In the news program of the Dutch public television, Niewsuur, it was recently announced that tomorrow, Wednesday, February 3, the scenario will be announced, according to which the 65th Eurovision Song Contest will take place, on May 18, 20 and 22! Read more
A spokesman for the Rotterdam hoteliers ‘association told the Dutch media that 3,000 hotel rooms in the city were being reserved by the countries’ missions, always in consultation with public television, as well as the EBU and organizers. This practically means that the scenario that will be announced in a few weeks and based on which Eurovision 2021 will take place, will be B or C.
The EBU announced four scenarios in early autumn for the 65th Eurovision Song Contest. Each of them includes different measures, depending on the epidemiological data, that will prevail during the period of the event. From a contest as we know it from previous years, which is scenario A, to a contest via live on tape videos, as Junior Eurovision 2020 was conducted and is scenario D, there are various restrictions and precautions that will allow the contest to return to our TV screens next May.
According to Roel Dusseldorp, a spokesman for the Rotterdam hoteliers, the city’s hotel units, in consultation with the organizers, have 3,000 rooms reserved for the needs of delegations and accredited journalists, a much smaller number than usual. In fact, Mr. Dusseldorp also states that there is a possibility to add additional rooms, in case the presence of the public in the stands of the Ahoy Arena will be allowed.
The above is a clear indication that the scenario that will eventually be chosen will be B or C. In both cases we have a contest with several precautions. Smaller delegations, much fewer journalists at the press center, etc.
So be patient until the beginning of February when we will know how this year’s Eurovision song contest will take place!
We remind you that Eurovision 2021 is scheduled for May 18-20-22.
At the height of the second wave of the pandemic, the executive producer of Eurovision 2021, Sietse Bakker, reveals via Twitter that the decision on the scenario according to which the contest will be held next May, will be announced in 4 -5 weeks from now.
Mooi stuk in de @telegraaf! De scenario’s liggen klaar, over 4 á 5 weken gaan we beginnen met knopen doorhakken. #songfestival #openup pic.twitter.com/Yoy3650gsh
— Sietse Bakker (@SietseBakker) January 2, 2021
Both the EBU and the Dutch organizers are determined to hold the Eurovision Song Contest in 2021, which for the first time since 1956, did not take place last year. In September, the four possible scenarios were announced, according to which the contest will be held, depending of course on the course of the pandemic.
According to their latest reports in the Dutch press, what seems to be the most likely, is scenario C. In other words, all the contestants should appear live from the Ahoy Arena and there should be as little audience as possible, both in delegations, as well as in the press center. Of course, if in some countries travel restrictions apply, then they will compete through the live on tape video, which all broadcasters are required to deliver by the end of March. However, the intention of the organizers is that even if the presence of accredited journalists and the public is not allowed at all, there should be a live presence of the artists, a scenario that is between C and D.
By the beginning of February at the latest, according to what Sietse Bakker posted, we will know how this year’s Eurovision Song Contest will take place!
Which scenario do you think will eventually prevail?
Many interesting things were said by the executive supervisor of the Eurovision song contest, Martin Österdahl, about the course of the preparation of the next contest, even under the special conditions imposed by the pandemic all over the world.
As of September, the EBU has announced four possible scenarios for Eurovision 2021. Four scenarios that depend on the course of the pandemic and the prevailing epidemiological data.
Martin Österdahl reveals that the most likely scenarios for the 65th Eurovision Song Contest are B and C. That is, a contest with social distancing, masks, rapid tests and fewer fans in the arena and journalists at the press center. Unfortunately, he is not able to rule out scenario D at this time, although he considers it less likely.
We can not predict with the crystal ball, the situation with the pandemic is difficult. What we can say at the moment is that scenario A, ie a regular Eurovision Song Contest, is not possible. However, Scenario B or C is more likely, ie a contest with more or less social distance and some artists may need to make use of the videotape. In the worst case, we will be forced to do the show as in Junior Eurovision, with all delegations competing with videotaped appearances.
The presence of the fans on the stands of the Ahoy Arena should not be taken for granted. Martin Österdahl emphasizes that the presence of the audience will depend on the decisions of the Dutch government and the measures that will apply during the competition period.
The situation is dynamic and constantly changing. We are not entirely sure how things will be in May, but it seems that the space that will be available in the arena will be limited. Fans are very important for Eurovision, but let’s not forget that the contest is primarily a TV show. It is possible to make a show even without an audience and we will do it if necessary, but we would definitely like to have the audience inside.
Another topical issue is the mandatory vaccine, for those who wish to take part in such big events as Eurovision.
We are following developments regarding vaccines. There is no such thing in our regulations at the moment, but it is something we are seeing up close.
As announced from the beginning, the final decisions on the scenario that will eventually be used in the conduct of Eurovision 2021 will be taken at the beginning of the year, most likely by February.
It seems that at the beginning of the new year, critical decisions will be made for our preparations.
How do you judge all the above? Which scenario do you think the EBU will follow in the run-up to Eurovision 2021?
