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Netherlands to Skip Eurovision Again, Citing Lack of Neutrality

a large crowd of people at a concert
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The Netherlands will not join the Eurovision Song Contest again. This is the second year without the country in the show.

Eurovision is a big music contest. Many countries in Europe send a singer each year. People watch and vote for their favorite song.

The Netherlands says Eurovision is not neutral anymore. Neutral means fair to everyone, with no one side.

Some people ask if this withdrawal can hurt the future of Eurovision. A withdrawal means you stop joining something.

Other countries have not said they will leave too. But some people worry more countries could follow the Netherlands.

Vocabulary15 words

Eurovision
a big music show where countries in Europe send a singer to compete
contest
a competition where people try to win
neutral
fair to all sides; not choosing one side
withdrawal
stopping being part of something
compete
to try to win against others
consecutive
happening one after another without a break
boycott
to stop joining something to show you disagree
vote
to choose who or what you like best
singer
a person who sings
future
the time that will come
fair
right and equal for everyone
join
to become part of a group or event
announce
to tell people something important
country
a place with its own government, like France or Spain
worry
to feel afraid something bad will happen

Quiz

1. What did the Netherlands announce?
2. Why does the Netherlands not want to join?
3. Is this the first time the Netherlands has skipped Eurovision?

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