Australian broadcaster SBS has confirmed to TV Tonight that they have withdrawn from the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.
Australia’s withdrawal from Junior Eurovision 2020 was confirmed this morning by SBS. Similar to Wales, the reasoning for the withdrawal was the current COVID-19 pandemic, and the ongoing travel restrictions. Currently, all international to and from Australia has been banned, with the restrictions likely to last until 2021. The broadcaster has also made clear that it has not completely cut ties with the contest, meaning that they could be likely to return next year.
Australia was represented by Jordan Anthony with the song “We Will Rise” at the 2019 contest. He finished 8th scoring a total of 121 points, he was 7th with the juries scoring 82 points, and 13th with the online vote scoring 39 points.
Junior Eurovision 2020
Junior Eurovision 2020 is to be held on November 29 in the Polish capital of Warsaw. The competition is being hosted by the Polish public broadcaster TVP, after Viki Gabor took victory with the song “Superhero”. The show will be staged in a TV studio facility in Warsaw, not a large arena as has been seen in previous years.
To date, the following countries have confirmed participation in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Poland:
- Belarus
- France
- Germany
- Georgia
- Ireland
- Kazakhstan
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Russia
- Serbia
- Spain
- Ukraine
Image: Thomas Hanses / Source: TV Tonight
Australia debuted in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2015, the same year as their Eurovision Song Contest debut. The country is yet to win the contest, and their best result was in 2017, when Isabella Clarke performed her song “Speak Up” and received 3rd place with 172 points. They later went on to place 3rd at the 2018 contest with “Champion” by Jael Wena.
This is sad news !! I hope to see Australia back in 2021 !!
It’s up to the following countries to confirm participation:
* Albania
* Armenia
* Malta
* North Macedonia
* Portugal
* United Kingdom in its entirety