Eurovision organisers claim Ukraine will not host the programme in 2023

• Despite loud objections from Kyiv, the organizers of the Eurovision Song Contest declared Thursday that the 2023 edition will not be staged in Ukraine owing to the Russian conflict.
• Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra won the world’s largest live music event this month, and the nation is expected to host the kitsch annual pop spectacular next year.

However, on June 17, the European Broadcasting Union said that the war-torn nation would be unable to host the 2023 programme, causing outrage among fans throughout the continent and calls for the Ukrainian government to overturn the decision.

Read more: Eurovision winner Ukraine sells trophy to raise funds for army

“The EBU fully understands the disappointment that greeted the announcement that the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest cannot be staged in Ukraine, this year’s winning country,” it said in a statement.

“The decision was guided by the EBU’s responsibility to ensure the conditions are met to guarantee the safety and security of everyone working and participating in the event, the planning of which needs to begin immediately,” it explained.

According to the EBU, about 10,000 individuals are typically accredited to work on Eurovision, including crew, staff, and media.

“A further 30,000 fans are expected to travel to the event from across the world. Their welfare is our prime concern,” it said.

– Mass casualty risk –

The Eurovision final was won by Kalush Orchestra on May 15 in Turin, owing to votes from national judging panels and the general public, with European audiences displaying their sympathy with Ukraine in the face of Russia’s invasion.

According to the EBU, the regulations of Eurovision expressly stipulate that an event can be changed in conditions such as an ongoing conflict.

The extreme risk of air strikes and the high likelihood of a mass casualty event, according to the union, influenced the decision, while the war would make delegations and participants hesitant to travel to Ukraine.

The characteristics of potential locations, as well as the absence of surrounding infrastructure, do not match Eurovision’s standards for organising the event in a border region within Ukraine.

“All this contributes to the EBU’s overall assessment that in terms of security and operational guarantees, the necessary requirements for hosting… are not met.”

Read more: Boris Johnson thinks Eurovision 2023 should be held in Ukraine

The EBU stated that it will continue to look for an appropriate destination for the next Eurovision, but earlier this month stated that it was contemplating holding the event in Britain, which came second.

The EBU, headquartered in Geneva, is the world’s largest public service media alliance. It comprises 112 member organisations from 56 different countries, as well as 31 affiliates from Asia, Africa, and the Americas.