Boris Johnson: Ukraine can and should host next Eurovision Song Contest!

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Ukraine can and should host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Saturday, after the organisers said they were in talks to hold it in Britain instead due to the war.

While decades-long tradition dictates that the winner of the contest gets to host it the following year, organisers said the security guarantees required to hold the competition in Ukraine meant discussions would be held with the runner up, Britain.

UK: First odds for Eurovision 2023 hosts!

“Of course I would love it to be in this country but the fact is they won and they deserve to have it and I believe they can have it and I believe that they should have it,” Johnson told reporters on arrival back in Britain after a visit to Kyiv.

“I believe that Kyiv or any other safe Ukrainian city would be a fantastic place to have it,” he added. “It is a year away, it is going to be fine by the time the Eurovision Song Contest comes round and I hope the Ukrainians get it.”

The comments by organiser the European Broadcasting Union on Friday that it was in discussions with British broadcaster the BBC to host the next event was greeted with disappointment in Kyiv, which demanded further negotiations.

Source: Reuters

Ukraine: Minister of Culture asks EBU to reverse its Eurovision 2023 host country decision!

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Ukraine, through its Minister of Culture and Director General of Public Television Suspilne, is requesting an official statement from the EBU, which Ruslana, along with Kalush Orchestra singer Oleh Psiuk, is reversing its decision on the country. which will host Eurovision 2023.

Ukraine, through its Minister of Culture, is requesting the official statement from the EBU about the decision on the country, which will host Eurovision 2023. In this statement signed by Eurovision winners Ruslana and Oleh Psiuk (frontman of Kalush Orchestra) and Mykola Chernotytskyi, the director of state TV channel Suspilne, the minister called for further talks about hosting Eurovision 2023 in Ukraine.

The minister’s statement:

“In response to the published statement of the European Broadcasting Union on the impossibility of hosting Eurovision – 2023 in Ukraine, we want to emphasize the following.”

“Ukraine does not agree with the nature of such a decision – when we were confronted with the fact without discussion on other options. But we strongly believe that we have every reason to hold further negotiations in order to find a joint solution that will satisfy all parties.”

“We honestly won Eurovision and have fulfilled all the condition within the deadlines for the process of approving its holding in Ukraine — we have provided answers and guarantees on safety standards and possible venues for the competition.”

“Hosting Eurovision 2023 in Ukraine is a strong signal to the whole world that it supports Ukraine now. We will demand to change this decision, because we believe that we will be able to fulfil all the commitments, as we have repeatedly [emphasised to] the European Broadcasting Union.”

“That is why we demand additional negotiations on hosting Eurovision 2023 in Ukraine.”

Apart from signing the minister’s statement, CEO of Suspilne Mykola Chernotytskyi released another one himself.

“We are disappointed with this decision of the EBU. During this month, a large number of people in Ukraine have thrown all their efforts to fulfil the conditions for holding Eurovision in our country. Security is, of course, our first priority. The team of UA: PBC, state and local authorities did a thorough job and offered different options. It is a pity to see such an unappealable statement, ​​therefore, we ask our partners to hold further negotiations.”

According to Chernotytskyi, Ukraine had proposed three different possibilities: hosting in Kyiv, Lviv or Zakarpattia. These last two are close to the borders with Poland, Hungary and Slovakia, and have not been under continuous attacks during the war.

Eurovision’s organising body the European Broadcasting Union has confirmed that Ukraine will not host the 2023 contest. In a statement released on Friday 17 June, the EBU said that discussions will now begin with the United Kingdom.

Stay tuned in Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Breaking News: Glasgow will host the Eurovision 2023 in UK if Ukraine pulls out!

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The BBC is drawing up plans to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in the UK – after Ukraine won this year’s show. The UK could step in and host instead of Ukraine amid the invasion by Russia.

Sam Ryder finished second last month. The president of Spain’s national broadcaster has all but confirmed the UK will host Eurovision if Ukraine can’t.

Jose Manuel Perez Tornero said: “We don’t want to be left with the mirage of a good result. We are going to go out to win next time. We were also interested in organising 2023 Eurovision. But if Ukraine resigns, it will be the BBC that organises it.”

Glasgow has been earmarked as the city to host the event according to British media. Sam Ryder, was recently asked whether he would be willing to give it another try next year.

Ukraine: Preparations commence as UA:PBC submits questionnaire on security

Sam commented: “I just want more people to experience it…The more people that do, the more it will become engrained in the UK’s attitude that Eurovision is something that we are so lucky to have.” Asked if he would help to find the next hopeful to fly the flag for the UK, Sam responded:

“Of course! Whoever does it is in for the time of their life.”

