Junior Eurovision 2020: No return for Latvia and Norway; Ukraine intends to join the next edition

Junior Eurovision 2020: No return for Latvia and Norway; Ukraine intends to join the next edition
Wednesday, 17 June 2020

  • With the next edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 5 months ahead the countries are progressively clearing out their intentions regarding next November's  JESC 2020  show.

    Last two countries to outrule any comeback at the next edition are Latvia and Norway while Ukraine has expressed its intention in taking part at the upcoming contest in Poland. 

    Latvia

    Recently the Latvian broadcaster revealed recentely to Eurofestivales that the Baltic country won't be returning in this year's edition of Junior Eurovision. LTV’s press department confirmed that they had no intentions to return to the contest in 2020 without mentioning any specific reason. 

    Latvia in Junior Eurovision 

    The Baltic nation made their debut in  the 2003 contest, represented by Dzintars Čīča  in Copenhagen. They finished in 9th place with 37 points. In 2004, Latvia came in the last place with the disappointing total of 3 points.

    In 2006 they withdrew from the contest and came back  in 2010 when they scored their highest points. In 2011 the country was represented by Amanda Bašmakova who performed “Moondog” in Yerevan.  Once more Latvia saw its delgate finish in the last place of the scoreboard. This was Latvia's last participation in the competition.

     

    Norway

    The Norwegian national broadcaster, confirmed recently to Eurofestivales that the Scandinavian country will not return to the competition in Warsaw this year. NRK Junior Executive Producer Eva Henderson told Eurofestivales that Norway would not return to the contest despite its 15 year absense. 

    Norway in Junior Eurovision 

    Norway has participated in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest three times, and was the host of the 2004 Contest, where it was held in the Norwegian city of Lillehammer.

    Norway's best result in the contest came in 2005, when Malin Reitan came third for Norway with the song "Sommer og skolefri". In 2006, NRK decided to withdraw from the contest, along with Sweden's SVT and Denmark's DR due to a rule change that allowed professional kids to participate. Instead the Scandinavian broadcasters revived MGP Nordic, previously held in 2002.Norway has not participated in the contest since.

     

    It's a YES from Ukraine 

    The Ukrainian nationl broadcaster, UA:PBC has confirmed it's intention to take part in this year's Junior Eurovision set to take place on November 29 in Warsaw, Poland. 

    According to Eurovoix's report the ex soviet country internd to join the list of nations that will be present at the next edition of the competition. Although the broadcaster hasn't yet confirmed the format it will use to determine its next JESC act but it is likely that it sticks with last year's  virtual national final especially under the new circumstances the covid-19 pandemic has created. 

    Ukraine in Junior Eurovision 

    Ukraine took part in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest for the first time in 2006. Their best result came in Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2012 when Anastasiya Petryk won for Ukraine with "Nebo". Her sister Viktoria Petryk previously came 2nd at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2008 with "Matrosy".

    Ukraine has hosted the competition in 2099 and 2013,  with Kiev being the first city to host the contest twice, while Ukraine was then the second country after the Netherlands to host the competition twice.

    Last year Sophia Ivanko represent the country with “The Spirit of Music”, which finished 15th with 59 points.

     

    Source: Eurofestivales/ ESCXtra