NTU, Ukraine’s state broadcaster, opened the bidding process to select the Eurovision 2017 host city last month. Since then a number of cities have joined front-runners Kyiv and Lviv in expressing their interest, with Kherson, Kharkiv, Dnipro and Odessa all stating they are ready to take on the project. Kherson, we’ll have you know, is just 63 miles from Crimea.
The first phase of bidding concludes on July 8 and two shortlisted cities will be announced by July 22. The race is likely to be tough and unpredictable, especially after the recent statement from the country’s Minister of Culture that there is no suitable venue in the country.
Let’s have a look at the four new entrants…
Odessa is situated on the banks of Black Sea, near Moldova. It’s so close we think you might just be able to feel the vibrations of Epic Sax Guy thrusting across the border. Ukraine’s third-largest city is an architectural gem that at times seems more Mediterranean than post-Soviet, as it serves Italian, French and Bohemian-style realness. The only suitable venue in “Odessa mama”, as the locals call their city, is the Chernomorets Stadium, a football arena that has a capacity of 34,000. And guess what: It doesn’t have a roof!
Dnipro, known as Dnipropetrovsk until May 2016, rests on the banks of the Dnieper River and is known primarily for its industrial sector. In the 1940s the Soviets built a military machine-building factory in the city. In the 1980s one plant manufactured 67 kinds of space ships and a variety of space rocket systems (which could have come in handy for Lidia Isac’s Eurovision 2016 performance). Dnipro Arena, which holds up to 31,000 spectators for football matches, is the most likely venue.
Kherson was the last city to join the bidding process, having signed up on July 5. The small city —population 330,000 — has a rich history of shipbuilding. Unfortunately it’s less than 70 miles from the Crimean border, which won’t sit well with uneasy fans or the overly cautious EBU, and there is no suitable hall or venue for the event. In other words, the chances of Kherson hosting Eurovision are less than Rykka’s chances were of qualifying for the final.
Kharkiv — Ukraine’s second largest city — is one of the few in the country that has a subway. But it’s not on top of the tourist list — and that’s despite having the massive and picturesque Freedom Square, which is the sixth largest in Europe. It’d be the perfect place for Eurovision Village and boasts a giant 16-metre high thermometer to let fans see temperatures rising. Metalist Stadium, which has a capacity of 40,000, would need a roof installed.
Do any of these cities float your boat? Where do you want to see Eurovision 2017 take place?
Lwów was always a polish city, but it was stolen by soviets
@wojtyslaw
Since when Lviv is Poland? 😀
Eurovision 2017 in Lwów? I didn’t know that Poland had won the contest last year O.o
@Ugnius(LT) & q(J)ESC Fanatic dear wikipedia experts, have you ever been to Russia and Ukraine? Obvisiouly NOOO. Otherwise you would get undestanding of the things going on in two countres. Sergey is a well known and popular artist in Ukraine, he was a mentor of Ukranian Voice and have participated in a large number of shows. In general it can be determined that Russian and Ukranian have simular tastes in music. And last thing: Russian living in Ukraine were assimilated long ago and mostly have proukranian position. But music has no nationality and no borders. Of course persons like you… Read more »
I think, Ukrainians voted for Lazarev but not for Russia.
He is well-known in Ukraine. There are a lot of people who likes him.
@Alsou
Do you live in a tree or where, that you can’t answer this simple question by yourself ? Ukraine’s televoters gave 12 points to Russia because Russians living in Ukraine voted for it
@Alsou
How many times are we going to say that Ukraine voted for Russia because of Russian diaspora there and vice versa in order for you to understand it? Gosh… END OF DISCUSSION!!!
@SummerWine=Plum
I tell everything like it is. Unfortunately, you (and many other Russians) are still butthurt and don’t want to accept reality. So the only thing that is left to say is: keep on dreaming, sweethearts! 😉
@Zebb
What?
You are right. Sergey is an amazing person and a great artist.
But I was not talking about him at all in this thread!=))
@(J)ESC Fanatic
You understand everything in your own way.
As usual=))
@Plum, Sergey is amazing person. You’re talking like he was threatened with petition, not Jamala. Though I would sign petition against his sound-producer so he could awake from late 2000s but thats for me. Well, back to subject, assuming possible choice of stadium I’d be rather concerned about situation between russian and ukrainian fans. There’s only thing how I can understand your position of Russia avoiding next year ESC for safety reason.
@Ugnius(LT) & q(J)ESC Fanatic our “experts” could you explain why Ukranian gave Russia 12 points in televoting after all these horrible things Putin has done to its country?
