The organisers of Eurovision have unveiled four possible scenarios to ensure that next year's contest can go ahead come what may.
For the first time in the competition's history, the contest was called off this year due to the coronavirus pandemic and plans are now well underway for the 2021 edition in Rotterdam.
Although the contest is still eight months away, its format still remains up in the air because of the ongoing uncertainty surrounding COVID-19.
In a press conference on Friday, executive producer Sietse Bakker outlined the four possible ways in which Eurovision 2021 could play out.
The first assumes that coronavirus no longer poses a threat, in which case the contest will go ahead as normal, while the second scenario assumes current social distancing guidelines, which would result in a smaller audience at the Ahoy Arena.
The third scenario would be deployed in the case that travel restrictions remain in place, with as many acts as possible travelling to Rotterdam and those that are unable to travel performing in their home country.
The final, worst-case scenario assumes that the Netherlands is in a state of full lockdown again, in which case every act will perform from their home country and there will be no live audience present at the Ahoy.
Eurovision expects to make a decision on which scenario to use in the first few months of 2021.
Neil Wilkes
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