The Netherlands: Mass events possible again from July 1; What does this mean for Eurovision 2021

The Netherlands: Mass events possible again from July 1; What does this mean for Eurovision 2021
Saturday, 20 March 2021

  • In The Netherlands, organizers of concerts, festivals, sports competitions and congresses can start planning their events again after July 1 according to the cabinet.

    According to Nos.nl report, mass events can be scheduled from July 1 and on.  If events have to be canceled due to corona measures, the organizers will receive a kind of cancellation subsidy from the government.

    Jolanda Jansen of the Alliance of Event Builders says: "It is a positive signal that from 1 July the industry can at least start organizing events in their original form again."

    The cabinet expects that more will be possible from that date, although it remains uncertain. It is expected that everyone from the age of 18 will have been vaccinated or have had a first injection in July. The positive experiences with the so-called field labs, such as a dance party in Ziggo Dome, are also reason for the cabinet to come up with this arrangement.

    Already the past weeks authorities have been making trial concerts and mass event allowing hundreds of people to participate, as a way in an effort to prepare the ground for the resumption of crowded events. 

    Outgoing State Secretary Keijzer of Economic Affairs says: "Not only the organizers, but the public also yearns for a concert, a festival, a football match. Hopefully we can all enjoy an event again in the summer."

     

    Tokyo 2020: No international fans present at the Olympic Games

    Meanwhile another scheduled mass event set for  this year that is affected by the covid-19 impact are the forthcomong Olympic games in Tokyo. No international fans will be permitted at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics this summer because of concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, organisers say.

    Japanese authorities told the Olympic and Paralympic committees it was "highly unlikely that entry" to the country could be guaranteed.Organisers said the move would help ensure "a safe and secure Games for all participants and the Japanese public".

    The Games are due to begin on 23 July.The Paralympics follow the Olympics a month later, from 24 August.

     

    What do all this mean for Eurovision 2021

    With all this going on regarding the mass events in The Netherlands and other major mass events like the Olympic games,  it raises questions as to what will eventually happen with this year's Eurovision Song Contest. In what form will eventually be held the largest music competition in the world? Can Eurovision mark an exception and take place with a limited audience? 

    While earlier in February a "normal" Eurovision Song Contest as we knew it,  was ruled out for the 2021 editionm, the EBU and organisers were optimistic and focused on implementing for the 65th edition of the contest B scenario with strict health and safety measures and social distancing.

    The decision was recently reaffirmed by the Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group, the event’s governing body, and the EBU’s Executive Board. Should circumstances change in the coming weeks the event can still be scaled down.

    In order for Scenario B to go ahead the number of people in the national delegations will be reduced from previous editions. The number of journalists who can attend the event will not go above 500 with a further 1000 able to cover the show in a new online press centre. A decision on whether an audience can be present at the shows and on what public activities can take place around the event in Rotterdam will be decided at a later time.

    Within the framework of Scenario B and organising a safe Eurovision EBU and the Dutch broadcasters have released have published an extensive COVID-19 Health and Safety protocol for the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest. According to the plan egular tests will be taking place on daily basis, the limited in size delegations will have to stay in their hotel, except when they travel to Rotterdam’s Ahoy Arena for rehearsals, the live shows and other programme related activities.

    However, it seems that time will show where things will be heading exactly. With the thrid wave of the covid-19 pandemic driving many countries back to lockdown status and restrictions being reissued in order to prevent further diaspora many factors remain uncertain in order to determine the final path this year's contest will take eventually. 

    EBU and the Dutch organisers are in full steam with their eyes on the evolution of the epidemiological data and in ongoing cooperation with the local authorities and the Safety Region (Veiligheidsregio Rotterdam-Rijnmond) the official authority reviewing and approving health and safety plans for events and the SGS, an international agency specializing in the review of such plans. It's a a tough case with many parameters taken into account for a final decision and would need patience until the final framework is decrystillized. 

    The 65th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest is set to take place on May 18, 20 and 22, 2021 at Rotterdam Ahoy arena in Rotterdam , The Netherland and will see a total of 40 nations compete for the trophy. 

     

    News Source: Nos.nl / bbc.com
      

    image. metro.co.uk