‘Full intention Ukraine’s win will be reflected in next year’s Eurovision’
Yesterday, we reported that war-torn Ukraine, which won this year’s Eurovision, will be unable to host next year’s contest, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said.
Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra last month won the world’s biggest live music event, and according to tradition, the country should host next year’s event.
But EBU said “given the ongoing war” since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last February, it had determined it was impossible for the event to go ahead there.
“Given the current circumstances, the security and operational guarantees required for a broadcaster to host, organise and produce the Eurovision Song Contest… cannot be fulfilled,” it said.
Instead, EBU said it would “now begin discussions with the BBC, as this year’s runner up, to potentially host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in the United Kingdom.”
“It is our full intention that Ukraine’s win will be reflected in next year’s shows,” the EBU stressed.
“This will be a priority for us in our discussions with the eventual hosts.”
The office of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomed the move.
