Eurovision 2021: Fingers crossed! In 4-5 weeks decisions to be taken for the contest in Rotterdam

Monday, 04 January 2021

• In about four to five weeks the Eurovision 2021 Core team will start taking decisions on how the contest will unfold next May. 

  Already back in September the host broadcasters along with the EBU and the ESC 2021 core team confirmed the decision to have Eurovision back on track one way or other, by putting on the table four scenarios  under which the competition will definetely unfold. Last year,  the Eurovision Song Contest experienced the unprecedent cancellation due to the coronavirus pandemic, bringing huge disappoitment to the contest's fans. 

  The pandemic has changed everything in the way of working for the teams of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Eurovision is a big television show watched each year by more than 125 million people, but it is above all a big event for the organizing country and the city that hosts it.

  Within this framwork the Executive Producer of Eurovision 2021, Sietse Bakker, revealed through his twitter account that they are only  4 to 5 weeks away from start taking decisions for the next contest and which scenario will be implemented. 

  

  We remind you that the four scenarios that have been put on the table for the next competition are: 

  • Scenario A– A Eurovision Song Contest as we know it
  • Scenario B–  A Eurovision Song Contest with social distancing measures
  • Scenario C- A Eurovision Song Contest with travel restrictive
  • Scenario D– A Eurovision Song Contest during a lockdown

  

  Scenario A

  According to this scenatio the Eurovisio Song Contest will unfold over 9 shows in the way and formula we have experienced it the previsous years.  All delegations will be participate with their competing acts performing before a full audience, while a the host city will host a number of side events and activities. 

  Scenario B

  In this case, the competition will take place with social distancing implemented throughout the contest. The delegations will be able to travel to Rotterdam but with a limited number of members. 

  Scenario C

  According to this scanario the competition is held under travel restrictions. The delegates that won't be able to reach Rotterdam would compete by competing on home soil. 

  Scenario D

  This is the worse it can get for the next contest. If a lockdown shadows the crucial time then the contest will again take place but without audience and the contestants will perform their entries from their home countries. 

   

  According to ongoing reports on the local media and taking account the current situtation of the pandemic, with many countries facing a second and third wave of escalation of cases, the most likely scenario is C. That means the delegations will be able to perform live in the venue or if they face travel restrictions they could compete with their live on tape performances. In all cases under this scenario, the audience will be limited with a minimum number of people in the delegations and press center. 

  Moreover, the organisers would like to make feasible a show where at least all delegates could perform live even without any accredited press or live audience. With the covid-19 pandemic creating such an uncertain and unstable environment even a mixture of two scenarios cannot be ruled out. 

  Thus, according to Sieste Bakker's twitter post, early February decisions will be taken on the matter enlightening us on how the next contest will unfold in Rotterdam in May.