LONDON (Reuters) – Britain will host Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in place of Ukraine, winners of the competition this year, due to the ongoing conflict in the country, organizers said on Monday.
Tradition dictates that the winner of the competition will host the following year, but the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has said that for security reasons Britain, runners-up in the 2022 competition, will host it with the Kyiv Agreement.
It was the Ukrainians of Kalush Orchestra who won the 2022 edition ahead of the Briton Sam Ryder.
The BBC will therefore stage the event, which attracts some 200 million viewers and was last held in Britain in 1998. Ukraine will automatically qualify for the grand final of the competition, the EBU says .
“It is a great regret that our colleagues and friends in Ukraine are unable to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2023,” BBC Director General Tim Davie said in a statement.
“The BBC is committed to making this event a true reflection of Ukrainian culture, alongside showcasing the diversity of British music and creativity.”
Boris Johnson said on Twitter that he agreed last week with Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky that “wherever Eurovision 2023 is held, it must celebrate the country and people of Ukraine.”
(Reportage Sachin Ravikumar, French version Charlotte Lavin, edited by Sophie Louet)
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