Eurovision 2021: The Dutch cabinet allows limited audience to attend the shows

Eurovision 2021: The Dutch cabinet allows limited audience to attend the shows
Thursday, 29 April 2021

  • The Dutch goverment has decided to allow the presence of a limited audience during the nine shows of the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest 2021. 

    A limited amount of 3.500 spectators will be allowed to attend the nine shows of the 65th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam Ahoy. 

    After a meeting held by the Dutch cabinet of minsters earlier today, the govermant decided to approve the presence of a limited audience during the six rehearsals and the three live shows ( two semi finals and the grand final) and informed the organisers to move on to the implementation of such respecitve plans. 

     The Eurovision Song Contest Executive Supervisor for EBU, Martin Osterdahl says:

    We are happy that the Dutch authorities have enabled us to welcome audiences at the 3 live shows and 6 dress rehearsals in Rotterdam in the safest possible way given the current circumstances.

    The world will be watching when we bring back the Eurovision Song Contest next month and, as millions enjoy the competition on TV and online, we are pleased that the hard work of the artists, delegations and crew will also be shared with a live audience in the Ahoy arena.

    Welcoming audiences safely as part of the Fieldlab events programme will also help to create a great atmosphere for those taking part and watching at home. We don’t take lightly the responsibility of hosting the Eurovision Song Contest at this challenging time and safeguarding the health and safety of all those participating in, and attending the event remains our top priority.’

     

     The Eurovsion 2021 Executive Producer, Sietse Bakker says:

    With 180 million viewers from over 45 countries, we will soon be in the international spotlight as a host country. We want to do this carefully and responsibly, so we take pretty strict measures, with health and safety first.

    The numbers have been scaled down considerably. Delegations are considerably smaller and most journalists will follow the Eurovision Song Contest from home this year in an online press center. By testing everyone in Ahoy every 48 hours and getting artists to move within our so-called Safe Harbor, we want to keep the corona virus out as much as possible.

     

    This year's contest is taking place in Rotterdam as one Fieldlab Events . This is the reserch program supervised by investigator Prof. Dr. Andreas Voss, which aims to seek if the implemented measures due to covid-19 pandemic are good enough for event with the attendance of a bigger number of people. 

     

    Strict measures implemented for the audience

     

    The audience attending the contest will have to comply with strict measures and rules. Namely the list of measures to be enforced includes the following: 

    • All visitors must be able to present a valid negative test certificate that is no older than 24 hours upon entry.

    • In addition, they are asked to undergo a post-test five days after the event. Testing is free via Testing For Access.

    • Before leaving home, visitors receive triage questions via a special app. Those who have symptoms associated with COVID-19 are asked to stay at home.

    • There is only a seated audience, limiting the number of contact moments. There is no standing audience on the floor this year.

    • The public is asked to arrive and leave according to time slots.

    • Visitors must wear a face mask while 'in the loop' (on their way to their seat, when visiting the toilet, etc).

    • There are also a number of terms and conditions attached to the purchase of tickets which must be complied with.

     

    However, the Dutch cabinet will have the whole situation under ongoing evaluation witht he authorities ready to take back their decision for an audience if the pandemic deteriorates. The organisers are in continuous contact with the Dutch authorities keeping on the table the plan for a contest without an audience if things go worse and the goverment eventually decided to forbid an audience. 

     

    Eurovision Tickets

    This year there will be no public sale of tickets. The availiable one will be offered to the people that hold ESC 2020 tickets as the organisers had previously promised.  With the possesors of last year's tikcets being notified on May 5 the whole process for thus year's tickets will be operated on May 8, 2021. 

     

     

    News Source: Eurovision.tv/AVROTROS/ESCToday

    Photo: Nathan Reinds -(NPO - NOS - AVROTROS)