The Dutch port city of Rotterdam agreed to host the 2021 Eurovision song contest, one of the world’s largest televised events, after this year’s edition was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Rotterdam’s city council voted in favour of covering 6.7 million euros in costs resulting from the cancellation of the 2020 event, news agency ANP reported.
Organisers had announced in March that this year’s competition could not proceed in Rotterdam in May due to COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus.
The Ahoy events venue, where the contest had been due to be held, has since been temporarily outfitted to house coronavirus patients, Reuters reported.
Broadcasters and the Ahoy “can count on Rotterdam as host city”, ANP quoted city council member for culture, Said Kasmi, as saying after the vote.
The Netherlands was to host the 2020 event after Dutch singer-songwriter Duncan Laurence won the 2019 event with a song called “Arcade”. The 65th edition of the event was expected to draw a television audience of up to 200 million.
Netherlands ready to host Eurovision in 2021
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