Seven British cities have been shortlisted for the next Eurovision Song Contest to be hosted by the UK on behalf of Ukraine due to the Russian invasion, the BBC reported today.
Of the 20 cities that have expressed interest in hosting the iconic competition, the shortlist includes Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield. Cities like London or Belfast were excluded. The decision will be announced in the autumn.
The UK has hosted Eurovision since 1998, when it was held in Birmingham in central England. The country has hosted the competition eight times.
After a highly symbolic victory in Turin last May, Ukraine first criticized the decision of the organizers of the event, which is watched by tens of millions of viewers every year, not to award the 67th competition for security reasons.
In June, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) ruled that the security requirements for hosting the contest in Ukraine were not met and opened negotiations with the UK, which came second in this year’s contest.
On July 25, an agreement was announced between the EBU and the UK government for the BBC to host a competition at an event dedicated to Ukraine.
According to APE-MPE, AFP, BBC.
Source: Kathimerini
James Springer is a renowned author and opinion writer, known for his bold and thought-provoking articles on a wide range of topics. He currently works as a writer at 247 news reel, where he uses his unique voice and sharp wit to offer fresh perspectives on current events. His articles are widely read and shared and has earned him a reputation as a talented and insightful writer.