Mass events on a national scale will not take place in The Netherlands until there is a vaccine against the coronavirus. That’s the message from The Netherlands’ Minister for Health Hugo de Jonge. His words come in a letter sent to the Dutch parliament, as reported by Dutch media NOS. The letter outlines the next steps for the country as it begins to ease its lockdown restrictions.
Naturally that raises questions about Eurovision 2021. The song contest is without question a massive event. It draws tens of thousands of spectators on top of thousands of delegates, contestants and crew, and crams many of them into large-scale venues. Holding an event like this without a vaccine in widespread use would, of course, be irresponsible. And that’s clearly not something the Dutch would consider.
“For the last step, that’s massive events on a national scale, we can not yet give a date [for them to resume],” De Jonge wrote. “That is only possible once there is a vaccine, and no one knows how long that will take. Of course we hope soon, but a year or more is very likely.”
The race is on to develop an effective vaccine. Some scientists have claimed they can have an effective vaccine ready within six months. But such an estimate is considered very optimistic. Leading scientists and health experts around the world have repeatedly said that developing a vaccine for the disease is at least a year to 18 months away. And we need to emphasise the at least bit of that sentence. Vaccine development is usually measured on a scale of years.
Could Eurovision 2021 take place without a coronavirus vaccine?
Put it all together and it seems that Eurovision in its traditional form — with a massive audience in a crowded arena — would not be able take place without a vaccine. Of course, that doesn’t mean it couldn’t take place in another form — perhaps without an audience.
Germany – which has been applauded for its response to the pandemic — is preparing to resume play in the Bundesliga. It will become the first major football league in Europe to return to competition when it resumes later this month. Its matches will be played behind closed doors without any spectators.
In late April, Japan’s top medical association said it was unlikely that the Tokyo Olympics — which have already been postponed to July and August 2021 — can take place without the development of a vaccine.
“In my view, it would be difficult to hold the Olympics unless effective vaccines are developed,” Japan Medical Association President Yoshitake Yokokura said.
Even if Japan has its pandemic under control at that point, there would be concerns about all the international athletes and spectators gathering in one place. The fact is other countries may not have their pandemic under control, so visitors from these countries could pose a risk to people at the Games.
“If the infections are under control only in Japan, it will still be difficult to hold the Games unless the pandemic is over in the rest of the world.”
The country’s Prime Minister recently echoed these sentiments in an address to Parliament.
“The Olympic Games must be held in a way that shows the world has won its battle against the coronavirus pandemic. Otherwise, it will be difficult to hold them.”
Are you optimistic that a vaccine will be developed? Would you be OK with Eurovision being “played behind closed doors” as the Bundesliga? Shout out your thoughts down below!
Move the contest in a country that controlled the virus (Germany, Greece,Israel to name a few), test every member of the delegations when they arrive in the country as well as the audience. Canceling 2 eurovision editions in a row its shick. Life should go on.
Unfortunately life does not go on for those who died after contracting the virus. It likely won’t go on for you either if precautions are not taken.
Eurovision will go on but unlikely in the format we have seen of recent years. And that is not a bad thing. Eurovision has changed many times over the years and still remains the same.
Shortland Street 2021
Will Eurovision 2021 canceled again?!
Eurovision 2023!
Now, today, under the conditions we’re living, that sounds more real than the real thing…
IMO it’s really wrong to make a desicion to cancel an event that is a year ahead of us. I think the netherlands should take a risk and to decide to let eurovision go ahead in their country next year. If there isn’t a vaccine until then so they will have to cancel again 🙁 but at least they tried, but if there will be a vaccine before so it means that the result of taking the risk is good and next year the eurovision that we are used to will return stronger than ever. Taking risks is a really… Read more »
Even though it may be contained I doubt the NZ government would let tens of thousands of people into the country
A Eurovision themed hotel seems like my idea of heaven!! Make it happen!
