This weekend, for the primary time since 1998, the UK is internet hosting Eurovision (on behalf of final 12 months’s champions, Ukraine). The competition and its semi-finals are being held in Liverpool. However how a lot are you aware about this 12 months’s artists, the connections between Eurovision and Liverpool, and the UK’s historical past within the competitors? Take our quiz to fin Theut.
The Guardian’s Eurovision 2023 quiz
Should you suppose there was an egregious error in one of many questions or solutions, please e mail martin. [email protected]. Com – however keep in mind that the quizmaster’s phrase is closing and he’s most likely busy revising To be able to stay weblog the fInal.
The Eurovision tune contest can be hosted within the UK subsequent yr after Ukraine’s public broadcaster dropped its objections and agreed to work with the BBC on the occasion.
Ukraine gained this yr’s Eurovision with the song Stefania by Kalush Orchestra, incomes the proper to host the 2023 version. Nonetheless, organisers concluded this might not be executed safely whereas the nation was at battle with Russia – angering the Ukrainian authorities, which mentioned it had submitted a workable security plan.
The Ukrainian tradition minister, Oleksandr Tkachenko, told the Guardian last month his nation was able to host Eurovision. He mentioned the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises the occasion, ought to “take into account find out how to change the foundations of Eurovision for the nation that’s combating for independence and democracy”.
In a compromise, the UK will host subsequent yr’s contest however produce a programme that – within the phrases of the BBC – has “superb Ukraine at its coronary heart”. Ukraine will robotically qualify for the grand remaining, whereas there can be a particular brand to mark the weird circumstances of the occasion.
“The present will have a good time the tradition and heritage of Ukraine because the winners of the 2022 contest, alongside the Eurovision’s proud custom of celebrating range by means of music,” mentioned a BBC spokesperson.
In an indication of how a lot Ukraine valued the chance to achieve the worldwide viewers who watch the tune contest, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has mentioned the difficulty at size with the British prime minister, Boris Johnson.
No 10 mentioned on Monday it had appealed to the EBU for a “secure metropolis” in Ukraine to host subsequent yr’s contest and that it was “deeply regrettable” it had change into clear that might not be attainable.
A Downing Road spokesperson mentioned the BBC and UK would “pull out all of the stops” to verify the occasion celebrates and honours Ukraine and inspired viewers to top off on Ukrainian flags.
British cities are being invited to bid to host the occasion subsequent spring, which requires a big venue and the power to host tens of 1000’s of followers. Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester have already proven an curiosity.
The price of staging the competition normally runs into tens of hundreds of thousands for the host nation, with the cash-strapped BBC anticipated to wish further funding to carry the occasion. A spokesperson for the broadcaster mentioned it was “in dialogue with the UK authorities about how they may assist the occasion being hosted within the UK subsequent yr”.
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It’s not the primary time Eurovision has been hosted by a rustic apart from the earlier yr’s winner. The newest event was in 1980, when Israel handed over internet hosting duties to the Netherlands on price grounds.
Mykola Chernotytskyi, of Ukraine’s public broadcaster UA:PBC, mentioned: “The 2023 Eurovision tune contest is not going to be in Ukraine however in assist of Ukraine. We’re grateful to our BBC companions for exhibiting solidarity with us. I’m assured that collectively we will add Ukrainian spirit to this occasion and as soon as once more unite the entire of Europe round our widespread values of peace, assist, celebrating range and expertise.”
The place might Eurovision be held within the UK?
The profitable metropolis might want to have a venue with capability for 10,000 spectators that’s out there for prolonged rehearsals, and have the power to host 1000’s of journalists, plus easy accessibility to a world airport. This implies Eurovision is unlikely to return to Harrogate, which hosted the occasion in 1982.
cities have been requested to formally apply to the BBC. In the long run, the choice on the place to host the occasion is more likely to be a extremely political choice, with the placement as a lot a symbolic selection as one based mostly solely on logistics, particularly if central authorities offers funding.
A longlist is because of be revealed later this summer season.
Glasgow Even earlier than it was formally introduced that Ukraine wouldn’t be capable to host the 2023 contest, Eurovision followers have been speculating that Glasgow’s Hydro Area subsequent to the River Clyde could possibly be the venue. Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has already backed the proposal, though fellow Scottish metropolis Aberdeen can be planning a bid.
Birmingham The final metropolis to host Eurovision within the UK, after Katrina and the Waves’ victory in 1997. It has the well-established Resorts World Area – previously the NEC – on the sting of the town, though the town centre Area Birmingham would additionally meet the capability necessities for a number venue.
Newcastle The council has already said it could be the “good host” for Eurovision. A brand new giant capability venue is below building in close by Gateshead, however the current Newcastle Area would be capable to meet the capability necessities for internet hosting the occasion.
Manchester With a long-established status for its homosexual village, Manchester would be capable to host the 1000’s of LGBTQ+ followers of Eurovision who come to the host metropolis. It already has a lot of the infrastructure in place – together with a 20,000-capacity enviornment – however is more likely to face competitors from perennial rival Liverpool.
And the remainder London has a number of venues that might host Eurovision, though the BBC might discover it exhausting to justify giving one other main occasion to the capital. Sheffield, Leeds, Nottingham and Belfast all have venues that might meet the capability necessities. Cardiff has expressed an curiosity however lacks a suitably giant indoor enviornment, though the Millennium Stadium has a retractable roof, main some optimists to recommend it could possibly be used as an alternative.
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After almost 30 years, the band Pink Floyd will launch a brand new music to boost cash for humanitarian reduction in Ukraine, that includes the vocals of a Ukrainian singer who stop a world tour to struggle for his nation and was wounded. The mission began when Pink Floyd vocalist and guitarist David Gilmour discovered that Andriy Khlyvnyuk – with whom he had beforehand carried out – left a US tour with BoomBox and returned to Ukraine to affix the Territorial Defence Forces to defend his nation from Russia’s invasion.
