Liverpool has officially been chosen to host 2023 Eurovision Song Contest

[Ayesha Erotica 1,724]

Hi,

the English city Liverpool has been confirmed to host the ESC next year on 13th May 2023, BBC and the ESC Organisation reported it this evening.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2022/liverpool-eurovision-2023-host-city

https://eurovision.tv/story/liverpool-will-host-eurovision-2023

 

 

I think it is nice that the ESC will continue to be held despite all the crises in Europe and the world, but I still think that the decision is unfair towards Ukraine and that the UK should have cared more about what is best for Ukrainians, and not for the British. Why? I will explain it now. To me, it feels that a rich big western and very powerful nation has stolen it from Ukraine, especially since UK is one of the paying members of the ESC commitee and is always granted that it will make it into the finals, whereas other countries must go via the semi-finals first. Being second place should not necessarily mean, that if first place can't host it on its territory, that it is totally overlooked - Ukraine can host it, but not on its territory. It could host it in an amicable-neighbor nation.

I think the ESC 2023 should be hosted near Ukraine, and thus within the vicinity of Ukraine. Poland, for example, shares its Eastern border with Ukraine and Cracow (Kraków) and Warsaw (Warszawa) are only 295 and 340km away from Lviv, the western metropolis. Liverpool is 1895km away from Lviv.

The ESC 2023 should rather have been held in Cracow or Warsaw because Ukrainians can easier go there, as it is closer and Cracow has 750 000 inhabitants and Warsaw around 1,75 million inhabitants and Poland is a safe country (NATO member). They are large enough to host the event. Poland and Ukraine together hosted the UEFA football tournament in 2012. Warsaw now has the largest Ukrainian diaspora/community in the world, after Moscow, outside of Ukraine. There are already over a quarter-million Ukrainians in Warsaw, making it a city with a significant Ukrainian minority that could have beenfited from the event, if it was hosted there. ( https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/warsaw-and-its-surroundings-host-240000-ukrainian-refugees-31216 ). The UK has a relatively strict and harsh migration policy and is not accepting many Ukrainian refugess, relatively compared to Poland, Slovakia, Austria and Germany. Is it really the best choice to host it in the UK?

Seeing how Ukrainian people's lives have become frustrating, they would have deserved a joyful show to cheer them up, somewhere near their country. Also, air traffic between Ukraine and other countries is (sometimes) interrupted; the land connection (bus, car, train) is the most often chosen option. If Ukrainians have to fly to Liverpool, they will have to make it first to an airport in Moldova, Romania, Poland or Slovakia and fly from there, making it a very long route. The UK is 4x as expensive as Poland and much much more expensive than Ukraine itself. Many Ukrainian people won't go there, they simply can't afford the expenses of flying to the UK. In my opinion, the only good thing about Liverpool is, that it is a sign of decentralism (and that is positive!) that the UK has expressed now (considering the UK in general is hypercentralised in one city and it is rather rare and exceptional that a big event is not hosted in London, as London always gets the pearls, roses and raisins), this has positively surprised me. But even this is now rather a disadvantage for Ukraine, because maybe they have to fly from Moldova/Romania/Poland/Slovakia to London and then from London again to Liverpool, because the main connections to the UK are usually all via London. And it is wonderful, that we get to see something else than London, though still I do not consider this to be the optimal solution.

What do you think about this decision to host it in Liverpool? Are you in favour of it, or rather not in favour of it?

All opinions are welcome!

 

[Karl 3,421]

25 mins from me! For me I'm happy it's in the UK because we will literally never win so it's a once in a lifetime opportunity, and Liverpool has some problems right now it's quite a poor area so it'll bring a lot of money to that area. But I also agree with your sentiment 

[Juanlittlem 45,823]

I don't think many Ukranians care about going to a festival right now. UK is hosting, but the main theme of the contest will be Ukraine, you can see how the logo has Ukraine flag despite it saying Liverpool.

[Ivannn 1,131]

I just Hate it is in being held in UK to the point I won’t even Watch it ….

[thatfoxyfeeling 13,017]

Not sure why anyone would be opposed against UK hosting next year. Liverpool is a fabulous city, rich in music culture and The Beatles will attract so much tourism. 

[Joshie 748]

 

1 hour ago, Ivannn said:

I just Hate it is in being held in UK to the point I won’t even Watch it ….

And why is that? 
 

and every single hotel Is now booked up in Liverpool 😂 what a joke

[Celloo Deng 55,083]

2 minutes ago, Joshie said:

 

And why is that? 
 

and every single hotel Is now booked up in Liverpool 😂 what a joke

Really? But the tickets aren't even available yet 

[Juanlittlem 45,823]

7 minutes ago, Cello said:

Really? But the tickets aren't even available yet 

People book hotels in the cities that are possible hosts and then cancel those that are not picked. Last year in Italy I read lot of people on my TL doing that and also hotels cancelling reservations after the city host being announced 'cause the put higher prices on their rooms.

[Celloo Deng 55,083]

8 minutes ago, Juanlittlem said:

People book hotels in the cities that are possible hosts and then cancel those that are not picked. Last year in Italy I read lot of people on my TL doing that and also hotels cancelling reservations after the city host being announced 'cause the put higher prices on their rooms.

Oh wow that's crazy, the demand must be enormous. I'd love to go while it's in the UK but not if the costs are hugely inflated 

[JoanneMonster 9,028]

In my opinion, if it can't happen in Ucraine, any country is valid for them to host. The show will still be about Ucraine even if it's not happening there.

Eurovision happens thanks to the big 5 countries who put their money into it, them being in the final might seem unfair, but at the end of the day, they are the main ones who are paying for it. Being in the final doesn't mean you have an assured win. Uk and Spain came 2nd and 3rd for the first time in 3939393 years, because they always end up last, this was their year to win.

Spoiler

also, Ukraine won because there is a war in the country and people felt like they were helping by giving them votes I guess. So it is more of a symbolic win to show support for the country.

 

[Ivannn 1,131]

10 hours ago, Joshie said:

 

And why is that? 
 

and every single hotel Is now booked up in Liverpool 😂 what a joke

UK is not the winner. And I do understand It is a risk for it to be held in Ukraine at the moment but fair thing to Ukraine and Ukrainians would be to at least have it somewhere near their country ( Poland, Slovakia, Romania, etc. ).

UK ( England ) will just use this platform to promote themselves and Ukraine as winner will fall into second plan.

[Ivannn 1,131]

9 hours ago, JoanneMonster said:

In my opinion, if it can't happen in Ucraine, any country is valid for them to host. The show will still be about Ucraine even if it's not happening there.

Eurovision happens thanks to the big 5 countries who put their money into it, them being in the final might seem unfair, but at the end of the day, they are the main ones who are paying for it. Being in the final doesn't mean you have an assured win. Uk and Spain came 2nd and 3rd for the first time in 3939393 years, because they always end up last, this was their year to win.

  Reveal hidden contents

also, Ukraine won because there is a war in the country and people felt like they were helping by giving them votes I guess. So it is more of a symbolic win to show support for the country.

 

Every country puts their money into it by paid membership into EBU. There Are five big membership payers and they get finale participation every year but it is far from it that 5 big ones pay whole show.