Covid hits Eurovision: Icelandic entry is forced to miss live event with a recorded video of them performing used instead after ‘shocked’ band member tests positive for coronavirus
- Icelandic group Dadi & Gagnamagnid will miss out on on Saturday’s final
- Instead, footage from an earlier performance of ’10 years’ will be broadcast
- The six-piece band are tipped as one of the favourites to win this year’s contest
- The final will take place in the Dutch city of Rotterdam after being cancelled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic
A member of Iceland’s Eurovision Song Contest entry has tested positive for coronavirus, meaning they will not be able to perform live at the final on Saturday.
Icelandic group Dadi & Gagnamagnid, one of the favourites to win the competition, will also miss Wednesday’s live rehearsal, and Thursday’s semi-final.
Instead, footage of the band performing their song ’10 years’ in an earlier rehearsal will be used at the event in Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
The news is a blow to organisers of the competition in the Dutch port city, which was cancelled last year due to Covid-19 and is going ahead this year with strict health measures in place.
‘We have all been extremely careful the whole trip so this comes as a huge surprise,’ tweeted singer Dadi, who like the rest of the band performs in a green tracksuit with an emoji of his face on the front.
‘We are very happy with the performance and super excited for you all to see it! Thank you for all the love.’
Dadi & Gagnamagnid from Iceland perform the song ’10 Years’ a rehearsal for the Second Semi-Final of the 65th annual Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam, May 13, 2021. A member of the band tested positive for Covid-19, and the group – one of the competition favourites – will not be able to perform live at Saturday’s final
The European Broadcasting Union said in a statement that a member of the Icelandic group tested positive on Wednesday as did a member of the Icelandic delegation on Sunday.
‘Dadi og Gagnamagnid have taken the difficult decision to withdraw from performing in this year’s live Eurovision Song Contest shows, as they only want to perform together as a group,’ the statement said.
‘Their song will remain in the competition and we will broadcast their rehearsal performance, recorded on the stage on 13 May.’
The Icelandic delegation would remain in quarantine as it had been since the initial positive test on Sunday, the EBU said.
A member of the Polish delegation also tested positive on Sunday while teams from Romania and Malta missed Sunday’s opening ceremony as a precaution as they had been staying in the same hotel.
The 65th edition of the song contest is underway in Rotterdam amid strict testing and hygiene protocols in an attempt to prevent the spread of the virus.
Dadi og Gagnamagnid from Iceland perform via video link during rehearsals at the Eurovision Song Contest at Ahoy arena in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Wednesday, May 19, 2021
The news is a blow to organisers of the competition in the Dutch port city, which was cancelled last year due to Covid-19 and is going ahead this year with strict health measures in place
Up to 3,500 fans are allowed to attend dress rehearsals, the semi-finals and Saturday’s final if they have tested negative for the virus.
Ten performers from each of Tuesday’s and Thursday’s semi-finals at the Ahoy Arena progress on to Saturday’s grand final, where they will join the so-called big five of Italy, France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom, along with the host nation, the Netherlands.
On Tuesday night, voters chose singers or groups from Norway, Israel, Russia, Azerbaijan, Malta, Lithuania, Cyprus, Sweden, Belgium and Ukraine to go on to the final.
Dadi & Gagnamagnid were originally set to perform their song ‘Think About Things’ at Eurovision 2020, before it was postponed until 2021.
Joining a number of other countries, Iceland opted to go with their 2020 entry for this year’s competition.
Iceland’s quest for glory at the Eurovision Song Contest was fictionalised in a comedy movie last year called ‘Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Sage,’ starring Rachel McAdams and Will Ferrel (pictured right and left respectively)
The band is made up of six singers, including their 6ft 9in front-man Daði Freyr Pétursson, Árný Fjóla Ásmundsdóttir, Stefán Hannesson, Jóhann Sigurður Jóhannsson, Sigrún Birna Pétursdóttir and Hulda Kristín Kolbrúnardóttir.
Daði and Árný Fjóla are married, having met when they were 16 years old, and share a young daughter together. Their family ties have made them a popular entry into Eurovision.
Iceland’s quest for glory at the Eurovision Song Contest was fictionalised in a comedy movie last year called ‘Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Sage,’ starring Rachel McAdams and Will Ferrel.
The film received mixed reviews, but its song ‘Husavik’ (My Hometown) was nominated for an Oscar at this years’ academy awards for best original song, missing out to ‘Fight For You’ from the movie ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’.
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