Managing Director of the RTBF Content Division, Sandrine Roustan, has confirmed to Eurofestivals that the broadcaster will not be taking part at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2021. This means that we won’t be seeing the return of Belgium to the show given the fact that in April it has been confirmed by VRT that they won’t be taking part at the show.
Ms. Roustan stated “the event is definitely too expensive for us.” RTBF withdrew from Junior Eurovision in 2007 due to a lack of interest for it in Wallonia. Since then VRT was in charge of selecting the Belgian entries for the contest, their last participation was in 2012.
Belgium made their debut at the contest at its inaugural edition in 2003 with “De Vriendschapsband” by X!NK. Even though the country never managed to win the show they hosted Junior Eurovision 2005 in Hasselt. Their best result at the contest was fourth place in 2009 with the song “Zo verliefd” by Laura Omloop, who got 113 points. You can check the performance below
The countries which confirmed their participation at Junior Eurovision 2021 so far are Ukraine, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Russia, Ireland ,Georgia. Poland and Portugal who has also selected their entrant for the contest.Albania is expected to make their decision by the end of this month while broadcasters from San Marino, Slovakia, Moldova, Austria, Estonia, Latvia, Denmark, Iceland, Bulgaria, Norway, Finland, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, Wales, Czech Republic as well as Belgian broadcaster VRT confirmed they won’t be taking part at the show. The contest will take place on 19th of December in Paris .
Would you like to see Belgium back at the contest? What are your expectations of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2021? Let us know in the comments below and at our social media links!
