend Christmas in detention … it’s miles unthinkable.”
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What is actually happening?
Djokovic’s supporters gathered outside the Park Hotel, which used to house refugees and asylum seekers near downtown Melbourne, waving flags and banners. They mixed with human rights advocates who were there more to highlight the plight for other longer-term people in detention, many who’ve complained about their living conditions and exposure to the coronavirus in the pandemic.
A day after both the prime minister and the home affairs minister said it was the responsibility of the individual to have their documents in order, it seemed to dawn on people locally that whatever mistakes happened in the process, one of the highest-profile athletes in the world was in detention. Djokovic flew to Australia confident his paperwork was in order, given he’d been approved by the Victoria state government for a medical exemption.
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That same evidence didn’t comply with the Australian government’s regulations. So, instead of preparing to defend his Australian Open title, and bid to win a men’s-record 21st major title, he’s preparing for a court battle in the Federal Circuit Court on Monday to challenge his visa cancellation and deportation. Attention is moving away from Djokovic’s vaccination status and onto questions about how the nine-time Australian Open champion, a regular visitor to Melbourne, could have wound up in this situation.
Reuters with additional input by GVS