LONDON (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Eurovision Song Contest to be hosted next year in Liverpool. The organisers promise to put on “the best show for Ukraine.”
The competition in May was won by the Ukrainian entry Kalush Orchestra; however, because of the Russian invasion, the competition will not be held in Ukraine.
Instead, it will be held in Liverpool after the UK was chosen as the hosts due to Sam Ryder’s second-place finish.
Director of Culture Liverpool, Claire McColgan predicted that the city would show what Ukraine and its people deserved.
She said on BBC Radio 4 Today, “We’re just hosting it; it’s their party.”
On Friday, the BBC’s One Show made the announcement that Liverpool would host the event. Roughly 20 other UK cities, including the bookmakers’ favourite Glasgow, were defeated by the city.
This year’s Eurovision will be completely different, Ms. McColgan said. They were eager to host it and were confident that they could put on the best show possible for Ukraine because that was what it was for.
She added that throughout the broadcasts and cultural events, organisers will draw on “intel and insight” from Odessa, Liverpool’s twin city to highlight the nation’s culture.
Traditional Ukrainian headdresses will be placed on Liverpool’s sculptures, and neighbourhood schools will collaborate with counterparts in the war-torn nation that Russia invaded in February.
Liverpool, Ms. McColgan said, intended to make Ukraine proud by standing in solidarity with them, the organisers stated, adding that they had the “passion to support and wrap our arms around… we got you, let’s see how we can help you”.
They would demonstrate how creativity and music can offer unity at times of just hideousness, she added.
Despite being “sad” that Ukraine would not be hosting the competition, the Kalush Orchestra, who will perform at the Liverpool event, remarked that performing in the same spot that The Beatles began out would be a memory they would never forget.
“We know that the people of Liverpool will be warm hosts and the organisers will be able to add a real Ukrainian flavour to Eurovision 2023,” they added.
Local Ukrainians considered [the announcement] to be quite comforting given the circumstances, Taras Khomych, a priest in the city’s Ukrainian community said.
He said that Eurovision may help Liverpool’s Ukrainian community to more fully integrate and grow their cultural choirs.
The city’s accommodations are in high demand for the events, which will take place during the week leading up to the final on May 13, 2023; the cheapest rooms on the Booking.com website are listed for at least £600.
With Manchester, a former competitor, hosting guests, it is anticipated that the greater north-west region will also see a boom, with previous competitors Manchester – an hour’s journey – accommodating visitors.
