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International

Bubbles, Spectators and Full Prize Money: Australian Open 2021 Hopes to be Pioneers of Safe Grand Slams

The Australian Open tournament director, Craig Tiley, announced plans to create five biosecure bubbles six weeks before the tournament for players arriving in the country. The bubbles will eliminate the need for players to go through the mandatory quarantine protocols which deny them practice time.
Newsclick Sports
12 Aug 2020
Australian Open 2021 plans to allow spectators in

Australian Open organisers are hopeful that they will be able to allow 400,00 spectators -- half of the last edition -- to watch the action in January next year.

Organisers of the Australian Open have revealed specialised safety protocols to ensure the season’s opening Grand Slam takes place in January next year with minimal disturbances. Australian Open director, Craig Tiley said that five bio-secure bubbles will be created six weeks before the 2021 edition to help players avoid regular quarantine measures when they enter the country. 

He further added that organisers are positive about holding the event in its regular January slot with spectators in the stadium. They also hope to award them players full prize money.

“We’re going to open our bio bubble from the first of December and players can come at any time,” Tiley said. “When the players arrive, our expectation is they’re not going to be in a hotel for 14 days like the current requirements are. We’ll have an exemption within this biosecure bubble.” The biosecure bubbles will be in the cities of Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne under the guidance of a ‘global expert’.

Also Read | Indian Football Team to Remain on Ice as FIFA Postpones 2022 World Cup Qualifiers

"We've said every year that we're the 'happy slam'. But now we're saying we're the 'very safe and happy slam,” Tiley added.

Apart from player safety and creating bio secure zones, Tiley is also hopeful of welcoming around 400,000 spectators at Melbourne Park for the 2021 tournament. Despite a recent outbreak of cases in Melbourne, Australian Open organisers hope to organise the event strategically for spectators, enforcing effective social distancing and make wearing masks mandatory. 

"We've established a strategy and an operational plan for all our fans and how they will be positioned around the site,” Tiley said.

Tennis Australia’s (TA) primary source of revenue comes from the Australian Open, a tournament which has been taking place since 1972.The last edition, according to Tiley’s comments, had a direct impact of A$387 million ($277 million) on Melbourne. 

Also Read | Tokyo 2020: The Wait Begins Now, For a Better Games

TA experts are expecting turnover and revenue to witness a decline by a double-digit percentage for the next edition. However, they have decided not to reduce the  A$71 million ($50 million) prize money. 

"I'm optimistic and positive that we'll have an event and it'll be in Melbourne," said Tiley. "It will have some crowds and it'll be the beginning of kind of getting back to the way we were."

In case they are forced to reschedule like French Open organisers, Tiley said a winter tournament was extremely unlikely, with March-April or September-October possible windows for play.

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Australian Open
Australian Open 2021
Australian Open 2021 safety plans
Grand Slam
Craig Tiley
Tennis Australia
covid-19 and sports
ITF
International Tennis Federation
Grand Slam Tennis
Association of Tennis Professionals
ATP Tour
WTA
Women’s Tennis Association
Roger Federer
Rafael Nadal
Novak Djokovic
Dominic Thiem
Serena Williams
Caroline Wozniacki
Naomi Osaka
Sofia Kenin
Wimbledon
US Open
Roland Garros
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