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Poland to host Junior Eurovision Song Contest again, amid pandemic

15.09.2020 14:49
Poland’s public television broadcaster will for the second year in a row host the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, with the event to be held in hybrid form amid a COVID-19 pandemic.
Viki Gabor, winner of the 2019 Junior Eurovision Song Contest.
Viki Gabor, winner of the 2019 Junior Eurovision Song Contest. Photo: PAP/Rafał Guz

The competition will be hosted live from a studio in Warsaw on Sunday, November 29, with presenters and crew following social distancing measures, according to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

Interval acts will also perform live from Warsaw.

But the competing songs will be performed in a studio in each participating country in order to “protect the health of the artists and ensure the competition can still take place in a fair and safe way,” the EBU said.

“Travel restrictions and the ongoing issues relating to the COVID-19 pandemic mean regrettably we cannot bring all the artists to Poland to compete in person,” said Martin Österdahl, the contest’s executive supervisor.

The show will hosted for the second year in a row by Polish state broadcaster TVP.

TVP boss Jacek Kurski was quoted by the EBU as saying the contest is “an undeniable celebration of the talent of people who are just entering the world of music. That is why it is so important to create space and conditions for them to show their talent despite this year's difficulties.”

He added: “Just as during the spectacular show last year, TVP will do its best to provide young artists and the great international Eurovision family with a wonderful, unforgettable experience.”

Last year’s competition was won by young Polish singer Viki Gabor.

It was Poland’s second win in a row in the contest, a feat no other country has managed before.

The contest was in 2018 won by Poland’s Roxana Węgiel.

Held since 2003, Junior Eurovision is a song competition for youngsters aged between nine and 14 organised by the European Broadcasting Union along similar lines to the Eurovision Song Contest, its older and bigger cousin.

(pk)

Source: EBU