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Hilversum (dpa) - The Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) will probably take place in Rotterdam this May under strict Corona measures with artists from 41 countries - but very likely without an audience.
This was announced by the Dutch broadcasters as the organizer in Hilversum.
The final decision on audience participation should not be made until mid-April.
A possible conceivable solution is that significantly fewer spectators are allowed in and that they also have to keep a safe distance.
In 2020 the festival had to be canceled due to the corona pandemic.
Anyone who had already bought tickets for the ESC last year can return them, as the organizers announced.
The producers rule out that the festival can take place in a normal form and in front of a large audience.
The semi-finals are planned for May 18th and 20th in Rotterdam, the final is scheduled for May 22nd.
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However, the organizers have left a back door open in their planning: namely to let the ESC rise “either without an audience or with less audience while observing the distance rules”.
The Dutch organizers on site have developed three conceivable scenarios.
The company is working with great ambition to implement the following variant: "A song festival one and a half meters away, with strict Corona measures, at which all 41 artists can perform in Rotterdam Ahoy," said the broadcasters' producer, Sietse Bakker.
A “normal” ESC is “not realistic” under the given circumstances, added Bakker.
«We will do everything we can to make the best possible ESC output out of it.
The health and safety of everyone involved naturally has priority. "
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The Rotterdam city councilor Said Kasmi added: “The Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam, live from the Ahoy Arena, is a ray of light that we can look forward to together.
«As the host city, we are optimistic, enthusiastic and realistic at the same time.
As far as possible, we and our partners will make the best of the situation. "
The slogan for Rotterdam is "Let's open up again!"
The organizer, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in Geneva, canceled the ESC last year for the first time in the history of the competition - i.e. since 1956 - due to Corona.
At the time, the EBU was “devastated” that it had to make this decision.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210203-99-286835 / 4
Eurovision Song Contest