Eurovision 2021: Rotterdam’s City Council approves additional funding for next year’s contest

Eurovision 2021: Rotterdam’s City Council approves additional funding for next year’s contest
Thursday, 23 April 2020

  • The City council of Rotterdam has approved with an overwhelming majority the extra amount of 6.7 million in order to host next year’s Eurovision Song Contest after the cancellation of Eurovision 2020. 

    Following this year’s cancellation due to the Coronavirus pandemic, it was more than expected that Rotterdam will have the first say at hosting Eurovision 2021. However new plans for hosting next year's edition in Rotterdam meansthe city will have to pay a further €6.7 million.. That amount iwill be added to the €15 million the city has already spent on the organisation of the 2020 edition, since the cancellation and the damage caused by that is not covered by any insurance.

    While the debate on hosting the next year’s contest saw the objections rise from some members of the opposition, a voting was held today in order to pass the decision of approval of the additional funding in order to host the competition next year. As expected an overwhelming majority of the city’s council backed up the proposal of spending an additional amount of  6.7 million  for the organisation of next year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

    Alderman Said Kasmi ( Education, Culture & Tourism Councilor) was satisfied with the decision and stated:

    "The most important thing for us is that we can make it a party for and for everyone. We have been working hard lately and we are ready to welcome the 65th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2021 in our city."

    Rotterdam Ahoy was delighted by the City's decision and reacted by saying:

    "We are pleased with this decision of the city council. We started this process together with the municipality of Rotterdam and other partners last year and would like nothing more than to welcome the Songfestival in Rotterdam and Ahoy in 2021."

    A spokesperson for the NPO, NOS and AVROTROS  also said:

    "To be very grateful and proud that Rotterdam and Ahoy once again say yes to the welcoming of the event again. In recent weeks, the project organization of the Eurovision Song Contest from the public broadcaster has focused on the settlements surrounding this year’s canceled event. At the same time, we are preparing for the possible organization of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2021 in Rotterdam."

    The European Broadcast Union (EBU) had required for a short in time clear decision from Rotterdam before the end of April. In case the city decided to withdraw its candidacy, there would still enough time search foe  another city or region  in the Netherlands. On the other hand, a quick confirmation of intentions was necessary so as Rotterdam Ahoy can arrange its program with the scheduled events  for April and May 2021.

    However next year's  Eurovision Song Contest still lays on uncertainty, as long as the three Dutch host broadcasters the NPO, NOS and AVROTROS don't receive an answer on a number of organizational, production and financial issues. They hope to be able to give a definite answer about this in May.

    Source: Nu.nl / parool.nl / esctoday