Switzerland has withdrawn from the 2005 Junior Eurovision Song Contest. The country made its first appearance in the contest last year when it finished 16th out of 18 participants. As the European Broadcasting Union informed esctoday.com, national broadcasters can subscribe for participation in Hasselt until 30th June 2005. Several weeks later, the final list of countries participating in the third edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest will be announced.
EBU confirms that Switzerland has withdrawn from the 2005 Junior Eurovision Song Contest. Swiss Italian language broadcaster RTSI informed our colleagues of oikotimes.com that financial reasons are to blame. “The costs of the participation are too high for one region. We can only afford it if the three Swiss regions participate and split the costs. As the German speaking part of Switzerland doesn't agree on a participation, we cannot afford it.”
Question have also risen about the participation of the United Kingdom in Hasselt. With a third position in 2003 and a second in 2004, the United Kingdom is one of most successful Junior Eurovision Song Contest nations so far. The European Broadcasting Union however told us that ITV has not officially informed them about a withdrawal yet.
All lists of participating countries appearing on the internet thus remain unofficial and speculative. Countries can subscribe for participation in the 2005 Junior Eurovision Song Contest until 30th June. Several weeks later, the final list of countries that will be participating in Hasselt on 26th November 2005 will be revealed.
