Coronavirus and Eurovision 2020: Decision in April

The Netherlands has just decided to ban public gatherings larger than 100 people because of the coronavirus pandemic. How will it affect Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam?

The preparations for Eurovision 2020 continue as planned, and no decisions have been made about the fate of the contest, says Rotterdam tourism alderman Said Kasmi:

– I think there should be an examination in mid-April about how things stand then. So we still have plenty of time

The organisers will start constructing the Eurovision stage inside the Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam in the first week of April, and a decision will be made before the construction begins, according to the mayor of Rotterdam, Ahmed Aboutaleb:

– For me the final day is the moment we start to build up the stage. At that day you have to clarify: will Eurovision take place or not? We have two options: The EBU and AVROTROS (Dutch broadcaster) can decide about organising or not. If their decision contradicts the health advice I get, in my opinion we have to cancel. I have to take my responsibility. But it’s too early for that now, says the Mayor.

Several options

The European Broadcasting Union, EBU, is working on different scenarios for organising and holding Eurovision 2020. It all depends on how the outbreak and spread of the coronavirus develops in the Netherlands and the rest of Europe.

We have listed six possible options for Eurovision 2020:

• No changes – Eurovision 2020 will be held as planned
• No audience, arena – Limited amount of audience / no audience (in the arena)
• No audience, TV studio – Broadcasting Eurovision in a TV studio without audience
• National broadcast – Every country will broadcast the song from it's own location
• Postponement – with a number of possible options
• Cancellation – This option is NOT on the table at the moment

Sietse Bakker, executive producer of Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam, says that the organisation is keeping a close eye on the news about the coronavirus:

– You see events being canceled or postponed all over the world. Fortunately we still have a few months to go. We hope that the worst will be over and that the situation will then stabilize, says Sietse Bakker.