UK to host Eurovision 2023 on behalf of Ukraine
London, Jul 25 (EFE).- The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 will be hosted in the United Kingdom instead of Ukraine, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the BBC confirmed Monday.
“We’re exceptionally grateful that the BBC has accepted to stage the Eurovision Song Contest in the UK in 2023,” Martin Österdahl, Eurovision’s executive supervisor, said.
“Continuing in this tradition of solidarity, we know that next year’s Contest will showcase the creativity and skill of one of Europe’s most experienced public broadcasters whilst ensuring this year’s winners, Ukraine, are celebrated and represented throughout the event,” he added.
Ukraine was slated to host next year’s Eurovision Song Contest after winning the competition in May this year.
In June, EBU announced the singing contest would not be held in Ukraine due to “safety and security issues” caused by the Russian invasion.
“The 2023 Eurovision Song Contest will not be in Ukraine but in support of Ukraine. We are grateful to our BBC partners for showing solidarity with us,” head of the managing board of Ukraine’s public broadcaster UA:PBC, Mykola Chernotytskyi, said.
“I am confident that together we will be able to add Ukrainian spirit to this event and once again unite the whole of Europe around our common values of peace, support, celebrating diversity and talent,” she added.
The BBC said it was a “great privilege” to host next year’s contest although it was a matter of “great regret” that Ukraine could not be the host.
“The BBC is committed to making the event a true reflection of Ukrainian culture alongside showcasing the diversity of British music and creativity,” Tim Davie, BBC’s director-general, said.
A bidding process will be launched this week to elect the host city. It will be the ninth time the BBC stages Eurovision, more times than any other broadcaster.
This year’s edition of the world’s largest singing contest reached over 180 million viewers on TV and digital platforms, according to the EBU. EFE
abc/mp/jt
