Australia: SBS and Montaigne will not fly to Rotterdam

Australia: SBS and Montaigne will not fly to Rotterdam
Tuesday, 20 April 2021

  • The Australian national broadcaster, announced earlier today that Montaigne and the whole Australian delegation won't be flying to Rotterdam for the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest. 

    With the next contest a stone throw away and the covid-19 pademic restristions still around, SBS , assessed all the current circumstances and decided that the Australian delgation will not be travelling to and from Rotterdam for Eurovision. 

    Since last March when the coronavirus outbreak took place, the Australian goverment has closed all borders and banned international flight from and towards Australia aiming to prevent further diaspora of the virus within the country. 

    Thus, this means that since Montaigne will not be present at Rotterdam Ahoy during the live shows, the Live On Tape performance will be used replacing her live performance in the first semi final where the Australian hopeful is set to perform 5th.

     The Australian Head of Delegation, Mr. Josh Martin, says about this decision :

    "Australia has embraced the Eurovision spirit for more than 35 years on SBS, and our affection and excitement for the contest has continued to grow since we first competed in Vienna in 2015. In 2021, Australia will once again compete in the world’s biggest song contest but this time our artist, Montaigne, will perform from home and not abroad.

    After a comprehensive assessment, SBS has decided not to send an Australian delegation and artist to Rotterdam for the Eurovision Song Contest this year. We came to this difficult decision after considering the challenges of the ongoing pandemic, including the many factors involved in travelling to and from the event from Australia."

    The announcement went public on SBS, which you can watch in the following video: 

     

    Of course the Australian hopeful cannot hide her disappoitment for not being able to travel to Rotterdam and complete her Eurovision journey. Montaigne stated on the fact that she can't make it to Rotterdam: 

    "Naturally, I’m sad that for two years in a row I have been unable to participate in the live spectacle of Eurovision. My partner and I had been discussing what video games we would bunker down with in a hotel room in Rotterdam between rehearsals for the final event, and we were excited about it.

    Despite that disappointment, it is still an immense privilege to be able to participate and compete in Eurovision, in its fandom and its processes, two years in a row. I have been able to submit two songs that I’m proud of and that have meant significant things to people.

    I am still absolutely stoked that I can present Technicolour this year, in whatever form my final performance may come in! It’s such a beautiful festivity and not even a pandemic can put it to bed. Eurovision will live forever."

    Montaingne twitter

     

    The Eurovision Song Contest  Executive Supervisor/EBU, Mr. Martin Osterdahl ,  says on the latest development:

    "We regret that we are not able to welcome Montaigne to Rotterdam in May. However, we understand the unique challenges presented to the hard working Australian delegation who have until the very end tried their utmost to make their presence in the Netherlands possible.

    We are pleased that we are still able to let them compete with the other 38 participants thanks to the “live on tape” recording of Montaigne’s song Technicolour. Australia have always brought diversity, excitement and energy to the Eurovision Song Contest and despite their team being far away this year they will be close to all our hearts in Rotterdam."

    Montaigne had won the country’s 2nd national final in history. Eurovision: Australia Decides 2020, held in Gold Coast , Queensland last February. Her entry “Don’t Break Me” achieved to top the jury voting and came second in the public vote. After the contest's cancellation she was invited back to represent the country in this year's competition in Rotterdam. This year she's set to compete with the song 'Technicolor' the Live On Tape performance of which we will se in the second semi final on May 20, 2021. 

     

    News Source: SBS/ESCToday