LONDON — Britain said Monday it had
reluctantly agreed to host next year’s Eurovision song contest, after
organizers said there was no prospect of the pop extravaganza going ahead in
war-torn
Ukraine.
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The BBC will now produce the world’s biggest live
music event, taking in performers from across
Europe and Central Asia as well
as Israel and Australia, in a UK city yet to be determined.
Ukraine won this year’s contest, held in Italy,
ahead of Britain’s entry in second place. For the past month, it had insisted
it could host next year’s despite the Russian invasion.
But after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU)
ruled that out on security grounds, the government in Kyiv acquiesced to a
UK-hosted event with a strongly Ukrainian flavor.
Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko said that after
“several rounds” of discussion, the EBU had given assurances of an “extremely
high integration of Ukrainian context and presenters”.
British Prime
Minister Boris Johnson said that in phone talks last week with President
Volodymyr Zelensky, they “agreed that wherever Eurovision 2023 is held, it must
celebrate the country and people of Ukraine”.
“As we are now hosts, the UK will honor that pledge
directly — and put on a fantastic contest on behalf of our Ukrainian friends,”
Johnson tweeted.
Johnson’s spokesman added it had been the
soon-to-depart prime minister’s “strong wish” for Ukraine to host the 2023
edition, and found it “deeply regrettable” that was no longer possible.
In May, Ukrainian folk-rap group
Kalush Orchestra
won in Turin, on a wave of support for their country following Russia’s
invasion.
Its lead singer Oleh Psiuk, whose bubblegum-pink
bucket hat helped make him one of the breakout stars of the night, thanked
Britain for stepping in.
“We hope Eurovision 2023 will have a Ukrainian
flavor and celebrate our beautiful, unique culture,” he said in a statement to
Britain’s PA news agency.
“We, in turn, will make all efforts to help Ukraine
win next year as well, so that Eurovision 2024 can take place in a peaceful
country.”
Cities wait in wings
By convention, the winning
country hosts the kitsch celebration of music the following year. Britain last
hosted it in 1998.
But last month, the EBU said Ukraine could not
guarantee the safety of more than 10,000 people involved in the production and
a further 30,000 fans expected to attend.
The broadcasting union stuck to its line despite
protests from Zelensky’s government and rejected one proposal to shift the
contest to a border location within Ukraine, away from the frontlines.
The EBU said Ukraine was still guaranteed a place in
the 2023 grand final along with the organization’s “top five” countries:
Britain, France,
Germany, Italy, and Spain.
The other finalists will be selected via national
votes by viewers and judges, typically ranging from mainstream pop to the
rather odd.
BBC director-general Tim Davie said it was “of great
regret” that Ukraine could not host next year.
“The BBC is committed to making the event a true
reflection of Ukrainian culture alongside showcasing the diversity of British
music and creativity,” he said.
But the cash-strapped BBC also has to contend with
footing a multi-million-euro bill for staging the show, unless the UK
government stumps up extra support.
The broadcaster said it aimed to select a UK host
venue by the autumn, in collaboration with the EBU.
Whichever city wins will need to have an
international airport, a sizeable conference venue, and thousands of hotel
rooms.
London, Manchester, and Sheffield all said they were
ready to step in. Glasgow had previously expressed interest.
This year’s contest vaulted Britain’s second-placed
entrant Sam Ryder to stardom.
Last month, before another global TV audience, Ryder
performed his quirky song “Space Man” in front of Buckingham Palace as part of
Platinum Jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II.
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