The Australian Open, one of the four major tennis tournaments, kicked off on the 8th.
Due to the influence of the new coronavirus, the start was delayed by 3 weeks.
The organizers of the tournament introduced thorough infection control measures, but some athletes could not practice outside and were forced to make difficult advance adjustments.
Confusion before the opening due to positive person confirmation
At this tournament, the local state government and the organizers introduced thorough infection control measures such as requiring strict isolation of athletes entering from overseas, but there are some differences between athletes who can practice outside and athletes who cannot. Some players complained that it was "unfair".
Approximately 1,200 athletes and related parties entered Australia from mid-January on multiple charter planes prepared by the tournament, and three of them were confirmed to be positive.
As a result, 72 athletes on the same plane were not allowed to go out at all during the two-week quarantine at the hotel, while other athletes were limited to five hours a day for practice. It was allowed to go out in a new environment.
The 72 athletes were able to go out two weeks later, but after that, the staff at the quarantine hotel became positive, and the athletes staying at the hotel opened four days later. I was forced to wait again on February 4th.
Kei Nishikori of Japan, who was unable to go out twice, said in an interview with NHK, "It's not painful, but it's mentally exhausting. It was an unlucky expedition, and I wish I had practiced in the United States. "There is," he said. Regarding the local response, he said, "I think Australia has 100 infection control points."
At the Australian Open, where the turmoil continued until just before the opening, the difficulty of balancing "infection control" and "competition fairness" became apparent.
Former champion who lost the first game "Isolated affected"
Some players who participated in the Australian Open said that their strict isolation for two weeks before the tournament as a countermeasure against the new coronavirus affected their play.
For the tournament, athletes were required to be quarantined at the hotel for two weeks after entering Australia, while they were allowed to go out for up to five hours a day for practice, but there were positives for the new Corona on the same charter plane. About 70 people were not allowed to go out at all, and there were voices saying that the competition environment was not fair.
Germany's Angelique Kerber, who was not allowed to go out, was the former world No. 1 in the women's singles and was a strong man who won the 2016 Australian Open, but in the first round on the 8th, he was in the bottom of the ranking. The players took 9 games in a row from the start and lost 0-6, 4-6 set count 0-2 without being able to recover.
After the match, Kerber said, "Severe quarantine definitely affected play. During the two weeks of quarantine, I stayed positive and did my best, but in the first match of the four major tournaments with players who were able to go out during the same period. I especially feel the impact when I play against them. I haven't hit the ball for two weeks, so I couldn't regain the good rhythm I used to have. "
"Australia is very well controlled and has a nearly normal life outside, but if I knew I could be quarantined in a situation where I couldn't practice for two weeks, I would reconsider my participation in the competition. It may have been, "he said in his complicated heart as an athlete.
Australian Government Containing Infection with Strict Measures
In principle, the Australian government has banned foreigners from entering the country since March last year in order to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.
Australians returning from abroad and foreigners who are specially permitted to enter the country for work reasons are required to be quarantined for two weeks at a designated hotel and prohibited from going out to prevent viruses from being brought in from overseas. , We are taking thorough measures.
Strict movement restrictions have often been introduced in the country, and when the largest city, Sydney, was confirmed to be infected by non-immigrants for the first time in about two weeks at the end of last year, other states continued to move people from Sydney. It was banned in Sydney and required two weeks of quarantine for those who were forced to visit.
Through these strict measures, the spread of infection has been suppressed to a certain extent, and the number of newly infected people per day is 10 or less in the whole country, which is about 1/70 of last August, which was the highest. I have.
Regarding the mandatory quarantine of players entering the Australian Open at this Australian Open, the Prime Minister of Victoria, Melbourne, Andrews emphasized the idea of "not treating players specially", and the infection spread from the public. Many people say that it was a necessary measure to prevent this.
Economic effect behind the event
While the infection of the new coronavirus has not been resolved worldwide, the reason why the organizers of the tournament decided to hold the event is the great economic effect.
According to the Australian Tennis Association, which hosts the Australian Open, last year's tournament attracted a record 812,000 people from home and abroad, with an economic impact of around A $ 387 million on Melbourne's Victorian state. , The Japanese yen has risen to over 31 billion yen.
In addition, the local accommodation and food industry has created nearly 1800 jobs in total.
The tournament was broadcast worldwide and was watched daily by more than 900 million households.
In a survey of Victorians, 99% of the respondents said that it is important for Victoria to hold an annual convention, and that the convention is known internationally in Melbourne. 93% of the respondents answered, "I will raise it," and the majority of the respondents said that the tournament contributed to improving the image of the local community.
In order to prevent the spread of the new corona infection, the Australian government has banned foreigners from entering the country in principle since March last year, and while the tourism industry has been hit hard, the state government has decided to hold the Australian Open and recover the local economy. I have an aim to connect to.
Giving up on-site watching TV watching
At the Australian Open this year, due to the influence of the new coronavirus, there are many people in Australia who give up watching the game locally and support it on TV.
Of these, at the tennis club in Sydney, the largest city, many members watch the tournament every year at the venue in Melbourne, but as a countermeasure against the new corona, about half of the spectators are held down and infections occur locally. If it expands, there is a risk that domestic movement will be restricted, so many people are giving up watching the game locally.
Therefore, we decided to hold a TV watching party at the clubhouse during the tournament, and on the night of the 8th, about 20 people watched the game on the first day.
A 27-year-old man who serves as a coach said, "I'm glad that the season started safely. I was most concerned about the virus being brought in from overseas, but I'm so worried because the government seems to be able to suppress the infection so far. I don't think so. "
A 41-year-old man who belongs to the club said, "I watch the game every year at the venue, but I am not as excited as usual because I can not go to this place. It is important to take thorough measures against infection, but all the players are strong in it. It may be difficult to get it out, "he said with a complicated feeling.
Also, a Japanese woman in her 50s said, "I gave up going because it would be difficult if the infection spread in Melbourne. I think it would have been difficult for the players who had been quarantined for two weeks to stay motivated. "I was motivated by the players.