Britain’s chances of hosting Eurovision in 2023 have risen after the organizers of the song contest doubled its decision to keep it outside Ukraine.
The country won this year with Stefania from the Kalush Orchestra, as spectators from across the continent showed solidarity with the nation after the Russian invasion.
Traditionally, the winning country will host the event next year, but the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has said it has come to the conclusion that it cannot take place in Ukraine.
It says he is in talks with the BBC to host the race in the UK, which finished second with Sam Ryder’s Spaceman.
The decision drew criticism from Ukrainian Culture Minister Alexander Tkachenko, who suggested moving Eurovision to the UK would undermine his country.
But the EBU doubled its decision today, citing the “serious” risk of airstrikes in Ukraine along with the “high” risk of mass casualties.
It says that after a “full assessment and feasibility study”, it was concluded that the “security and operational guarantees” needed to host the event could not be met by Ukrainian public television UA: PBC.
The UK’s participation, Sam Ryder, came in second in the competition with his song Space Man. Photo: Yara Nardi / Reuters
The statement said it “fully understands the disappointment”, but the decision was “guided” by the EBU’s responsibility to ensure safety and security or by anyone working and participating in the event – “whose planning must begin immediately in the host country”.
The statement continued: “At least 10,000 people are usually accredited to work on or at the Eurovision Song Contest, including crew, staff and journalists. Another 30,000 fans are expected to travel to the event from around the world. Their well-being is our main concern.
“That is why it is extremely important that the decisions taken in connection with such a complex live TV event are made by broadcasting professionals and not politicized.
“The rules of the Eurovision Song Contest, agreed by all participating broadcasters, make it clear that the event may be moved in case of force majeure, such as an ongoing war.”
The EBU said Ukraine’s response to a security questionnaire highlighted a number of risks that would have an impact on the immediate planning of Eurovision, including the “serious” risk of airstrikes and attacks by planes, drones and missiles.
The EBU also said that third country security councils had found that countermeasures to reduce threats in Ukraine were “insufficient” and that the assessment of the risk of a mass casualty event due to the ongoing conflict was “high”.
The statement continued: “Along with security concerns, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has made delegations and participants reluctant to travel to the country.
We also noted the comments made by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that the war in Ukraine “may take years.”
He also noted that there are no major international concert tours in Ukraine in 2023.
“All of this contributes to the EBU’s overall assessment that the necessary hosting requirements set out in the rules of the Eurovision Song Contest have not been met in terms of security and operational guarantees,” he added.
The EBU concluded that the decision had been made to move the event to another country, confirming that discussions were continuing to find a “suitable place” for the race next year.
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