Despite the victory, the next Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) will not take place in Ukraine because of the Russian war of aggression. This was announced by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) on Friday in Geneva. Instead, they want to hold talks with the BBC as to whether the ESC 2023 can be held in Great Britain.
Ukraine will not host the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) 2023. Because of the Russian war of aggression, implementation and, above all, preparation is not possible, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced in writing on Friday.
The ESC is one of the “most complex TV productions in the world” involving thousands of people. The event and the preparations “need 12 months’ time.” Due to the “current circumstances”, the necessary security and implementation guarantees could not be given “with regret”.
They “share the sadness and disappointment” that next year’s competition could not be held in Ukraine, despite the clear victory of the Kalush Orchestra.
Great Britain could now move up as hosts as second place from Turin. Discussions with the BBC about a possible hosting of the competition in the United Kingdom will now be initiated, the EBU said. Ukraine’s victory at ESC 2022 should be reflected in the shows.
It is a tradition at the ESC that the winner’s country usually hosts the competition next year. But this is not a compulsory obligation. In the past, winners – for example because of the high costs of the spectacle – waived their right and passed the competition on to other participants. The British BBC stepped in as early as 1974. At that time, last year’s winner Luxembourg had renounced because a Grand Prix had already taken place there in 1973. The 1974 festival in Brighton went down in pop history with Abba’s performance of “Waterloo”.
There is even one participating country that, according to the rules, is never allowed to hold the ESC, even if it wins, that is Australia. If Down Under ever wins, another country will be selected automatically.
The original of this post “ESC 2023 will not take place in Ukraine” comes from Bunte.de.