So it turns out that what the Reference Group ruled out ( a show held remotely with out an audience) will in fact be the solution for the 2021 show. Which again goes on to illustrate the idiot decision they made this year…
No the solution is not a remote contest. EBU doesn’t want that and I doubt any of the competing artists want that. Artists want to perform before an audience. The solution is to organise an event that can be easily scaled down without going against the spirit of the contest. And in case you forgot, most of Europe is still in lockdown. Travel between countries is impossible. The Greek artist lives in the Netherlands, the Cypriot artist lives in Germany and the Armenian artist lives in Greece. There is zero chance they can travel to the country they represent to… Read more »
I agree with you Sara. No-one wanted a remote contest (not even me), but if that’s the only way to have something then it’s better than nothing. Just like here in the UK yesterday, when we managed some kind of celebration of VE Day in spite of the restrictions. All around the world people are getting round problems in a similar way. If the Reference Group could have been a bit more imaginative and we’d have something tangible to enjoy next week. And Stommie, those displaced artists could have easily performed from studios in their adoptive countries.
Please give the ESC 2021 to another country… Another year without will ruin it totally… There are several countries which would love to do it…
Netherlands REALLY love to do it. It’s just the government ruling out these events. Doesn’t say anything about the fact that we don’t want to host, because we want to host!
Yes, but we love Eurovision. We don’t want it cancelled two years in a row if it doesn’t need to be. Waiting for vaccine is too extreme.
How about Australia?
By EBU rules they can’t host the contest, just participate. And they’re in lockdown just like everybody else
New Zealand looks beautiful, so lowkey wouldn’t mind having Auckland 2021 haha
Eurovision 2021,2022… will have same destiny as 2020.
Utter rubbish. If you can’t say anything positive then stay off the forum.
Sad but true. Maybe Eurovision is another COVID-19 casualty.
I understand the decision,. but for me is too soon. No one knows what will happen until May 2021. We can think of many scenarios: Eurovision without audience, Eurovision in Germany, Eurovision in mid summer almost fall. But what I do believe is that other international events will happen as planned, there are too much money involved to simply cancelled because the situation is not “normal enough”, and many of these events will happen in countries that are already flexing the quaretine.
Tbh our government is such a mess. They are acting like it’s a given there will be a vaccin within the timespan of a year well newsflash: research on a vaccin for aids started 40 years ago and it still isn’t here. Mark Rutte our prime minister stated that wearing masks in public was useless at first, but now he’s enforcing wearing a mask in the public transport system. (which is a good decision ofc)
Here in UK we are already trialling a vaccine in Oxford so hopefully there should be one by 2021, AIDS is much harder to find a vaccine for probably
Time for the Netherlands to give up the hosting of this contest – two years without the ESC would be nothing short that disastrous!
No way, we want to host it badly! I hope (and guess) they are working on a plan to continue it next year in Rotterdam!
So they will move it to Germany then if that law still applies. I mean Germany has always bern the “backup” host (if Australia were to win for example)
Russia say hello
People, it’s not only the location of the contest but the preparations too. I don’t think that countries or the hosts would have end their preparations for 2021 contest even if a vaccine is found in spring 2021. Such a big event needs a safe future to host it and at the time being there is no.. So I can understand the dutch government too which probably don’t want to waste budget on a uncertain time..
I’m certain Eurovision 2021 will go ahead with or without the Netherlands hosting. The rules state the winning broadcaster gets “first refusal” , I.e they get offered to host it first, if they decline it goes somewhere else . If you want to interpret the rules strictly as the EBU did for the actual songs, no one won in 2020 therefore no one gets first refusal for 2021. Now EBU is likely to offer it to Netherlands first. But if they don’t want it or can’t host it because of their governments law, then im certain the EBU will offer… Read more »
You spelled “Germany” incorrectly.
Unfortunately I don’t see this happening without a vaccine. Governments wouldn’t risk their citizens in the sake of Eurovision
I think we should have a studio Eurovision with a small audience. It’s going to be years before we have any kind of mass event again. I know that many fans travel every year but that’s a tiny fraction of the fans who watch from home. I follow the lead up to the contest just like others here. But going to Eurovision to be in the audience is a gamble at best and an expense I can’t really afford. Eurovision was initially conceived as a broadcast event it’s only in the last 20 years it has become the big arena… Read more »
It was still Eurovision in 1963 when the audience and performers were in separate studios. It was still Eurovision in 1999 when it was an invited audience. Eurovision was established with innovation in mind and now is the time to challenge and innovate.
We could even have an audio only contest. That really wouldn’t be Euro-vision Zekira, I know, but it would still be a song contest.
our government has also stated that starting july 1st all planned gatherings up to a hundred people will be allowed again so they aren’t following a straight line here..
