Eurovision 2021: How the Competition This Year Is Planning for a COVID Safe Atmosphere

Eurovision is setting plans in place to ensure a Covid safe atmosphere.

“This is a joint mission to entertain 200 million people watching at home.”

For TIX, a Norwegian performer, the  Eurovision Song Contest this year taking place in Rotterdam is hugely symbolic when considering the effects the world is going through.

“I think we all feel a sense of responsibility to everyone watching,” he stated.

It is an emotion resonating by the 39 pieces to be performed at the most significant live music event, which was called off last year.

A good number of the performer, UK James Newman, for example, has been practicing and rehearsing for about two years for that central moment on the stage

Being one of the most popular live events in the world, Eurovision 2021 would be one of the most significant events to take place during the pandemic, posing a challenging task which is balancing public safety and needs for entertainment.

The main full-scale event was called off temporarily; however, “canceling” was never an option, according to Martin Österdahl, Eurovision’s executive supervisor.

“It’s all a part of getting back to normal. We always said no matter what happens with the pandemic; we will have a song contest.”

Eurovision’s comeback would mean a second chance for many of last year’s performances. Of the 39 countries taking part,  26 have re-entered their 2020 entry.

“As soon as it was canceled, I wanted to do it again,” James Newman tells Radio 1 Newsbeat.

“I was having such a good time last year, and my end game was always getting on that stage in front of all those people.”

All contestants have to write a new song, and James revealed his track embers is a metaphor for the competition

“The sparks don’t die out, and people come back together.”

Most contestants are already in Rotterdam practicing for about a week, and they are going through the strict protocol to avoid Covid outbreak

Different countries are in different stations (bubbles), and no other region is allowed to mix.

My team and Im test each other every day,” says Greece’s entry Stefania.

“We’re cautious with each other. Everyone keeps their distance and respects each other’s choices. I don’t hug anyone.”

For North Macedonia Basil that altogether avoids contact with others, it is a serious affair.

At the Rotterdam Ahoy, the venue for the contest, strict regulations have been put forward, and everybody gets tested every 24 hours.

The regulations are so strict due to the time a member of both polish and Icelandic delegations tested positive for covid-19

After that, all of the other members had to be quarantined as they waited for the test results.

Eurovision has already made plans to ensure a safe atmosphere