Djokovic: Australian authorities would send him to the ‘worm hotel’

Novak Djokovic is the number one tennis player in the world, with millions of dollars in prizes, but this year, pending his entry into Australia being resolved, he may have to stay in Melbourne at a hotel known for housing detained migrants and for food full of worms.

Customs agents withdrew the nine-time Australian Open champion’s entry visa for failing to provide sufficient evidence that he is fully vaccinated against it. COVID-19 or that you have a valid medical exemption.

While waging a legal battle to overturn the decision and defend his title in a tournament with just ten days to go, the 34-year-old Serb is most likely staying at the Park Hotel in Melbourne, although authorities have declined to confirm this.

The dark brown brick and concrete building is a long way from the residence you Djokovic enjoyed last year, when restrictions by the COVID-19 players were forced to train in their hotel rooms and on balconies while in quarantine.

Then, Djokovic He reportedly sent a letter to the Australian tennis authorities complaining about the luxury hotel and demanding private residences with tennis courts and better food.

This year, however, everything indicates that he is in a hotel that houses some 32 detained migrants, from which no one can enter or leave, except for the staff.

The Park Hotel became known in December when a fire in the building forced refugees and asylum seekers to evacuate. One person was hospitalized for smoke inhalation, although there were no fatalities.

A week later, the asylum seekers posted online images showing the food they had been served, allegedly full of worms, alongside moldy pieces of bread.

In October, 21 men reportedly contracted Covid-19 at the scene, the subject of recurring protests.

“Sad”

Mehdi Ali, one of the detainees, told AFP that he was saddened that Djokovic may be detained there.

“The media will talk more about us, the whole world probably, which is very sad, just because Djokovic would be here for a few days.”, he claimed.

Almost 180 people have been released from detention at the Park Hotel in the last year.

Most of those who remain would have been brought to Australia to receive medical attention since his detention abroad, on the small island of Nauru, in the Pacific, and on Manus Island, in Papua New Guinea.

Previously the hotel was called Rydges and in 2020 it served as a quarantine center for covid-19, which they accused of being at the origin of a wave of infections in the city.

While Djokovic awaiting his fate, several dozen of his followers gathered in a nearby park playing music and protesting his arrest.

“Do you know how I feel? I feel sad”Gordana said. And I feel like I have lost part of my heart because of Djokovic. Djokovic is like my son “.

Outside the building, a score of activists also protested against the immigration policies of Australia who want to prevent the arrival of people by boat.

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