The UK’s chances of hosting Eurovision in 2023 have approached after the organizers of the song contest redoubled their decision to keep it out of Ukraine.
The country won this year with Stefania of the Kalush Orchestra, as spectators from across the continent showed solidarity with the nation after the invasion of Russia.
Traditionally, the winning country hosts the event the following year, but the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said it had concluded that it could not be held in Ukraine.
He said he was in talks with the BBC to host the competition in the UK, which finished second to Sam Ryder’s Space Man.
The decision provoked criticism from Ukrainian Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko, who suggested that moving Eurovision to the UK would undermine his country.
But the EBU has doubled its decision today, citing the “severe” risk of airstrikes in Ukraine along with the “high” risk of mass casualties.
He said that after a “full assessment and feasibility study” he had concluded that the “security and operational guarantees” required to host the event could not be met by the Ukrainian public broadcaster UA: PBC.
The entry of the United Kingdom, Sam Ryder, was second in the contest with his song Space Man. Photo: Yara Nardi / Reuters
A statement said it “fully understands the disappointment,” but the decision was “guided” by the EBU’s responsibility to ensure safety and security or all those who work and participate in the event, “the planning of the which must start immediately in the host country “. .
The statement continued: “At least 10,000 people are usually accredited to work at, or at, the Eurovision Song Contest, including staff, staff and journalists. An additional 30,000 fans are expected to come to the Eurovision Song Contest. around the world.Your well-being is our main concern.
“Therefore, it is essential that decisions made in relation to such a complex live television event are made by broadcasting professionals and not politicized.
“The rules of the Eurovision Song Contest, which all participating broadcasters accept, clearly indicate that the event can be moved into a situation 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 immediate Eurovision planning, including the “severe” risk of airstrikes and airstrikes. planes, drones and missiles.
In addition, the EBU said that third-party security councils found that countermeasures to reduce threats in Ukraine were “insufficient” and the risk rating of a mass casualty event due to the ongoing conflict was ” high “.
The statement continued: “Alongside security concerns, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine makes delegations and participants reluctant to travel to the country.
“We also noted comments made by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg that the war in Ukraine ‘could take years’.”
He also noted that there are no major international concert tours visiting Ukraine during 2023.
“All this contributes to the overall assessment of the EBU that, in terms of security and operational guarantees, the necessary requirements for accommodation are not met, as set out in the Rules of the Eurovision Song Contest,” he said. add.
The EBU concluded that the decision was made to move the event to another country, confirming that discussions were underway to find a “suitable venue” for next year’s contest.