European Broadcasting Union: Eurovision will not be held in Ukraine
Фото Reuters
The European Broadcasting Union has confirmed that the next Eurovision Song Contest will not be held in Ukraine due to the war, and another country is currently being sought for the competition.
It was reported on the website of the organization.
"The EBU fully understands the disappointment caused by the announcement that the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 (ESC) cannot be held in Ukraine, this year's winning country. The decision was guided by the EBU's responsibility to ensure the safety and security of all workers and participants of the event, the planning of which should begin immediately in the host country, " the statement said.
It is noted that at least 10,000 people are usually accredited for work or at the Eurovision Song Contest, including the film crew, staff, and journalists. Another 30,000 fans from around the world are expected to attend the event. Their well-being is the key concern of the union.
That is why it is very important that decisions made about such a complex live television event are "made by broadcast professionals and not politicized."
The rules of the Eurovision Song Contest, with which all participating broadcasters agree, clearly state that the event can be transferred to force majeure, such as an ongoing war.
The EBU appealed to outside security experts, who made it clear that the countermeasures proposed to mitigate threats in Ukraine were insufficient for an international public event, and that the ongoing risk of mass casualties as a result of the conflict was "high."
The union also drew attention to comments from NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that the war in Ukraine "could take years."
"As for the possibility of holding a competition in the border area near the neighboring country, the technical characteristics of the proposed sites and the lack of the necessary infrastructure do not meet the requirements of the EBU," the statement said.
In concluding, the EBU also noted that, according to their current information, no major international concert tours were planned for Ukraine in 2023.
"All this contributes to the general assessment of the EBU that in terms of security and operational guarantees, the necessary hosting requirements set by the Eurovision Song Contest Rules are not met. We are pleased to continue cooperating with our Ukrainian member UA: PBC on all these issues, " the statement reads.
Earlier the EBU noted that the right to hold the competition in 2023 would pass to Britain, which took second place.