That 100 people threshold includes staff and artists and so on. And only provided that there won’t be a rise in new cases.
also btw: how much money would it cost if everybody would get a full refund on their 2020 ticket?
Our government has also stated that events of up to a hundred people will definitely be allowed in july again so they aren’t following a straight line here…
Reading wiwi readers comments on epidemiological issues is definitely not what I need right.
Even if there is going to be an ESC 2021 I do think some countries will withdraw
Better out than in
A second wave is possible yes, but the second one or even third one are rarely as severe as the first one. So by then we at least will learn to live with the virus. That said I keep with my previous statement: ESC behind closed doors without audience is the most likely option by this stage.That or moving it up til after Midsummer. I don’t think EBU will cancel it again just for the sake of Netherlands “properly” hosting it. That will lead to a demise of ESC and EBU don’t want that. And besides, didn’t that city council… Read more »
Looks like we’re gonna have another Eurovision in Sweden (since they were second last year and they had no lockdowns) So I wouldn’t mind if ESC just ditch Holland for hosting next year and give it to Sweden. #sorrynotsorry
In what universe was Sweden second last year?
I believe Italy was second last year. Don’t think we can go there yet..
It is quite irrelevant where we go, the mere fact that we ALL go there is danger enough.
I am sure that for EBU safety is also paramount. The mere fact that a country is willing to host a mass event won’t be an argument for EBU to give them the right to host it. If safety is still an issue in 2021, it will be an issue no matter the country. The world is in this together and no country, apart from North Korea, exists in a vacuum. If that means a scaled down event, then so be it. The organizers have a year to prepare.
Sweden was not second last year but fifth. Italy was second!!
People, according to the current rules, if a country refuses to host Eurovision, a big 5 one takes its place, starting with Germany. This is done because Germany has structure to host with short time of preparation, and to avoid a confusion in the automatic qualifiers. Netherlands as reigning champion has a spot in the final, and Germany is a big 5 so it’s already there.
Even though we have no lockdowns, there are no mass events here either. We are not allowed to have more than 50 people together and since the situation is not getting better here, I do not think there’s a chance Sweden will host it.
My bad, Italy was second :S
But in any case IF they make a rule that everyone HAS to be vaccinated there is a big question if it’s ever going to be the same, as many people are against vaccinations in general
They have time to prepare for it, right? I hope the EBU doesn’t wait until it’s to late to do something. Here in Spain people in general is doing whatever they want without following the rules and by now the death rate isn’t increasing. I’m not proud of my Spanish fellows but at least we know the situation with the virus is not as worse as it was a couple of months ago. We have to be careful but the world has taken over the pandemic. So we’ll see the situation getting better and better. Let’s see how this developes… Read more »
As a Dutch person, let me explain to you why this situation is so tricky. The Netherlands is a country of mass-events. This year, for example, we would host Formula 1, EURO 2020, ESC, SAIL Amsterdam, and we annually organise more than 1000 festivals. We, as eurofans, regard ESC as something special, but for the government, it’s just another event like Formula 1 or EURO 2020. So if the government were to allow ESC, all these other events would go on as well. But without a vaccine or any other proper treatment, preventing a second wave would not be possible.… Read more »
Yes. But most restrictions are temporary. No other country has said something that radical lile that dutch minister just did. There are other options: a flattened curve, immunity etc etc. Insisting on vaccine is stupid. And no offence, but I don’t think most ESC-fans care enough about Netherlands to think it would be worth it to keep the contest on a halt until NL could host it. I would rather see a contest, but NL withdrawing, then go years without one. No blame on EBU if that is the case. Blame that dutch minister. If you don’t want to compromise,… Read more »
I’m surprised that more people seem to not realize the possibility of multiple countries withdrawing, some perhaps for good.
Oh no. If Eurovision 2021 is cancelled, I really don’t have much hope for Eurovision continuing anymore. This truly scares me.
Don’t be so dramatic ffs
I’m not tryna be, im just tryna be realistic. of course I don’t want it to be cancelled, but if it is for the second year in a row I cant see it continuing.
I’m not confident that most of us will get vaccinated until May/2021. ESC will probably happen, but behind close doors.
Still too early too call anything, tho.