Stay tuned in Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Ukraine: Preparations commence as UA:PBC submits questionnaire on security

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Hosting Eurovision 2023 is already a widely discussed topic, due to the situation in the winning country Ukraine. Despite rumors and broadcasters expressing their provisional interest to host next year in case Ukraine is unable to, today the Public broadcaster of Ukraine UA: PBC issued an official statement regarding the preparations for Eurovision 2023.

On June 14th the first meeting took place between Ukrainian broadcaster and government members along with EBU representatives. The statement says:

At this meeting the contest representatives and the EBU considered the presentation of guarantees and preparatory measures, in particular the security questionnaire, potential locations for the contest hosting prepared by the team of UA: PBC together with the government of Ukraine.

The Head of the Managing Board of UA: PBC Mykola Chernotytskyi continues:

All safety and security related measures have to be prepared and implemented in close cooperation with the national authorities. So we held consultations with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (National Police, State Emergency Service, National Guard)and the Ministry of Defense. Their experts together with security and risk assessment units of UA: PBC prepared common vision of the security situation and measures to be taken for the hosting of Eurovision next year. We thank the state authorities for their involvement and prompt preparation.

When it comes to safety concerns and the location of next years contest, the Ukrainian Minister of Culture and Information Policy Oleksandr Tkachenko added:

Yesterday we submitted a presentation of the questionnaire for the hosting of Eurovision in Ukraine to the European Broadcasting Union. Within a very short timeframe, the governmental team managed to provide thorough and comprehensive answers. Everybody worked in a very efficient and coordinated manner – from the public broadcaster and security authorities to the Prime Minister who assured with a letter that all the obligations that we have assumed will be fulfilled. We gave detailed answers regarding security questions and other organisation nuances, proposed several venues. I believe that we should have exhaustive, clear and honest answers to questions – that is what we did. We understand that in the current circumstances both we and the EBU face a challenge of organising Eurovision in Ukraine. But we have accepted this challenge and, I am sure, we will surprise everyone,

Ukraine was represented in Eurovision 2022 by Kalush Orchestra and the song Stefania, winning the contest with 631 points.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1fl60ypdLs

Do you think Ukraine will host next year despite the situation? Tell us in the comments!

Spain: Withdraws its interest in hosting Eurovision 2023!

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Since May 15, after the victory of Kalush Orchestra, the question on everyone’s mind is: “Where will Eurovision 2023 be held?”.

Although the Ukrainian authorities, as well as the national broadcaster Suspilne, have made it clear that the winning country will host the contest, several countries have expressed their interest to be considered as back-ups. Among others, the UK, Italy and Sweden have expressed their willingness to host the contest. It seems, however, that one of the strongest candidates has stepped back off the scene.

On 13 June, the newspaper ‘Faro De Vigo’ published a wide-ranging interview with the president of RTVE, José Manuel Pérez Tornero. Among other statements (happiness about Spain’s result in Turin, plans for a Latin American song contest), President Pérez Tornero made it clear that Spain would not host Eurovision 2023.

“We don’t want to stay under the illusion of a good result, we will aim to win next time. We would host the contest ourselves, but in the end, if Ukraine withdraws, the BBC will organise it.”

It is, therefore, obvious that Spain is out of contention.

But has the EBU come to a conclusion? Perhaps, as the RTVE chairman seems pretty sure that all options have been left aside except Ukraine (which seems to be the EBU’s main choice) and the UK as the only remaining fallback option.

Whatever the case, however, it is certain that the name of the host country and city will not be revealed any time soon.

Source: escbubble

Stay tuned at EurovisionFun for all the latest news regarding Eurovision 2023!

Office of the President of Ukraine: “Ukraine is already preparing for Eurovision 2023”!

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Cyril Tymoshenko, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office of Ukraine, in a post on Telegram that was also reposted on the official Facebook page of Suspilne for Eurovision, states that the preparations for Eurovision 2023 have already begun!

The main question for us and the EBU is security. To ensure the necessary logistics, and especially security, we look at different locations. Exactly which we can not announce yet.

The Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine from the very beginning are involved in the preparations for Eurovision-2023. Ukraine is already preparing for the Eurovision 2023 final.

Cyril Tymoshenko 

At the same time in Geneva the reference group of the contest is meeting with an unknown agenda, although as you understand the issue of the country that will host Eurovision 2023 is both burning and important.

Ukrainian officials in all their statements appear confident that their country will host Eurovision 2023, despite the armed conflict that continues to rage mainly in the east of the country. In fact, a few days ago they set up an organizing committee for this purpose.

Ukraine won the right to host the Eurovision Song Contest for the third time in its territory, after the victory of the Kalush Orchestra in Turin, with the song Stefania. We are waiting with interest for the decision of the EBU, whether the competition will finally be hosted next year in Ukraine or for security reasons, another country will be preferred.

Stay tuned for all the updates!

Ukraine: Goverment forms organizing committee for Eurovision 2023!

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The Ukrainian Government has announced that a Committee has been formed to help organising the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.

