As per the review timeline for the European Jamboree 2020+1 due this month, the European Jamboree Organisation has been working closely with the European Regions of WAGGGS and WOSM, as well as the Host City of Gdańsk, to assess the viability of the event.
As announced earlier today, after careful consideration of the available data, a significant drop in the number of registered participants, and the continuing volatility of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the decision has been taken to cancel the event scheduled to take place 2-13 August 2021 in Poland.
As with many of our Scouting and Guiding plans and activities, the adventure of the European Jamboree 2020+1 was affected by the impact of COVID. Following the postponement to 2021, many of those involved renewed their commitment and further increased their creativity looking at this Jamboree as “a beacon of hope that we will soon be able to return to what makes Scouting and Guiding special to us”, as Karol Gzyl, Jamboree Director, puts it. Despite an uncertain future, all the teams in charge kept the momentum going and we continued to be impressed by this immense energy invested in this very special event.
While this is certainly not the outcome we were all hoping for, we are convinced that this is a necessary decision to take. We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to the European Jamboree Organising Team as well as ZHP for their leadership, vision and spirit. We would also like to thank you all, members of MOs and NSOs leadership, together with the Heads of Contingent, for your trust and dedication.
While we will not meet in Gdańsk next Summer, we cannot wait to see you again and celebrate what unites us all. In the meantime, we are looking forward to finding new ways to serve young people and our local, European and international communities alongside you.
You will find practical information in the latest communication to Heads of Contingents.
Yours in Scouting and Guiding
The European Regions of WOSM and WAGGGS
23 November 2020