The ongoing coronavirus pandemic might still be causing some trouble around the world, but that doesn’t stop our will to live as we once used to, before all of this started. To make everything more positive, the Eurovision Song Contest, has finally been greenlit to have an audience.
Limitations!
This is clearly some good news, cause as we saw already back in 2020, when Dansk Melodi Grand Prix was held, it just didn’t work out without a live audience, clearly the show was build around to have an audience, and to announce that audience wouldn’t be allowed just mere hours before the show, really showed how poor the show looked.
Now in 2021, broadcasters were still keen on with having an audience, but with certain rules, which included limitations. This could be seen this year at Sanremo, Melodifestivalen, C’est vous qui décidez, Dora and more, just to name a few.
But what kind of limitations, will be in rule for Rotterdam? Some of the limitation rules include:
- 3.500 audience members (about 20% of the arena capacity)
- No public sales
- Multiple health and safety protocols (In Dutch)
- Negative tests 24 hours before the show
- Wearing masks when moving around
- No standing audience
- Stay away if any sign of COVID-19 symptoms
Martin Österdahl, the current Executive Supervisor of the contest, had the following to share:
- ‘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.’
Special COVID-19 rules have also been put in place for the 2021 contest, for crew members, artists, staff and press. Among the rules, are more limitations this year, which allow for less press this year at the contest, but a special occasion for an online press-room instead. More about that here.
A FieldLab Event
The Eurovision Song Contest became part of a so-called “FieldLab Event“, which are special events in The Netherlands, that ensure together with the Dutch Government, that big events such as concerts can be done safely during the pandemic.
Noticeable, if you’re one of the lucky few, who bought a ticket for the 2020 contest, you will soon be able to make use of that ticket. Unfortunately, people who originally didn’t have a ticket, will not be given a chance to purchase a ticket for the contest this year. About the ticket issue, Sietse Bakker had the following to say:
- ‘Currently, entry is only possible from EU/EEA countries and visitors from high-risk countries may be subject to quarantine obligations from 15 May. In most cases they also have to have themselves tested again before departure and in many countries there is a quarantine obligation upon return. We also call on people to explicitly adhere to the applicable travel advice of their own government.’
- ‘We understand that extra caveat, of course. For that situation, we will of course keep the scenario without an audience at hand. In addition, we remain in close contact with the municipality, the local health authority and the hospitals in the area.’
More information about the tickets, both to buy and refund will soon be made available on the official Eurovision website.
What do #YOU expect from this year’s show and do #YOU think the contest will suffer or gain from a limited audience? We’d like to hear your opinions on our social media sites or on our forum HERE and most importantly, remember to stay safe.
Source(s): Eurovision.TV
