Eurovision song contest to have limited audience in COVID-19 trial
The Netherlands is hosting the 65th edition of the event, which draws a television audience of about 200 million, after Dutch singer-songwriter Duncan Laurence won the 2019 contest with the song "Arcade". Last week, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said a nationwide curfew and other curbs aimed at containing the coronavirus will be extended by three weeks until late April because of rising infection rates.
- Country:
- Guyana
A limited audience will be allowed to attend the Eurovision song contest in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam in May as part of a COVID-19 trial, newspaper de Telegraaf reported on Thursday. The event will be part of a series being held in the Netherlands under the name "fieldlab", which has allowed small crowds into a theatre, conference centre and a soccer match under strict monitoring.
Eurovision organisers had said in February that there would be some socially distanced events, but did not specify whether a live audience would be permitted. A maximum of 3,500 people living in the Netherlands will be admitted to rehearsals, the semi-finals and finals taking place on May 18-22, the newspaper reported, citing a government official.
Performances will be given by 39 participating countries and fans will have to have a negative coronavirus to attend, the report said. The Netherlands is hosting the 65th edition of the event, which draws a television audience of about 200 million, after Dutch singer-songwriter Duncan Laurence won the 2019 contest with the song "Arcade".
Last week, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said a nationwide curfew and other curbs aimed at containing the coronavirus will be extended by three weeks until late April because of rising infection rates. The Dutch have reported more than 1.2 million infections and 16,500 deaths during the pandemic.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
- READ MORE ON:
- Dutch
- Mark Rutte
- Rotterdam
- Netherlands
ALSO READ
Soccer star Quincy Promes has reportedly been arrested in Dubai at the request of Dutch prosecutors
Soccer-Spartak Moscow's Promes arrested in Dubai at Dutch request
Soccer-Nagelsmann names six newcomers in Germany squad for France, Dutch friendlies
Dutch King and Queen postpone Vietnam visit at request of Hanoi, citing 'domestic circumstances'
Dutch parties resume coalition talks after Wilders forgoes PM role