June 22, 2020 – As more infections emerge from the Adria Tour tennis tournament, some important questions from a news headline six days ago.
Premier League football returned to England a few days ago, much to the relief of the billions of fans all over the world.
The new normal meant empty stadia, of course, which must be a huge financial strain on the big clubs.But safety first, and all that.
Meanwhile, in Croatia, which has done an outstanding job in containing coronavirus thus far, with just 2,317 cases in total, 107 deaths and 68 active cases, things are a little more relaxed.
Global tennis superstar Novak Djokovic was in Zadar with the Adria Tour, a fantastic event in normal times, and great PR for Zadar. Such a good PR event that Prime Minister Plenkovic dropped in – with two weeks to a general election, one doesn’t get better photo ops than this.
(Photo credit Marko Stefanek, Total Waterpolo)
Unlike the Premier League, there were plenty of fans.
All was fine.
Until…
Adria Tour Final in Zadar Canceled After Dimitrov Tests Positive for Coronavirus
Then…
Borna Coric Among Players Positive for Coronavirus at Adria Tour in Zadar
(Borna Coric, who has since tested positive for COVID-19, surrounded by fans at Adria Tour – photo credit Marko Stefanek, Total Waterpolo)
And now for something VERY strange. A report from UBI Tennis, dated June 16, 2020 – SIX days ago:
ATPAdria Tour: Djokovic And The Other Players May Have Been In Contact With COVID-19
A Serbian basketball player that met Novak Djokovic last week in Belgrade tested positive for COVID-19. Thiem, Zverev and Dimitrov could have been exposed to the virus as well. The next Adria Tour event in Zadar is going ahead as planned
A great PR opportunity for sure. What is more important to the Croatian authorities at the moment – health, tourism, the economy… or re-election?
It is 13 days until the Croatian general election.