Who says there will ever be a vaccine? For HIV, there isn’t a vaccine since 40 years.
The era of mass events could be over for good. Our culture is changing drastically.
We could just as well hold Eurovision 2020 now in a studio as 2021 would likely take place in a studio.
Comparing sars-cov 2 to HIV. ignorant idiot
Some scientists, e.g. the Oxford team, already 1. have a vaccine for covid19 that definitely works in monkeys, and they think is virtually certain to work in humans (as in, it develops antibodies required to fight the virus, and their trials are already underway), the only remaining question is safety and possible side effects, about which they are also very optimistic. 2. They also have a very similar vaccine for MERS, which is not approved yet but they describe it as both effective and safe. So that is good news for this vaccine as well. So I’d say that it’s… Read more »
A couple of months will difficultly be enough; finding a possible vaccine was definitely not easy, but the hardest part is experimentation, it takes a really long time and, probably more than 1 year, unfortunately.
I mean, I’m no expert myself, but the scientists, at least some groups, were quite confident the whole testing process could be wrapped up by September, with large amounts of doses ready by the end of year. We can only hope for the best.
There’s no vaccine for HIV yet but there are powerful antiretrovirals drugs, meaning that a person who is HIV+ can have the virus suppressed to the point where it is not detectable. It is possible antiviral drugs could also be the solution to managing corona.
But you know there’s non-drastical way to prevent getting HIV, which is currently not the case for corona virus.
I’m from Netherlands, so obviously I’m biased, but I don’t think moving ESC to another country would help. Yes, measures may be less strict in other countries, but I don’t think any government is keen on hosting a contest as big as ESC (in it’s normal form) without a vaccine.
Why vaccine? Why not just a reasonable curve? If no one is bothered by corona next spring, there is no reason for such restrictions. Maybe a wodespread immunity is here in 2021? Vaccine seems to optimistic to wait for. So I hope they withdraw their statements when they see, that they hopefully don’t need to be so strict.
Or move it, EBU probably wants the contest. And I’ll be damned if a dutch minister stops it!
My country is known for hosting mass-events, like countless festivals in spring/summer, Formula 1, EURO 2020, Pride, Pinkpop, Woohah and much more. So, this statement wasn’t put out carelessly.
As much as it hurts, we Eurofans need to start judging this with our brains, not our hearts. It is extremely risky to invite thousands of foreigners, as well as tens of thousands of Dutch people, to a highly dense area without any type of treatment.
Of course we wouldn’t want it to be a severe risk. However, many people are saying that immunity will take place. Or that corona developes into ”just another flu” when the first – and probably most deadly round – is over. And you would never cancel ESC over a flu. Flu season is every year. As I said, if it is like this in ESC 2021 – then yes, postpone it yet another year or something. But in may 2020, it is too soon to say anything really. And if he maintains this position despite changing attitudes, I genuinely both… Read more »
Actually at the moment the Netherlands is the least strict country after Sweden in Europe. In all other countries the rules are far more restrictive.
It’s not either the case in Switzerland.
Not taking into account that many governments won’t be keen on spending money for an event that Rotterdam already appropriated funds for
Hold it in AVRO TV Studios in Hilversum – the venue of Eurovision 1958.
Unfortunately it isn’t used as a TV studio anymore. It is now a gym.
https://goo.gl/maps/KYtjjYE6mDqGS8xJ8
That’s a bad news 🙁
“Germany – which has been applauded for keeping coronavirus deaths relatively low compared to other European countries ”
This is not a correct info, William. Germany is only revealjng deaths of people who had not other patologies, which means we don’t know the real numbers, there may be less deaths than France, but there may even be more deaths than Italy and Uk!
Actually italy and UK have more deaths than France
At least according the official dates, UK is the country with more deaths in Europe with about 30000 deaths, Italy is the next…
Thats totally wrong. First of all Germany has a death rate of 4.18%. And in Germany every death positive tested with Corona is counted as a Corona death with other pre-existing conditions or not. Now at the moment Germany has around 7.200 deaths in connection with Corona. Spain around 26.000, Italy 29.000 and the UK as you said in a later comment 30.000 deaths. Also the death rate in Germany is that low cause our healthcare is probably one of the best in the world with a whole of 40.000 intensive care beds and 30.000 ventilators. So please don’t say… Read more »
Yes, at the moment there are 7200 deaths in Germany and I was wrong about the “other patologies thing”, my bad… journalists are really misleading sometimes. This information was all lver the internet, I even checked three or four sources, but now I did a research and every “official” source was removed. Anyway, I don’t think reacting that way is that mature by you, I only stated a thing i thought was true, didn’t mean to offend Germany or anything, not to make up “nonsense” to justify the extremely low number in your country. I ask you to be more… Read more »
I know the official numbers, I check them every day.