Taras Melnychuk, the Government Representative in the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) has announced that a Committee has been formed for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023. The composition of the committee was signed off today among a number of other measures.

Ukraine’s Minister of Culture and Information Oleksandr Tkachenko recognises that the war is the first and foremost factor as to why Ukraine is being viewed as unlikely to host the contest in 2023 unless peace should come to the country in the next couple of months. He stated last week that:

We have no doubt that it should take place in Ukraine. The only thing is that no one has ever held Eurovision during war […] We are now looking for answers with our colleagues to the most important conditions set by the European Broadcasting Union, but I think that we will have to explain during our dialogue that some conditions need to be changed.

Mr. Tkachenko recognizes that due to the current war, hosting is not a given, while he revealed that he will have talks with EBU representatives today. He also added that negotiations will be difficult but he hopes the 2023 contest will be held in Ukraine.

Even though there is less than a month since the Grand Final, several countries have declared their provisional interest to host the contest, in case Ukraine is not able. These countries are:

  • Sweden
  • Iceland
  • Poland
  • Spain
  • Italy
  • The Netherlands
  • Switzerland

Ukraine won this year’s contest with the song “Stefania” by Kalush Orchestra:

https://youtu.be/F1fl60ypdLs

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding Eurovision Song Contest 2023!

Source: eurovoix.com

Minister of culture Oleksandr Tkachenko: Ukraine should host Eurovision 2023!

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In todays press conference at the Ukraine media center, the minister of culture and information policy of Ukraine Oleksandr Tkachenko said that there is no doubt that Eurovision 2023 should be held in Ukraine, however certain conditions need to change.

He specifically said:

We have no doubt that it should take place in Ukraine. The only thing is that no one has ever held Eurovision during war […] We are now looking for answers with our colleagues to the most important conditions set by the European Broadcasting Union, but I think that we will have to explain during our dialogue that some conditions need to be changed.

Mr. Tkachenko recognizes that due to the current war hosting is not a given, while he revealed that he will have talks with EBU representatives today. He also added that negotiations will be difficult but he hopes the 2023 contest will be held in Ukraine.

Even though there is less than a month since the Grand Final, several countries have declared their provisional interest to host the contest, in case Ukraine is not able. These countries are:

  • Sweden
  • Iceland
  • Poland
  • Spain
  • Italy
  • The Netherlands
  • Switzerland

 

Do you think Ukraine will be able to host Eurovision next year? Who do you think should host in case they wont? Tell us in the comments!

Ukraine: Kalush Orchestra sell the Eurovision trophy for $900,000!

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Kalush Orchestra announced through their Facebook profile that they sell their Eurovision trophy through auction for $900,000. The buyer of the trophy is the company WhiteBit, from which came the eventual winning bid.

The owners of the company are Vladimir Nosov and Oleg Kayin, from Estonia and Ukraine respectively. The company is specialised in the trade of cryptocurrency and their target is to expand the cryptocurrency community and create a safe way for blockchain trading to spread.

In the post, Kalush Orchestra share their appreciation for everyone who has taken part in the auction

In their Facebook post, Kalush Orchestra say:

Friends, you are incredible!

We are grateful to each and every one of you who has donated to this auction – especially to the WhiteBit Team who have bought the trophy for $900,000 and have since become the owners of the trophy. 🏆

Subscribe to them, they really deserve it 💪

Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Armed Forces 🇺🇦

The funded money will go to Serhiy Prytula, according to NEXTA. Serhiy Prytula is an Ukrainian army volunteer who also coordinated the auction of the Eurovision trophy. In his self-titled foundation, he raises funds to support the Ukrainian army wherever they need help.

NEXTA also reports that the funds will be used to purchase drones for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Kalush Orchestra also sold copies of the pink fisherman’s hat Oleh Psiuk has been wearing during the contest. The hats were for sale at $5 each, but it isn’t know how many copies are sold yet.

Source: ESCXTRA

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the news!

 

Eurovision 2023: Kyiv states it’s ready to host the contest!

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The complex issue of the hosting of Eurovision 2023 seems to be developing, with the Office of the Mayor of Kyiv stating that the Ukrainian capital is ready to host Eurovision 2023, if asked.

In particular, the Deputy Head of the State Administration of the city of Kyiv, Mykola Povoroznyk, stated the following:

We are ready to host Eurovision. We have all the infrastructure prepared for it. I do not think it is appropriate to build something new, we will focus on what we already have – within a year, in the current circumstances, it is quite difficult to build something new. If the organizers trust us, we will hold a competition of high international level.

Kyiv is the first Ukrainian city to express interest in hosting the competition after the country’s victory with Kalush Orchestra, as well as the one that hosted the competition in 2005 and 2017, thanks to the country’s first two victories.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the developments regarding Eurovision 2023!