In North Melbourne, somewhere in Australia, it houses a controversial building that was once a hotel and is now used as a shelter for Corona patients landing in the country. Until recently, this “hotel” did not bother anyone but the residents of the area – but last night (Thursday), with the surprising arrival of Novak Djokovic, it became the world-famous “hotel”.
The world number one, as mentioned, arrived at the hotel on Thursday morning after the hearing in his case was postponed to Monday. As you may recall, Australian immigration authorities revoked Djokovic’s visa and demanded his deportation to Serbia, but he appealed the decision and was transferred to the same “hotel” called the “Park”.
Until 2020, the “park” was a four-star hotel with 120 guest rooms, and with the outbreak of the Corona plague, it was converted to what is known in Israel as the “Corona Hotel” – but with inhumane conditions, according to local media. A few weeks ago, a fire broke out there that attracted attention, after which it was claimed that there was not enough ventilation in the place and the food given to the detained immigrants comes with worms.
Mehdi Ali, an immigrant who spent nine years in detention in Australia, including in places like this, called the place a “prison” and criticized: Djokovic. ”
Djokovic’s mother also referred to the “hotel” where he was last night: “They hold him like he’s a prisoner, it’s just not fair, it’s inhuman. I hope he’s strong, we try to be strong and give him strength to move on. The place where he stays is terrible. It’s a kind of migration hotel – if you can call it a hotel. There are insects there, he’s so dirty and the food is just awful. What can I say? They do not want to give him any chance to move to a better hotel or house “We hope it will last somehow.”
Meanwhile, a group of fans and another group of activists began to demonstrate outside the same Corona Hotel, with Ali, Ali’s country of origin, reporting a “decline in Australia’s reputation following the whole saga”.
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