My bad, our journalists may be misleading sometimes, but in April the said every time on TV and I also searched for some sources on the Internet and it seemed to be an official statement by German government.
Now I reasearched some sources again, and it seems that it was just an assumption that many people made.
Sorry if I hurt you, but I didn’t mean to give a “nonsensical” lie against your country, but a statmente I thought was true.
Have a good day 🙂
I think it is too hasty to think about 2021. Maybe it will be worse then, or maybe it will all be fine by christmas time – or sooner. Or anything in between. If the virus is entirely ”under control” during spring 2021, there will be no reason for these restrictions. In that case, they will probably wothdraw these statements. Otherwise, EBU most likeöy wants their contest. And Netherlands might have the hosting gig taken away from them! I don’t know. All we can do is wait and see! I would really love to have an optimistic view on this!… Read more »
Between now and then, things could change depending on the outcome of current measures. The goal is flattening the curve so that the health sector will not be overwhelmed and try to build on any momentum made to minimize the trend of new cases as possible (with the help of mass testing) , with the end result of seeing an increase in the number of recoveries and a significant decrease in deaths. Right now, I think we shouldn’t be focused on ESC 2021 for now since stakeholders will have time plan things ahead. On the otherhand, JESC should definitely not… Read more »
Nobody belived me, but now it’s happening, we may lose next year, too…
Really hope a vaccine will be found as soon as possible and the emergency will be finally over, but for now I am not optimistic?
I really hope that oxford or someone else will find the vaccine until the end of the year. I don’t want another eurovision to be cancelled (sadly I think it will happen if there isn’t a vaccine in a year)
Please. Please. Please. My fellow Dutch organisers. Do NOT organize a contest without audience. Delay to 2022. We’ve fought 44 years.
I don’t think the EBU would postpone Eurovision indefinitely just so the Netherlands can host it in an arena. They would probably go ahead with a smaller venue like a tv studio.
I don’t think they will. It will be weird to see a eurovision in the 3rd decade of the 3rd milenium taking place in a studio. The netherlands had a lot of amazing plans for 2020 and I think they should carry them over to next year. Unluckily if there won’t be a vaccine at early 2021 so I think we will have to wait until 2022, but now let’s be optimistic, let’s think that eurovision will return stronger than ever next year.
If the EBU were to move ESC to a small studio or even another country, I think that my country (the Netherlands) would decide to withdraw.
So EBU should just keep postponing it until Netherlands can host it? That might take years and by then we wont have a ESC anymore. If fans and EBU had to choose between postponing it until Netherlands can properly host it or have a smaller stripped down contest anywhere else, they would go with the second one.
Now the EBU and the national broadcaster from the Netherlands should think about Eurovision 2021 in Midsummer to autumn. Thats 15 months to get a vaccine and even they could decide to move to a other location in Rotterdam with a smaller amount of person’s allowed.
I’m very hopeful and I’m looking forward to Eurovision 2021.
that’s kinda smart actually. If they already set the 2021 date for as late in the year as possible. I think september would be a good month if we have the olympics and euro 2020 going through in the summer.
Off course that would create problems with scheduling of future editions but they could slowly plan back to may again in like a timespan of 6 to 10 editions
I think there will be no Eurovision 2021.. mark my words
I don’t understand downvotes, it’s obviously a thing we hope won’t happen, but we have to be realistic
Seems overly cautious to insist on a fully functioning widely available vaccine to be ready before allowing events to go ahead.
The virus has existed since November, during which we had Junior Eurovision and all the National Finals. Melfest went right up to mid march with a full audience and yet Sweden has been relatively unscathed.
Think Netherlands just dont want to host it next year after spending out all the money this year, perfect time for another country like UK or Germany to step in, possibly Sweden?
