The seven UK cities vying to host the Eurovision Song Contest in 2019 have been made public.
The official shortlist, which was revealed this morning, includes Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, and Sheffield, however London did not make the cut.
Twenty towns expressed interest in hosting, and London was one of them. Applicants had to explain how their city would honour Ukrainian culture, music, and communities.
After it was decided that Ukraine, which won this year’s competition, was not judged a suitable host due to “safety and security” issues, the UK stepped in to host the song contest.
The cities’ bids were evaluated based on a number of criteria, such as their ability to hold events for at least 10,000 people and their proximity to an international airport.
Bookmakers Glasgow is presently the favourite at Ladbrokes, where the odds are 11/10, barely ahead of Birmingham’s chances of 2/1.
Manchester is currently in third place with odds of 6/1, while Sheffield and Newcastle are currently in last place with odds of 25/1 each.
“Nicola Sturgeon’s Eurovision fantasy might well come true,” said Alex Apati of Ladbrokes. “At this time, it looks like the Brummies would be the only thing standing in her and Glasgow’s way, with the odds suggesting a two-horse race is on the cards.”
On Zoe Ball’s Radio 2 breakfast broadcast on Friday morning, Scott Mills and Eurovision executive supervisor Martin Osterdahl made the announcement.
Scott Mills releases the selection of cities for Eurovision 2023.
We have waited 25 years for the UK to host the Eurovision Song Contest, therefore we are quite excited, said Mr. Osterdahl.
After the announcement, Mills remarked, “It’s enormous, it’s a beast, and it’s difficult to put on as an event.”
But cities also have the drive to hold a competition like this since they have the resources, the ability to host a celebration of contemporary music, and past experience hosting significant international events.
When these cities go to the second and final level, they must provide a little more information about their intentions.
The city and region that receives the greatest scores in comparison to the BBC’s criteria will be chosen as the winner in the end.
The 7,000 spectators during Ukraine’s performance in the Pala Olimpico in Turin last year, many of whom were waving Ukrainian flags, enjoyed the combination of rap and national folklore.
The group thanked everyone for their support of Ukraine at the conclusion of the performance, which featured breakdancing.
The band’s song, “Stefania,” was originally penned as an homage to the frontman’s mother but has since evolved into a war anthem in response to Russia’s invasion on February 24.
Frontman Oleh Psiuk’s lyrics, “I’ll always find my way home, even if all roads are destroyed,” are thought to have acquired a unique significance in light of the conflict.
For the purpose of representing Ukraine and Ukrainian culture at the music competition, the six-member, all-male band was given special permission to leave the nation.
The others want to return as soon as the conflict is over, but one of the original members stays to fight.
The Kalush Orchestra members entered the stage wearing lavish costumes, including lengthy multicoloured fringed garments, a pink bucket helmet, and traditional patterns.
The two-stage selection procedure will now move on to determining which city is most suitable to host the renowned concert, concentrating on factors including previous experience hosting significant events.
There was interest in hosting the event from Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield, Swindon, and Wolverhampton.
With their song Spaceman, the UK and Sam Ryder came in second.
The European Broadcasting Union decided that the event needed to be shifted due to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, and that the UK would host the performance for a record-breaking ninth time in its place.
Director of unscripted content for the BBC, Kate Phillips, stated: “We would want to thank all the towns and regions that submitted bids to host the Eurovision Song Contest in 2019. We are moving on to the next round with seven wonderful cities.
Congratulations to Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, and Sheffield. It’s encouraging to see such a variety of bids from the UK moving forward.
“We are committed to producing a truly exceptional Song Contest that celebrates the wonderful Ukraine and champions British music and creativity in all of its diversity,” the organisation declares.
Along with the “big five” countries—the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain—who each receive a free pass because of their financial support of the competition, Ukraine will automatically qualify for the Eurovision grand final.
British Future, a UK think tank and charity, demanded on Friday that Ukrainian refugees and their UK host families be given “priority tickets” to the Eurovision 2023 competition.
By the fall, it is anticipated that the host city will be revealed. Birmingham now plans to host another significant event after hosting the Commonwealth Games.
Natalia Kogut was a university lecturer in Kyiv before the war and has lived in Birmingham since March.
Melisa, her 12-year-old daughter, sung the Ukrainian national hymn for Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Downing Street in May.
The Ukrainian population in Birmingham is very large, and Mrs. Kogut, whose husband is still in Ukraine, said: “We would be very glad if Eurovision could take place in Birmingham.”
“I frequently attend events here on Saturdays where my daughter sings in support of Ukraine.”
Even if the competition cannot be held in her nation because to the Russian invasion, she stated that “the whole UK supports Ukraine more than any other country.”
I think it should happen in the UK, and particularly in Birmingham,” she continued.
City council leader Ian Ward responded to the news that Birmingham had been selected by saying, “We are thrilled to be one of the seven shortlisted cities.”
“This is a city of sanctuary, a city that has embraced and given a home to individuals from all over the world.”
“We would love the honour of hosting the Eurovision song contest on behalf of Ukraine next year.”
Alister Jack, the Scottish Secretary, is supporting Glasgow as the event’s host city.
It is a wonderful honour for the UK to honour Ukraine by hosting Eurovision in 2023, he remarked.
I fully support Glasgow in their bid to bring the match to Scotland.
“After the enormous success of Cop26, we know that our largest city can deliver the biggest events in the world,” said the statement.
Gabby Logan, a former athlete, has endorsed Leeds to host the competition in 2023.
We are a city that has for centuries welcomed people from all over the world with open arms, and in a region with one of the largest Ukrainian populations in the UK outside of London, the city stands ready and able to put on a dazzling show with our Ukrainian family, she said in her capacity as chair of LEEDS 2023, a programme to bring forward creative experiences for the city.
Jonathan Pryor, deputy leader of Leeds City Council, added to Logan’s remarks.
This is fantastic news, he said. The pandemic’s effects have been most severe in the creative and hospitality industries, and they are still being felt.
“Eurovision presents an opportunity for our local businesses and workers to reap the immediate benefits from delivering and supporting this significant event,” the local business community has said.
Mel B, a native of Leeds and a Spice Girl, stated, “I’d love to see Leeds as the venue for Eurovision.”
It’s a wonderful city brimming with wonderful people and fantastic character, making it the ideal setting for a legendary show like Eurovision.
Co-founder of the Parklife Festival Sacha Lord offered his thoughts on why Manchester would make a great location.
Manchester is renowned for its musical heritage and for having played host to some of the most famous concerts in history.
We will put on a display unlike any other if Eurovision visits the city the next year, I have no doubt about that,” he stated.
Oliver Coppard, the mayor of South Yorkshire, has already begun to celebrate the news.
“Crack open the bucks fizz, Eurovision is choosing, and Sheffield and South Yorkshire is the only choice that is right,” he said.
I’ve previously stated that it would take a spaceman to choose another city to host the Eurovision Song Contest in 2019.
But I’ll say it again: We have the locations, the history, the record, and the fervour that Eurovision deserves in such a significant year for the competition, that would be held in support of our friends and partners in Ukraine.