Australian Open major sponsor Kia supports mandatory player jabs

One of The Australian Open’s major sponsors says it supports ‘implementation’ of double vaccination ahead of the grand slam.

Kia Motors chief executive Damien Meredith Picture: AAP

The Australian Open’s major sponsor, Kia, has issued a strong statement supporting mandatory vaccinations for all tennis players competing in the January event.

It comes amid confusion about whether players who choose not to get vaccinated against Covid-19 will be allowed into Australia and permitted to play in the grand slam if they agree to complete two weeks of hotel quarantine.

Asked if the car manufacturer had a position on mandatory vaccination, Kia Australia chief operating officer Damien Meredith said: “On health advice and government direction, the implementation of double vaccination is paramount.

“Tennis Australia has an excellent relationship with all levels of government and Kia believes there will be a suitable outcome in regard to all involved during the Australian Open.”

Hours after Meredith issued his original statement to The ­Australian, he supplied a revised comment.

“If Tennis Australia and the relevant authorities deem a quarantine arrangement to be a suitable and safe plan, then Kia Australia supports this outcome,” he said.

Rafael Nadal of Spain and Kia's COO Damien Meredith pose during a Kia Key handover ceremony at Garden Square in Melbourne Park on January 13, 2016 Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty

“Kia Australia believes double vaccination is very important but isn’t taking a stance on whether or not players should be allowed to play. This is a decision for TA and the relevant government and health authorities.”

Kia’s sponsorship is reportedly worth $17m a year.

Other major sponsors of the tournament, including Rolex, declined to comment, while an Emirates spokeswoman was contacted but could not respond in time.

The federal government’s position appeared to be clear after Immigration Minister Alex Hawke last week told ABC radio everyone allowed into Australia, including tennis players, had to be double vaccinated.

“Our health advice is that when we open the borders everyone that comes to Australia will have to be double vaccinated,” he said.

But a leaked email to WTA players claimed those who were unvaccinated would be allowed to compete in the Australian Open after completing 14 days of hotel quarantine.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday maintained his hard-line stance that players who were not inoculated should not be allowed into the country.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews provides the daily Covid update at the Treasury Theatre in Melbourne. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

“To my mind, I can’t understand why the commonwealth government would let anybody in that was not an Australian (who) had not been double-dose vaxxed,” Andrews said.

“It wouldn’t make any sense to me if the commonwealth government (did anything) different to what the Immigration Minister made very clear the other day.”

Victorian chief health officer Brett Sutton said, when asked if unvaccinated players should be permitted to enter Australia, that risks posed by unvaccinated people could be mitigated.

“If someone is unvaccinated they can be managed through that formal quarantine system, as we have done for all international ­arrivals to date,” Sutton said. “We have got substantial community transmission in Victoria and being fully vaccinated is not a guarantee of not becoming infected or, indeed, not passing it on to someone else.”

The lack of clarity about arrangements for tennis players has forced Kooyong Classic organisers to cancel the tournament for a second year running due to the pandemic.

The decision is less than ideal for players hoping to get some match practice in before the Australian Open.

Without any official rulings on plans for vaccinated and unvaccinated players, Kooyong president Adam Cossar was left with little choice than to call off the Melbourne tournament.

“We are disappointed having to make this decision, but with the great deal of uncertainty over recent months about the arrangements that would be in place in January, it has not been possible to make the necessary plans to deliver the best and safest sporting and hospitality experience for our players, spectators, sponsors, broadcasters, members and event staff,” he said.

World No.1 Novak Djokovic, who refuses to reveal his vaccination status because it is a “private matter”, will miss the opportunity to defend his title if unvaccinated players are shut out .

Victorian Sports Minister Martin Pakula noted there had been discussions with relevant parties over what the situation would look like for unvaccinated and vaccinated players but nothing had been set in stone.