Australian Open to be an Australia Day-free zone
There will be no Australia Day celebrations at the Australian Open, with Tennis Australia citing “differing views” for the snub.
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The Australian Open will be an Australia Day-free zone, with Tennis Australia to ignore Thursday’s public holiday due to “differing views’’ on the date of the national celebration.
The Open organisers have this year gone to great lengths to support social issues and equality, with a three-day “Glam Slam” for LGBTI+ players and a Pride Day this Friday.
A First Nations Day was staged on the first Wednesday of the tournament to celebrate Australia’s Indigenous history, and an All Abilities Day will take place on Tuesday.
Two dedicated days to promote major sponsors Emirates and Kia were also scheduled as part of the tournament.
But nothing has been planned to celebrate Australia Day this week, with Tennis Australia confirming the day would instead focus on celebrating women’s tennis.
“We are mindful there are differing views, and at the Australian Open we are inclusive and respectful of all,’’ Tennis Australia said in a statement.
“We acknowledge the historical significance and deep spiritual connection our First Peoples have to this land, and recognise this with a Welcome to Country on stadium screens prior to both the day and night session daily.’’
The closest thing to Australia Day being recognised at the tennis on Thursday will be the national anthem playing before the night session on Rod Laver Arena.
It comes amid a “campaign by big corporates along with schools and the media” that had contributed to a decline in support for Australia Day being celebrated on January 26, according to John Roskam, executive director of the Institute for Public Affairs.
In polling released on Monday, the IPA found that while 62 per cent of Australians still supported celebrating the national day on the 26th, growing numbers of young people were sceptical.
The number of Australians who support the date staying the same has declined yearly.
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