UK Set to Step in to Host Next Eurovision Due to War in Ukraine
In the wake of the conflict in Ukraine, the UK may be set to step in and host next year’s Eurovision competition. Ukraine is the host of the competition, and the UK’s entry placed second. However, the Kalush Orchestra rode a wave of public support to win. Ukraine’s president welcomed the singers, and the European Broadcasting Union is already in talks with the BBC about hosting the next competition. However, sources suggest that the UK could also be preparing its own bid to host the competition.
The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is keen to host the Eurovision in 2023, but the war in Ukraine is making the country’s hosting impossible. Despite the dangers, the organisers have concluded that Ukraine cannot host the competition, and that the UK can ensure the safety of the competitors. Ukraine still wants to host the competition, and it has the talent to pull it off. And last year’s winner, Stefania, is a prime candidate for the next competition.
The Ukraine has had a turbulent time. The country has been undergoing a war with Russia for over a year, and the Eurovision Song Contest is a crucial event in this turbulent time. The UK’s Kalush Orchestra has been the favourite since February, but the Russian invasion of Ukraine forced organisers to ban their entrant. Meanwhile, some countries said second place was for SloMo by Chanel, but the EBU confirmed that Sam Ryder was indeed the runner-up.
Besides hosting the next Eurovision, there have been several other options to host the contest. Brighton, for example, hosted the 1974 Eurovision, which was won by ABBA. The city’s mayor said they are keen to contact the EBU and apply for the right to host the event. Manchester, meanwhile, has several large indoor venues, is the home of the BBC, and has a considerable Ukrainian population.
The Ukrainian Culture Ministry has protested the decision and said he would push for the UK to step in. Ukraine’s Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko has said that hosting the competition in 2023 would send a powerful message to the world. The UK has hosted Eurovision nine times. It is a major event for the country, and Ukraine deserves its moment in the spotlight.
In a video clip released on Wednesday, the war-torn nation of Ukraine is depicted with old men with currency signs in their eyes and surveillance cameras in the streets. Young people are shown wearing zippers instead of lips. In a dramatic twist, the city under a Russian bombardment is compared to an ashtray filled with cigar embers. Since the war broke out, thousands of creative artists, scientists and novelists have fled the country. Those who have stayed in the country have welcomed the departures of their fellow citizens.
On Wednesday, the European Commission recommended that Ukraine be granted candidate status for the next Eurovision. The decision is the first formal step in the process that normally takes more than a decade. The European Union has been supportive of Ukraine. And the UK is determined to support them. But it must be noted that Ukraine’s upcoming Eurovision will not be an easy decision. The UK government must work out a way to keep the peace in the country.