In a massive boost to the season’s opening Grand Slam, the Australian Open organisers on Saturday said that daily spectators of between 25,000 and 30,000 will be allowed in the park. The event’s COVID-safe plan has paved the way for spectators coming and witnessing the matches. While a daily crowd of 30,000 will be allowed for the first eight days of the Slam, 25,000 will be allowed from the start of the quarter-finals.

As per reports, aggressive restrictions on incoming travel have helped Australia keep the coronavirus largely at bay, making it one of the few places in the world where fans can still attend sports events.

Victoria state’s Sports Minister Martin Pakula said it equated to some 390,000 spectators across the two-week spectacle — around half the attendance of last year.

“That means on Rod Laver Arena, as we get to the end of the tournament, we’ll have an incredible atmosphere, not that different to the atmosphere we’ve seen in all the Opens in years past,” he said.

“It will not be the same as the last few years, but it will be the most significant international event with crowds that the world has seen for many, many months.”

Eight positive cases were detected from the more than 1,000 players, coaches and officials who flew in on 17 charter flights.

Players are gradually emerging from their lockdown with the first of six ATP and WTA tournaments due to begin at Melbourne Park on Sunday ahead of the Australian Open starting on February 8.

Tournament chief Craig Tiley said it had been a huge logistical exercise.

“We hope to have set the stage and the example for the rest of the world about the possibility of being able to do this,” he said.