The announcement of the participant list for the 2005 Junior Eurovision Song Contest has once again been delayed. Supervisor Svante Stockselius tonight informed esctoday.com that it will take another two up to three weeks before the list will be announced.

Another delay…
The national broadcasters had the possibility to subscribe for participation in the 2005 Junior Eurovision Song Contest until 30th June. The announcement of the participating countries was expected last week, however the European Broadcasting Union postponed the announcement with one week.

The participant list had to be verified and to be declared official by the steering committee of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, the delay was justified. Tonight, Junior Eurovision Song Contest supervisor Svante Stockselius declared in a reaction to esctoday.com that the participant list will only be revealed in two up to three weeks. The new delay raises the question why the participant list really cannot be announced yet, since the deadline for subscribing was reached three weeks ago.

The interest in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest seems to have decreased. So far, only 13 countries have revealed their participation in the contest; less than the number of participants in the first (16) and second (18) edition of the contest and far from the 20 countries that the European Broadcasting Union had assumed.

13 countries have revealed their participation
� Belgium | Semifinals: 4 & 11 September – Final: 18 September
� Croatia | Lorena Jelusic – Rock baby
� Cyprus | Final in September
� Denmark | Final: 17 September
� Greece | Final in September
� Latvia | Final: 17 September
� Malta | Final: 24 September
� Netherlands | Semifinals: 10 & 17 September – Final: 24 September
� Norway | Malin – Sommer og skolefri
� Romania | Final: 20 August
� Spain | Three galas in September
� Sweden | Final in October
� United Kingdom | Final: 3 September

What will Belarus, FYR Macedonia and Poland do?
Three of last year's participating countries have not announced their participation in the 2005 Junior Eurovision Song Contest yet. Belarus, FYR Macedonia and Poland have neither revealed any plans for a national selection nor have they responded to esctoday.com's queries.

France and Switzerland withdraw
France and Switzerland joined the Junior Eurovision Song Contest for the first time last year in Lillehammer. France had a lack of interest this year and was concerned about the overdose of Eurovision Song Contests EBU is offering this year. “Too much Eurovision kills Eurovision,” France 3 declared. read more Switzerland withdrew for financial reasons. read more Both countries leave the contest after just one participation.

In three weeks, it might become clear why the announcement of the participant list has been delayed and whether the interest in the third edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest has indeed massively decreased, or not.