In an interview with the French-speaking Swiss public television RTS, Nadja Burkhardt, who is in charge of EBU events, referred to the conduct of Eurovision 2021. According to what she reveals, the organizers are in discussions with all parties involved, while considering every possible parameter , having come up with two basic scenarios for the next competition. Read more
Despite the information we had that EBU was considering moving to the contest in August, shortly before an official announcement, Eurovision 2020 was canceled, with no further information on what will happen to this year’s entries.
The announcement shows that Rotterdam will once again be the host city of the competition in 2021. Unfortunately it is the first time in the 65-year history of the Eurovision competition that the annual Europe Music Festival will not take place.
An official statement from the European Broadcasting Union on the #Eurovision Song Contest 2020. pic.twitter.com/b3h7akxvpF
— Eurovision Song Contest (@Eurovision) March 18, 2020
On the official website of the contest there are some questions and answers that came up after the cancellation.
-Of course, it is also planned to have a refund for those who purchased the ticket.
-Rotterdam seems to remain as a host city in 2021 as well.
-The topic of the songs and the artists and whether these will be the participations of countries and time will be discussed in the Reference Group.
-The EBU explains that it was finally unable to transfer it at a later date, as they are unsure whether it will be safe for all delegations, journalists and fans.
-They rejected the idea of a non-public contest, as this would remove the main component of the event, the live public participation in the arena.
-The dates of the competition in 2021 will be announced in due time.
We look forward to the next announcements, which will clarify all the details!
Slovenia’s Public Television Managing Director Natalija Gorscak unveiled EBU’s Plan B for the 65th Eurovision Song Contest. According to Gorscak, if the pandemic continues to spread, then this year’s contest is likely to be held by contestants interpreting their entries from their countries of origin in a television studio.
“At the EBU they are preparing as if Eurovision is normal. I am personally in touch with the administration, which has a plan B in which we will be more involved [the national broadcasters]. In Slovenia, this is supposed to be done in the TV studio.
If this scenario goes ahead, each member will broadcast their participation from a television studio. That’s what they think. Everything is under discussion, but in principle it acts as if Eurovision was in Rotterdam [as originally planned]”
Natalija Gorscak’s statements confirm the previous announcement by the EBU that any official announcements on the issue will take place in mid-April.
This proposed Plan B will be reminiscent of the EBU plan for Russia’s participation in the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest. Prior to the competition in Kiev, Russia’s Yulia Samoylova was banned from entering Ukraine due to her previous appearance in the disputed region of Ukraine. Crimea. EBU offered Russia the opportunity to appear in the competition using a satellite link between a Russian studio and the main arena in Kiev. However, Russia preferred to withdraw from the competition.
However, it is more likely that the plan the EBU is considering this year will include video performance rather than live performances, as this would even have technical problems for the EBU. In addition, it proposes that the EBU will make every effort to make the contest as planned in May, possibly because logistical issues make it virtually impossible to postpone it for later.
Source:ESCXtra
We all watched this morning on the official AVROTROS twitter account, Songfestival, a mysterious post with a video-teaser featuring Dunkan, last year’s Eurovision winner in Tel Aviv, wondering “What is about?”
24/10/19 #ESF2020 #ESC2020 #Eurovision #Songfestival pic.twitter.com/EdfebmHtEa
— Songfestival (@songfestival) October 24, 2019
Of course, most of us immediately realized that the organizers of this year’s contest were simply preparing for the official slogan of ESC 2020.
Suspicion that it was not too late to be verified as just a few hours later Rotterdam revealed the coveted slogan of this year’s event, via a new post:
Open up to music
Open up to each other
Open up to new ideas
Open up to realness
Open up to Eurovision#OpenUp #ESF2020 #ESC2020 #Eurovision #Songfestivalhttps://t.co/rhLQMrpuS8— Songfestival (@songfestival) October 24, 2019
https://twitter.com/songfestival/status/1187424982005104640
So,Rotterdam tells us to “Open up”…Open up to music, Open up to new ideas, Open up to reality, Open up to Eurovision!
As Dutch broadcaster’s producer, Sietse Bakker explained later:
“We have looked for a theme and slogan that reflect what the Netherlands stands for and which the Dutch can identify with; a country with an open mind to the world, where we speak our mind, with respect for each other. We also found it important to choose a theme that reflects the spirit of our times. People are concerned about increasing polarization and freedom isn’t as self-evident for everyone as it should be. With the slogan ‘Open Up’, we warmly invite people to open up to others, to different opinions, each other’s stories and of course to each other’s music”
Jon Ola Sand, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest for the EBU, also, stated about the slogan:
“Open Up is the perfect slogan for the Eurovision Song Contest as it celebrates its 65th edition. In 1956, only 7 countries could watch the competition and since then we have opened up to the whole of Europe, to Australia and now, via streaming, to the whole world. The values of the Eurovision Song Contest are universality and inclusivity, and our proud tradition of celebrating diversity through music. Now we can add a new one – that of openness.”
