Alex Sendegeya is the only Brit scheduled to take part here, with the draw taking place later today. One big story emerging concerns an Israeli player failing to gain a visa for the tournament:
yeah! damn those evil tennis players. they're the scum of the earth. why can't they be more principled and ethical like those notoriously fine and upstandingly moral corporations and individuals that work in say, the financial services industry huh?
Is that rude? apologies if so, let's be friends. (is this where i put the sardonic smiley face at the end?) sure it's all pro bono work for Amnesty or something right?
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Data I post, opinions I offer, 'facts' I assert, are almost certainly all stupidly wrong.
Actually, vis-a-vis a 16-year old boy visiting Venezuela, I was only thinking of personal safety ...
Here's the FCO advice:
Political rallies are planned in Caracas and other cities for 10 January 2013, the day of President Chavez inauguration, which he will not attend. The governments main rally has been called from 10am near Miraflores Palace in central Caracas. Some opposition figures have called for other demonstrations. Political demonstrations may take place with little warning and can turn violent, including the use of guns. Take care in Caracas and other major towns, and avoid large public gatherings. The police and National Guard (Guardia Nacional) are heavily armed, including when involved in crowd control situations.
The incidence of street crime in Venezuela is high. Armed muggings and express kidnappings are a regular occurrence. Resistance to robbery has resulted in victims being shot dead. You should exercise caution at all times, especially when arriving in, and travelling around, Venezuela.
But no offence taken. And if you think that people who work in financial services are uniquely immoral, you've been overdosing on the Daily Mail.
(Mummy, he hit me first ...)
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"Where Ratty leads - the rest soon follow" (Professor Henry Brubaker - The Institute of Studies)
For completeness Alex also lost in the doubles and Valeria Patiuk belatedly received a visa in time for her second round match (she had a bye in the first)
