The decision to host the 2007 Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, took the JESC Steering Group only ten minutes to decide, according to an interview with the group chairman.

Steering Group President Steve De Coninck-De Boeck, in an interview with eurosong.be, denied that the decision had anything to do with the rumoured lack of home interest in the Eurovision Song Contest. Instead, he emphasised the clear candidacy of the Dutch hosts based on geographical reasons, and Dutch enthusiasm to stage the show in 2007.

A highly qualitative show
It was already reported as Rotterdam's good news broke last week, that hosting in the Netherlands brings the contest back into Western Europe after a spell in the East. It was broadcaster AVRO's second try at JESC candidacy, winning this time over rival bids from Croatia and Cyprus. On the company's potential, De Coninck-De Boeck is clear: 'We are convinced that AVRO will deliver a highly qualitative show. The choice of the Netherlands was decided within 10 minutes, it was that clear.'

He also added that as a citizen of a neighbouring country, with close links to the broadcaster, he decided to remain in the background for the final decision. However, other members of the Steering Group were clearly convinced, and Dutch viewers can look forward to the first Eurovision contest on home soil since 1980, albeit the Junior version.