2023-05-12 08:02:44
He wanted to address the public. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will not be able to speak via video message during the Eurovision final, the organizer of the singing competition announced on Thursday (May 11th).
“Mr Zelensky’s request to address the Eurovision Song Contest audience, although made with laudable intentions, cannot – regretfully – be granted, as it would break the rules of the event”, said the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the competition. And explain:
“One of the pillars of the competition is the non-political nature of the event. This principle prohibits political or similar statements during the competition. »
The competition is being held this year in Liverpool, in the north of England, the United Kingdom having offered to host Eurovision in place of Ukraine, winners last year and which, as such, should have organized the event but who had to give it up because of the Russian invasion.
Eleven Ukrainian artists present on stage
The final, which will be held on Saturday and will see twenty-six countries compete, provides a strong tribute to Ukraine, with the presence of eleven Ukrainian artists on stage, including Kalush Orchestra, the winner of the 2022 edition, said BU. Video clips broadcast during the evening will show different places in the country.
Liverpool further unveiled a monument, “symbol of hope” for Ukraine, an aluminum statue representing a man holding a book from which escapes a dove with a Ukrainian flag.
She must stay at Strawberry Field, the garden surrounding the Salvation Army orphanage which gave its name to the cult psychedelic song of the Beatles, before being sent to Ukraine on the return of peace. Russia was excluded from the competition, as in the previous edition.
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