VOA慢速英语2021--Djokovic Admits 'Error' on COVID, Australian Visa

 

Serbian Novak Djokovic said he made an "error of judgment¹" when he had COVID-19 last month but did not isolate². The world's top tennis player also blamed his support team for a mistake in his Australian visa.

Djokovic is chasing a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam victory at the Australian Open. He is currently in a three-way tie for Grand Slam wins with Spain's Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer of Switzerland.

On Monday, Djokovic won a legal action about his visa which permitted him to stay in Australia. His lawyers told the court that the Serbian tennis star received a medical pardon, or exemption³, from vaccination⁴ following his positive COVID test on December 16.

Australia has one of the world's most restricted visa policy linked to COVID-19. The country's immigration officials say they are still examining Djokovic's medical exemption. They can cancel his visa for health and safety reasons.

In his visa request, Djokovic declared that he had not traveled anywhere in the 14 days before his arrival in Australia. But he was seen in public in Spain and Serbia during that period.

Djokovic said in social media posts that his support team was responsible for the incorrect information on his visa. "This was a human error and certainly not deliberate," he wrote, adding, "my agent sincerely apologizes for the administrative⁵ mistake."

Giving wrong information on Australian entry documents is a criminal offense⁶. It could bring jail time, a fine and visa cancellation⁷.

Error of judgment

Djokovic also had to answer questions on his public appearances around the time of his coronavirus infection.

On December 17, Djokovic shared photos on Twitter of a ceremony in Serbia where he was the guest of honor. He also attended a tennis event with children in Belgrade without wearing a face covering. The next day, the infected tennis star met with reporters from the French newspapers L'Equipe.

Djokovic denied media reports that he knew he was infected when he attended the tennis event with children.

"I was asymptomatic and felt good, and I had not received the notification of a positive PCR result until after that event," he said.

As for the meeting with L'Equipe, he wrote, "This was an error of judgment." He added that he should have postponed⁸ the event.

Serbia generally requires those who are infected with COVID-19 to isolate for eight days.

Arrogant⁹, selfish

Many Australians are angered that Djokovic has been exempted¹⁰ from vaccination so he can play in the Australian Open. Australia has spent more time in lockdown than any other country. And currently there are a record number of COVID cases in Australia.

Dr. David Edgar objected to the exemption in a letter to Melbourne's The Age newspaper. He called Djokovic an "ignorant, arrogant, selfish individual who has no good reason to not be vaccinated¹²?"

Two Australian reporters from Seven West Media also condemned¹³ Djokovic while they were live on television. The reporters did not know that the camera was on at the time.

If Djokovic is permitted to stay and play in the Open, there might be anger from tennis players, too.

The Association of Tennis Professionals says 97 of the top 100 male players are vaccinated. And, Tennys Sandgren, the world's number 93 player did not take part in the Australian Open because he did not meet the two-shot vaccination requirement.

Marton Fucsovics lost to Djokovic at Wimbledon last year. He told Hungarian media, "(The) rules were outlined months ago, namely that everyone should vaccinate¹¹ themselves, and Djokovic didn't." He added, "From this point of view, I don't think he would have the right to be here."

World number 140 Joao Sousa, is trying to qualify for the main draw this week. He said it was difficult for other players to accept that Djokovic could play without being vaccinated.

"It is a bit selfish from him to arrive here as the only player unvaccinated," Sousa told Portuguese¹⁴ news site Bolamarela. "He is finding a way around those rules."

Words in This Story

error - n. a wrong action or statement

positive - adj. showing the presence of a particular ger, condition or substance

deliberate - adj. done on purpose

arrogant - adj. having or showing attitude that they are better or more important than other people

selfish - adj. having or showing concern only for yourself

1 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

2 isolate   

vt.使孤立，隔离

参考例句：

• Do not isolate yourself from others.不要把自己孤立起来。
• We should never isolate ourselves from the masses.我们永远不能脱离群众。

3 exemption   

n.豁免，免税额，免除

参考例句：

• You may be able to apply for exemption from local taxes.你可能符合资格申请免除地方税。
• These goods are subject to exemption from tax.这些货物可以免税。

4 vaccination   

n.接种疫苗，种痘

参考例句：

• Vaccination is a preventive against smallpox.种痘是预防天花的方法。
• Doctors suggest getting a tetanus vaccination every ten years.医生建议每十年注射一次破伤风疫苗。

5 administrative   

adj.行政的，管理的

参考例句：

• The administrative burden must be lifted from local government.必须解除地方政府的行政负担。
• He regarded all these administrative details as beneath his notice.他认为行政管理上的这些琐事都不值一顾。

6 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。

7 cancellation   

n.删除，取消

参考例句：

• Heavy seas can cause cancellation of ferry services.海上风浪太大，可能须要取消渡轮服务。
• Her cancellation of her trip to Paris upset our plan.她取消了巴黎之行打乱了我们的计划。

8 postponed   

vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发）

参考例句：

• The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
• The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。

9 arrogant   

adj.傲慢的，自大的

参考例句：

• You've got to get rid of your arrogant ways.你这骄傲劲儿得好好改改。
• People are waking up that he is arrogant.人们开始认识到他很傲慢。

10 exempted   

使免除[豁免]( exempt的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• His bad eyesight exempted him from military service. 他因视力不好而免服兵役。
• Her illness exempted her from the examination. 她因病而免试。

11 vaccinate   

vt.给…接种疫苗；种牛痘

参考例句：

• Local health officials then can plan the best times to vaccinate people.这样，当地的卫生官员就可以安排最佳时间给人们接种疫苗。
• Doctors vaccinate us so that we do not catch smallpox.医生给我们打预防针使我们不会得天花。

12 vaccinated   

[医]已接种的，种痘的，接种过疫菌的

参考例句：

• I was vaccinated against tetanus. 我接种了破伤风疫苗。
• Were you vaccinated against smallpox as a child? 你小时候打过天花疫苗吗？

13 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

14 Portuguese   

n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语

参考例句：

• They styled their house in the Portuguese manner.他们仿照葡萄牙的风格设计自己的房子。
• Her family is Portuguese in origin.她的家族是葡萄牙血统。