Lithuania: The Roop cancel their postcard shooting trip to The Netherlands and all pre-party plans until May
The Roop, one of Lithuania’s favorites at this year’s Eurovision, is canceling tomorrow’s flight to the Netherlands, where it was due to shoot their Eurovision postcard, in response to the rapidly changing global situation due to the spread of coronavirus.
Accordning to a LRT post, the delegation is cancelling tomorrow’s trip to the Netherlands, where they had scheduled to shoot the postcard for the show and will also not take part in a series of shows in London and Amsterdam. The decision come as a result to the rapid spread of coronavirus accross Europe.
The group’s members want to comply with their country’s goverment recommendations. The leader of the group , Vaidotas Valiukevičius, stated on the decision:
We do not want to risk our own health or public health. We follow the Government’s recommendations to avoid overseas travel. We believe prudence is the key to getting everyone back to normal
Mantas Banišauskas, guitarist of The Roop, says:
The world needs to be very united right now. Now is not a period of war, not racing, but a period of concentration. We are looking forward to meeting everyone and wanting to spread the good virus of the On Fire dance to our world
The group continues to work intensively on Eurovision and hopes that by mid-May the situation will improve and they will be able to make a full appearance in the competition.
Audrius Giržadas, LRT chief producer and head of the Lithuanian delegation to Eurovision, stated on this latest development:
It is a pity that we have to postpone the long-planned travel of our representatives, but such a decision is the only right step in this case. In dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, we have to be responsible and avoid foreign risks and visits as much as possible.
Eurovision 2020 participation
The group Roop won Lithuania’s national final , Pabandom iš naujo, with their song “On fire” which at moment is the fovorite to win the contest according to bookies predictions. The Roop will compete in the first half of the 1st semi final set to take place on May 12, 2020 at Rotterdam Ahoy.
Source: LRT
Photo cover credit: J. Stacevičius / LRT
