- Title: Countdown to a Eurovision like no other
- Date: 21st May 2021
- Summary: ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS (MAY 17, 2021) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF VENUE SIGN ON VENUE READING (English) "WATERLOO" IN REFERENCE TO ABBA'S 1974 EUROVISION-WINNING ENTRY RED LIGHT AT PEDESTRIAN CROSSING TURNING GREEN AS "WATERLOO" PLAYS / PEOPLE CROSSING PEDESTRIAN CROSSING LIGHTS SHOWING GREEN FIGURE DANCING TO WATERLOO PEOPLE CROSSING AS "WATERLOO" PLAYS GREEN FIGURE DANCING (SOUNDBITE) (English) EXECUTIVE SUPERVISOR OF EUROVISION SONG CONTEST, MARTIN OSTERDAHL, SAYING: "When we made the decision to try and unite everyone here in Rotterdam we knew that the pandemic unfortunately would still be around. We're doing everything we can to minimise the impact of it and we have done a lot of preparation before coming here with the back-up tapes, the live-on-tape back up that you probably know about that we introduced all the way back in September, which was a home performance recorded in a home studio to guarantee that everyone would be able to take part in the contest. So we have several layers of backups in order to complete the contest but of course we want everyone to be live on stage if possible." SIGN FOR ON-SITE TESTING CENTRE AT EUROVISION SONG CONTEST VENUE / PEOPLE QUEUING FOR TESTS EUROVISION BAG QUEUE
- Embargoed: 4th June 2021 19:02
- Keywords: ESC 2021 Eurovision song contest fans music show
- Location: VARIOUS LOCATIONS
- City: VARIOUS LOCATIONS
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Europe,Music
- Reuters ID: LVA004EE1L36H
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Fans all over the world were counting down the hours on Saturday (May 22) ahead of the Eurovision song contest grand final.
The Netherlands is hosting the 65th edition after Dutch singer-songwriter Duncan Laurence won the 2019 contest in Tel Aviv. Last year's event was cancelled due to the pandemic.
All 39 participating countries and their delegations are tested before they entering the venue. Some 3,000 fans can attend through the Dutch trial scheme for events during the pandemic. They have to show a negative coronavirus test.
Iceland's Eurovision entry, band Dadi og Gagnamagnid, has pulled out of the live event this weekend after a member of the group tested positive for COVID-19, although their song remains in the competition.
The band was one of the top five favourites to win this year's contest held in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam according to bookmakers.
Italy, France and Malta now top the bookmakers' odds as most likely to win the 2021 crown - but the ultimate winner will be decided by international votes and an expert jury.
(Production: Tara Oakes, Johnny Cotton, Bart Biesemans) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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