Italy: RAI will not take part in Junior Eurovision 2021

Friday, 02 July 2021

• The Italian broadcaster, RAI, has confirmed that they will not be participating in Junior Eurovision 2021 set to take place next December in Paris, France. 

  Italy will not compete in this year's edition of Junior Eurovision in Paris. The person in charge of children's content for the television channels Rai Yoyo (preschool), Rai Gulp (children) and for the free VOD service RAI Play, Luca Milano, confirmed to Eurofestivales that Italy will not participate in Junior Eurovision 2021.

  Even though the RAI official gave no further explanation for the decision it is more likely that due to the demanding preparations for the Eurovision Song Contest which the country will be hosting in 2022 and the forthcoming Sanremo Festival there was not so much space for a JESC 2021 participation. 

  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.

   

  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: Eurofestivales

  Image: Junior Eurovision tv