“Sweden has been relatively unscathed”. Stockholm alone has around 4x the deaths as the whole of Norway. I’m not suggesting melfest necessary had an effect on that, but I’d love to see some numbers.
Um because in November last year the virus wasn’t widespread in Europe and people weren’t dying from it. Remember that the Danish national final had no audience.
Also Rotterdam City Council has recently voted to approve the extra funding to host it for 2021 so that is literally not an issue for them.
If there is no vaccine in the Netherlands,, there is also no vaccine in Sweden, the UK or Germany.
The big difference between this year and next year is that the organizers have lots of time to prepare for different scenarios,, including a scaled down show with a small audience.
But the rest of the world isn’t subject to the rulings of the Dutch Minister of Health. It’s a political decision to hold everything off until a vaccine, not a scientific one. Germany is already starting mass sporting events again with the audience to return shortly. UK is aiming to have large scale sporting events with a full audience back by September/October. Sweden has been much less strict with its restrictions throughout.
Yes, let’s take the UK approach as an example how to handle this crisis. I doubt that any delegation is willing to take the risk to travel to the UK.
Or as there is no Rotterdam at stake, perhaps hold ESC 2020 late summer-early autumn and have its winner host the competition? It would be fair and open up to other countries since it can’t always be Germany or UK (especially the latter now)
I don’t see why Junior Eurovision 2020 in Poland can’t be morphed into Eurovision 2020. As far as I’m aware no Junior participants have been selected yet so they wouldn’t be losing out.
This is not true. The Netherlands wants to host. Rotterdam has literally agreed to invest €6.7M extra to host it in 2021, and the hosts have been asked if they wanted to host in 2021 as well. Yes, there were less restrictions in place during the first few months of 2020, but look what that has caused: tens of thousands of deaths in Europe alone. If counties were to hold such large events, a second wave would be inevitable. Don’t get me wrong: I want ESC to happen in 2021. I’m literally from the Netherlands and I’ve bought tickets for… Read more »
I’m from Germany and the idea that our football league is restarting again is honestly just stupid. They’re taking away tests from hospitals and people that really need them to test the players. And kindergartens are not allowed to open because a multi-million dollar business is more important than kids, apparently. I’d rather have no Eurovision for the next few years than it being the reason for more people dying.
That or have it take place under a different format. Cancelling it outright could lead to its demise and that was what already happened to Turkvision, Eurovision Young Dancers, Eurovision Dance Contest and possibly EYD.
At some point you have to open. Lockdown can only be for so long. You can’t just shut down everything for a year, yet alone say 5. That will lead to a complete break down of society. That will eventually lead to greater damage than the virus..
I don’t get why these rules should last so long… I mean most countries won’t even have any cases in autumn, so I really don’t get it. In the Netherlands they had 350 cases reported today, which is already a huge decline, so why do will we have these measures in May next year (that’s one year) I don’t know. In Slovenia there have been just 3 cases reported in last three days, in Lithuania 5 today, in Latvia 9 …. , so I really don’t get why.
because by allowing people to travel from across Europe, with varying restrictions in place, at varying points in the curve, you 100% put at risk the strategy of whatever country those people flow into. Only a few people have to be contagious before the Eurovision village and arena turn into the perfect cocktail for kickstarting a second wave.
Countries are reducing their numbers *because* they are locking down mass gatherings not in spite of them. They would not want a situation where one infectious non-symptomatic person turns up at Ahoy arena and gets loads of people sick including Eurovision singers.
listen to the epidemiologist here!!
FFS – numbers are declining in countries because of a lockdown – ie people are not socialising with each other.
As soon as that is lifted – Hey welcome the second wave!!!!
ERASMUS – might actually do well to read a paper or two and actually equip themselves with some accurate knowledge!
I know why they are declining I’m not stupid and I know how the virus spreads, but like IT’S ONE YEAR FROM NOW, and most countries are starting to open their schools, public transport, restaurants, and I’m sure that by autumn almost all countries (except Spain and Italy) in Europe will have everything open, so what’s the point of having everything open and public, EXCEPT big events, that’s my question, because the lockdown will not be the lockdown till next May, it will be a lockdown till August this year.
I strongly agree with this point, it seems to be that all European countries are slowly declining in cases everyday and by September we should have this “new normal” and only Russia is increasing by about 10,000 per day so I have little worries about 2021, whatever format it’ll be in