Virus scales down December Nobel peace prize award ceremony

  award ceremony for 2020 bel Peace Prize, tritionally held at Oslo city hall on Dec. 10, will inste be held in scaled-down form at city’s university because of coronavirus outbreak.

“It is a strange and challenging year in many ways. We experience same thing as many ors, namely that things must be done in a new way,” Olav Njoelst, director of rwegian bel Institute, body that oversees bel Peace Prize, told rway brocaster NRK on Tuesday.

Ceremonies for or prizes — physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine and literature as well as ecomic prize — will be awarded in Stockholm, Sweden, on same day. Organizers also have scheduled smaller ceremonies because of pandemic.

Since 1901, prizes have been presented at ceremonies on anniversary of Alfred bel’s death. peace award has been handed out in Oslo — according to bel’s will — while rest have been handed out in Stockholm.

From 1947 to 1990, setting for peace prize was auditorium of University of Oslo. Thirty years ago, event moved to city hall that could seat roughly 1,000 guests, among m rwegian royals. This year, 100 guests are planned.

name of 2020 bel Peace Prize winner will be revealed on Oct. 9, while or prizes will be anunced between Oct. 5 and Oct. 12. re are 318 minations for 2020 peace prize — 211 are individuals and 107 are organizations and groups.

bel institution does t publish names of minees for 50 years. However, those who minate — a select group of people and organizations, including national lawmakers, hes of state and certain international institutions — can publicly anunce ir minations. Among this year's minees is Swedish teen climate activist Greta Thunberg.

re is some uncertainty about wher winners will be able to travel to Sweden because of pandemic, and a digital award ceremony is being considered.

“As infection situation is w, I think it is most likely that prize winner or winners cant be physically present. That is what we are planning for,” Njoelst told NRK.

“We are looking into possibility of having a video link to a meeting room in award winner’s home country. It may also be relevant to have a representative of bel Committee present re to present Peace Prize.”

tritional banquet and concert held after bel peace award ceremony have been canceled, Njoelst said. musical tribute to bel laureate was first held in 1994. It has drawn big names from entertainment industry. Lionel Richie, Bon Jovi, Aretha Franklin and Mary J. Blige are among performers who have hosted event.