THE NETHERLANDS – EBU’s Nadja Burkhardt explained how the 2021 edition is started its planning. In a recent interview, she outlined the efforts of the EBU and the host broadcaster to hold the event no matter how.
First, the organisers are checking constantly the legislation for European countries, the host country and Australia and how things might change for each country even in the last minute.
We work with other organizations and organizations, especially sports and with our members, such as the BBC for example, to find out how they plan their events, what are the elements that we have not yet considered.
Second, collaborating with other partners (mainly sport ones) and BBC they are checking all options for an open or closed event.
We are copying what is happening right now: overnight, countries on the red list are coming off it or vice versa. We can travel and the next day we can no longer travel. We need to change the planning at the last minute.
Third, they are working also to an online scenario in case all other options are closed assuring that the contest will take place no matter what.
Of course, if everything goes smoothly we will have a Eurovision edition as we knew it (but we all understand this is unlikely).
What I am particularly interested in is whether we can move from one scenario to another. How easily we can change from one version to another at the last minute, is what currently concerns the organizing committee.
For us is almost sure that the EBU is considering skipping Euroclub, Eurovillage and moderate strict press area for 2021 editions.
By the way, EBU has also clarified that Kazakhstan and Kosovo will not be invited in Eurovision 2021.
