Junior Eurovision 2021: The reasons Italy is staying out of this year's contest

Junior Eurovision 2021: The reasons Italy is staying out of this year's contest
Saturday, 03 July 2021

  • The director of RAI Ragazzi, Luca Milano, has explained the reasons behind Italy's decision not to participate in Junior Eurovision 2021, in Paris next December. 

    A few days ago RAI confirmed that they won't take part in this year's edition of Junior Eurovision in Paris, France. This marks the first time they will not be taking part since 2014 they debuted in the contest, with the the exception of 2020 when  the country wasn't able to participate due to the covid-19.

    Even thoough that confimration didn't enclose any kind of explanation, the director of Rai Ragazzi - Luca Milano was reached by Eurofestivalnews and was aksed the reasons behind this decision. Mr. Milano responded as following: 

    "I can confirm that Rai will not participate in the 2021 edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.
     
    This year we have adopted a very cautious policy on the presence of minors in television programs (also with regard to our study programs which have only recently reopened, with very strict procedures, their doors to children).
     
    Participation in an international event like the JESC requires a long planning and preparation phase, which has started since spring and we have not started.
     
    Collaboration with other European public services and with the EBU remains very important to us. We preferred to focus this year on other projects, such as the cycle of short documentaries EBU Kids Portraits or the European initiative "Say Hi" on friendship to be held in November, naturally awaiting the "Italian" edition of Eurovision. 2022 to which the whole company is already devoting great attention."
     
     

    Italy in Junior Eurovision

    The country mades its debut in the competition in the 2014 edition in Malta. The internally selected  Vincenzo Cantiello represented the country with the song "Tu primo grande amore" achieving to bring the trophy on home soil on the nation's first apprearance. That made Italy the second country that won with the debut entry after Croatia's victory in the first edition.

    Italy hasn't missed an edition since then apart from the 2020 one due to the covid-10 pandemic. It's next best placing came in 2016 with Flamma Boccia who came 3rd performing "Cara Mamma' (Dear Mom) . In 2018 the flag flew the duo Melissa and Marco with their entry “What is Love“, which finished in 7th place with 151 points, while in 2019 Marta Viola with "La Voce Della Terra"  at Gliwice-Silesia, Poland gave another 7th placing for the country. 

    News Source: Eurofestivalnews

    Image: Junior Eurovision tv