As COVID-19 cases are on the rise across Europe, many broadcasters are re-evaluating their national final plans. Among them is Norway’s NRK, who announced this week that Melodi Grand Prix (MGP) will unfortunately be held with no audience.
No Audience in Change of MGP Plans
Norway’s Head of Delegation Stig Karlsen was initially hopeful that MGP would go ahead with a live audience. However, with the recent rise of Omicron varient cases of COVID-19, NRK made the decision to have no audience for the MGP heats and last-chance round out of caution.
Unfortunately, we are in a far more demanding situation than last time, and are now taking a number of measures to limit the risk of infection and quarantine.
Stig Karlsen, Norway Head of Delegation
According to NRK, there is the possibility of an audience for the MGP Final on February 19th. That decision will be made at a later date. Fans who bought tickets for the live shows will be refunded within six to eight weeks.
NRK set January 6th as the release date for the MGP 2022 artists and songs. The network will also explore other ways to involve fans throughout the contest. Karlsen noted that organizers want to “make a party for everyone at a time when we really need it.”
Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest
Norway made its Eurovision Song Contest debut in 1960 with Nora Brockstedt’s “Voi Voi”, which placed 4th. Since then, Norway has participated 59 times and won 3 times. Bobbysocks won in 1985 with “La det swinge” and Secret Garden won with “Nocturne” a decade later in 1995. More recently, Alexander Rybak won the 2009 contest with “Fairytale” with a record-breaking score.
In the past decade, Norway made the qualified to the Grand Final every year except 2011 and 2016. They notched five top-ten finishes, including 4th in 2013 with Margaret Berger’s “I Feed You My Love”. In 2019, Keiino placed sixth and won the televote with “Spirit in the Sky”. In the most recent contest in 2021, Tix qualified for the Grand Final with “Fallen Angel”, which ultimately placed 16th.
How do you feel about MGP not having an audience? Are you excited for the songs to be announced? Let us know in the comments or on social media. Be sure to follow THAT Eurovision Site on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
News Source: NRK
Photo Source: NRK
Tim J
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