The organizers of the Eurovision Song Contest have officially confirmed that the UK will host the international music competition in 2023.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) made this decision in order to ensure the safety of the participants and guests of the show.
In addition, the runners-up in 2022, the United Kingdom, have a lot of experience in hosting the contest, according to the organizers.
The United Kingdom has already hosted Eurovision eight times: in London (1960, 1963, 1968 and 1977), Edinburgh (1972), Brighton (1974), Harrogate (1982) and Birmingham (1998).
The show will be hosted by the BBC in 2023.
“The BBC Corporation has already taken over the responsibility for organizing the competition four times instead of other winning countries.
This tradition of solidarity continues, and we know that next year's competition will, on the one hand, be a showcase for the ingenuity and skill of one of the most experienced public service broadcasters in Europe, and, on the other hand, will ensure that this year's winner, Ukraine, is celebrated and not forgot throughout the event,” the EBU said in a statement.
As for Ukraine, the organizers expressed regret that the country would not be able to host the competition, but assured that it would automatically reach the final of the competition along with the Big Five countries.
According to the rules, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain and France advance directly to the final, regardless of the place taken by their representatives in the previous competition, since these countries make the largest financial contribution to the competition.
“We deeply regret that our Ukrainian colleagues and friends cannot host the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.
We are honored to host the largest and most challenging music competition in the world,” said BBC CEO Tim Davey.
Despite the refusal to hold the contest on the territory of Ukraine, the chairman of the board of the National Public Television and Radio Company of the country, Mykola Chernotitsky, stressed that the European Broadcasting Union will continue to support Kyiv.
It is known that the competition will be held with Ukrainian flavor - representatives of the country, together with their British colleagues, will develop and implement the ethnic elements of the show.
“The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 will not be held in Ukraine, but in support of Ukraine.
We are grateful to our partners from the BBC for solidarity with us.
I am sure that together we will be able to create a Ukrainian atmosphere at this event and once again rally the whole of Europe around our common values, such as (strive for -
RT
) peace, support, and chanting of diversity and talent, ”said Chernotitsky.
The Kalush Orchestra with the song Stefania brought Ukraine the first place at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022, which took place in Turin, Italy.
By tradition, the country that wins the competition receives the right to host a music competition.
However, the rules also provide that in urgent cases this right passes to another country.
The EBU announced the impossibility of holding Eurovision 2023 on the territory of Ukraine in June.
Then the union allowed the transfer of the right to host the competition to Great Britain, since its participant Sam Righter took second place.
The organization said that the decision to postpone the competition from the territory of Ukraine was dictated by the union's responsibility for ensuring conditions that guarantee the safety of all organizers and participants of the event.
Musical experts considered this decision absolutely justified, since it is not advisable to risk the safety of people.
The winners of 2022 did not agree with this verdict.
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke out in support of Ukraine.
The politician noted that during his last trip to Kyiv, the situation in the city was relatively stable, and added that by 2023 "everything will be fine."
The exact location and date of Eurovision 2023 has not yet been announced.