Jeux sans frontières season 17

The 17th season of the international television game show Jeux sans frontières was held in the summer of 1981. Broadcasters from Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Yugoslavia participated in the competition coordinated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), while West Germany withdrew due to low viewing figures.^[1] The different heats were hosted by each of the participant broadcasters in locations in their countries such as Lignano Sabbiadoro (Italy), Pula (Yugoslavia), Annecy (France), Meiringen-Hasliberg (Switzerland), Lisbon (Portugal), Sunderland (United Kingdom), and Charleroi (Belgium). The grand final was held in Belgrade (Yugoslavia). The head international referees in charge of supervising the competition were Gennaro Olivieri and Guido Pancaldi.^[2]

For each heat, each broadcaster sent a mixed team from a city or town from its country that competed against each other in a series of games –funny physical games played in outlandish costumes, though none-the-less technically difficult– themed in the specific topic of the episode. After the seven heats, the most successful team from each country competed in the grand final. Each of the episodes was presented by the host broadcaster in its own language. Each of the participating broadcasters had their own presenters who did some on-site presentations for their audience and commented on the competition in their language.^[3]

The season was won by the teams from Lisbon, Portugal, and Dartmouth, United Kingdom.^[4]

Heat 1 was hosted by RAI on 26 May 1981 in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy, and its theme was the sea. It was presented by Michele Gammino and Milly Carlucci.

Heat 2 was hosted by TV Belgrade on behalf of JRT on 10 June 1981 at the Roman amphitheatre in Pula, Yugoslavia, and its theme was cinema. It was presented by Dunja Lango, Minja Subota and Mersiha Čolaković.

Heat 3 was hosted by RTP on 24 June 1981 in front of the Belém Tower in Lisbon, Portugal, and its theme was the feast of Saint Anthony. It was presented by Eládio Clímaco and Alice Cruz.

Heat 4 was hosted by RTBF on 8 July 1981 in Charleroi, Belgium, and its theme was professions. It was presented by Paule Herreman and Michel Lemaire.

Heat 5 was hosted by TV DRS on behalf of SRG SSR TSI on 29 July 1981 in Meiringen-Hasliberg, Switzerland, and its theme was holidays in the mountains and legends of the Swiss Alps. It was presented by Jan Hiermeyer and Rosemarie Pfluger.

Heat 6 was hosted by Antenne 2 on 12 August 1981 in Annecy, France, and its theme was the sports in the town. It was presented by Guy Lux and Simone Garnier.

Heat 7 was hosted by the BBC on 25 August 1981 in Sunderland, United Kingdom, and its theme was British weekend traditions. It was presented by Stuart Hall and Eddie Waring.

The teams with the most points from each country advanced to the grand final:

The final was hosted by TV Belgrade on behalf of JRT on 8 September 1981 at the swimming pool complex of the Tašmajdan Sports and Recreation Center in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, and its theme was music. It was presented by Dunja Lango, Mersiha Čolaković and Minja Subota.

The competition was transmitted to the participating broadcasters via the Eurovision network. In most cases, broadcasters aired the episodes live in their territory.