Rai has announced today that 70th edition of Festival della Canzone Italiana di Sanremo will go ahead without an audience.
Following a week of public debate around whether Sanremo could go ahead with an audience, Rai has now released plans for the competition without an audience in place. The plan has received approval from Scientific Technical Committee stating that they believe it will reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
The key elements of the plan are:
- An audience will no longer be in the Ariston for the contest
- The presenter, co-hosts, cast and singers will all be on the stage by themselves
- Social distancing will be in place of a minimum of 1.5 metres
- Artists are limited to two supporting persons in their entourage
The 26 competing artists are:
- Francesco Renga โ Quando trovo te (When I find you)
- Coma_Cose โ Fiamme negli occhi (Flames in the eyes)
- Gaia โ Cuore amaro (Bitter heart)
- Irama โ La genesi del tuo colore (The genesis of your colour)
- Fulminacci โ Santa Marinella
- Madame โ Voce (Voice)
- Willie Peyote โ Mai dire mai (La locura) (Never say never (The madness))
- Orietta Berti โ Quando ti sei innamorato (When you fell in love)
- Ermal Meta โ Un milione di cose da dirti (A million things to tell you)
- Fasma โ Parlami (Talk to me)
- Arisa โ Potevi fare di piรน (You could have done more)
- Gio Evan โ Arnica
- Mรฅneskin โ Zitti e buoni (Silent and good)
- Aiello โ Ora (Now)
- Annalisa โ Dieci (Ten)
- Bugo โ E invece sรฌ (Instead yes)
- Colapesce e Dimartino โ Musica leggerissima (Very light music)
- Francesca Michielin e Fedez โ Chiamami per nome (Call me by name)
- Ghemon โ Momento perfetto (Perfect moment)
- La Rappresentante di Lista โ Amare (To love)
- Lo Stato Sociale โ Combat Pop
- Malika Ayane โ Ti piaci cosรฌ (You like yourself like that)
- Max Gazzรจ e Trifluoperazina Monstery Band โ Il farmacista (The pharmacist)
- Noemi โ Glicine (Wisteria)
- Random โ Torno a te (I come back to you)
Ermal Meta represented Italy alongside Fabrizio Moro in 2018, while Francesca Michielin represented Italy at the 2016 contest in Stockholm, Sweden.
Image Source: Eurovision.tv – Andres Putting | Source: ANSA
Italy debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1956 and has participated a total of 42 times to date. Italy returned to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2011 having last participated in the contest in 1997, the country has withdrawn from the contest on a number of occasions in the past. Italy has won the contest twice, the first time being in 1964 and the latest being in 1990. Italyโs hosting of the contest in 1991 has been remembered as one of the most chaotic contests to date. Since their return in 2011 Italy has finished in the top 10 on seven occasions.