Australian Open Rally for Relief Announced for Sunday

Good stuff. Roger really got this thing going with his exhibitions, now we have a few great ambassadors in our sport.

January 13th, 2011 at 12:30 am

@Tennis X staff

Is there a Rally for relief website to donate ? Can you folks keep an eye out for that?

Tx

January 13th, 2011 at 1:00 am

Sorry guys, but I’m going to inject a note of reality here. Australia is an extremely wealthy country, it really doesn’t need sports charity eg heard on the news this a.m. 250 people have died in a flash flood in Brazil. If the government of Australia can’t look after and adequately recompense its citizens, then really these tennis stars should be organising a boycott.

January 13th, 2011 at 2:35 am

Margot, when tragedies strike like the floods in either brazil or Brisbane, we all do our parts to bring it to the worlds attention so that support can be provided where necessary. I think federer et al are throwing this benefit because they are already in Australia and their efforts would have a larger impact. No government can fully bring the livelihood of it’s citizens back to normal following disasters such as these which is why we all come together to show support for each other regardless. I’m australian and am proud to say that when disasters strike throghout the world, it is in our spirit to help out. The austrlian government provided billions of dollars when the boxing day tsunamis hit Thailand/Indonesia. We aren’t asking for help, but the fact that it is being offered by high profile tennis players goes to show their generosity and compassion.

January 13th, 2011 at 3:36 am

For those who would like to support those who’ve lost everything in Brisbane, donations can be made directly to the Queensland government at http://www.qld.gov.au and follow the links, cheers xox

January 13th, 2011 at 3:40 am

Hi Charles, as an Australian I appreciate your point of view, believe me.Anyone involved in a devastating event like this flood, has all my sympathy, but my point stands: to those that have, more shall be given. People living and dieing in unspeakable conditions in parts of the globe far away from our Western eyes, do so largely unnoticed.
Perhaps the tournament itself could give a large percentage of their large profit?

January 13th, 2011 at 6:09 am

I think whenever our sporting heros – because of their high profiles – can do something to bring any natural disaster to the forefront, and they have the ability to make people listen – then I am all for it.

It’s just awful that this is happening, but Margot is right. This is happening everyday around the world in third world countries. And now Brazil. Just seen a woman holding her dog (which she had to let go), in a flood hit locality. It’s just horrendous. Horrendous in Australia, Brazil, China, South east Asia, everywhere.

But you know. Anything that the players can do which will add to the recovery, then it should be done. Doesnt matter where the money comes from and if the country is rich or poor. I would hope that our ‘neighbours’ would help the UK, if we were in trouble – whether we were rich or poor.

Every country should be involved, we are all neighbours, this really is just unbelievable.

The England Cricketeers are doing the same – led by Kevin Pietersen. Good on him.

January 13th, 2011 at 12:11 pm

Nothing would be done anywhere in the world if everyone stalled to consider whether something else more important could be done elsewhere. Charity and fundraising are not zero-sum games. Cancel this fundraiser and all that money would not shift magically to a place you consider more important. It would go back into people’s pockets.

January 13th, 2011 at 3:25 pm