@Ugnius(LT) so can you explain me the fact how come Ukranian artists are so popular in Russia nowdays? How Ani Lorak, Ivan Dorn, Vemya i Steklo, Elka and many other Ukranian artists touring in Russia, thousands of people come to their show and singing their songs in Ukranian language?
In the most popular dance TV show “Tanci” Ukranian dancers Vitaliy Savchenko and Nikita Orlov came second with televoting. Few others Ukranian dancers participated in this show as well.
How does it all happening in modern Russia??
@(J)ESC Fanatic reality?! So will you provide us a sourse? 🙂
Of course a guy/girl who sits on his sofa somewhere in Greece and reads wikipedia knows much more about Russia and its society than the Russians 🙂
We are still waiting for the source for your statement 🙂
@SummerWine=Plum
I don’t agree with you and I am happy the juries prevented Russia from winning but I understand that you are angry because your country didn’t win… and of course because Ukraine won. I’m just telling the truth 🙂
@Zebb
Really. Those who are not willing to be provoced will never be provoked.
Leave alone Lazarev please. He has got enough of everything by now, ok?
*thread=))
@Plum, there was not enough, absolutely – for first. For second, if you’d like to look better at your positions, you’d abstain from provoking. Take example from Lazarev 😉
@(J)ESC Fanatic
If we are going to discuss it for the hundred time let’s do it it some other trade=)
@(J)ESC Fanatic
People voted as they liked but the Juries didn’t=))
@SummerWine=Plum
“And following your logics each nationality was expected to vote for the corresponding country. Absurd.”
Of course it’s absurd but unfortunately, many people don’t vote objectively.
@Ugnius(LT)
Alsou was not the first to use this word, just look through all other threads. Anything else?=))
@SummerWine=Plum
“The hundreds of thousands of Ukranians who were born to Russia cannot be called “diaspora” – why are you saying this for me, say it for Alsou, because she was the first, who mentioned this termin
@Zebb
And you didnt’t reply to my question: But wasn’t there enough poison from anti-Russia fans after Russia didn’t win?
@Zebb
=))
Thank you for bringing me smiling.
Lmao
@Plum, You who brought at this article political statements and ‘only russia’ reply now trying to assure me in this? You’re as talented as Oxana.
@Zebb
Well, maybe.
But wasn’t there enough poison from anti-Russia fans after Russia didn’t win?
@Ugnius(LT) It is the silliest thing to argue with people who know better what is happening in their country. Russia is a very multinational country, you know. And following your logics each nationality was expected to vote for the corresponding country. Absurd. The hundreds of thousands of Ukranians who were born to Russia cannot be called “diaspora” since they were assimilated long ago and it doesn’t mean much for them every single second that they are Ukranians. Each of them has his social circle where Ukrainians do not prevail. So why should all of them vote for Jamala? Especially taking… Read more »
@Alsou
“Why Russia in 2013 gave only 1 point to amazing and talented Zlata Ognevich from Ukraine?”
— Have you ever heard anything about the juries ????
“Why Jamala´s song was #2 most downloaded song in Russian Itunes after ESC?” — Because it became much more popular after ESC
” Or 1.4% of Ukranian diaspora affects all the results?” — if 0,2% (140.000/65.000.000) Lithuanians affect UK televoting results, so why in your opinion Ukranians can’t do the same ?? And I’m not talking about Volga tatars, if you haven’t noticed…
@Alsou
I can’t stand stubborn people who don’t want to accept reality and unfortunately, you are one of them. Keep on dreaming… End of discussion.
@(J)ESC Fanatic I will never respect your opinion, because you dare to write about the things you simply don´t know. The only one who full of hatred is YOU. I can give you hundrets example to proove that your statement is wrong. You can just come to Russia and see it with your own eyes. Whats going on in politics between two countries for me is very sad. But people want peace. And there are no hatred towards Ukranians in russian society.
@Ugnius Of course, they could, but if they really liked the song, not because Jamala is tatar. Once agan: Volga Tatars have nothing to do with Tatars from Crimea. You simply can´t compare it with lithuanian diaspora in UK. And why can´t you just assume that Russians have voted for Jamala?!! Why are you talking about diaporas voting? Why Russia in 2013 gave only 1 point to amazing and talented Zlata Ognevich from Ukraine? Why Jamala´s song was #2 most downloaded song in Russian Itunes after ESC? Or 1.4% of Ukranian diaspora affects all the results? Or may be you… Read more »
“the way the voting was presented this year showed how cinically it was done.”
@Plum, calculation changed after years of discussing. I have issues with jury voting as well, especially after russian video was leaked. I’ve had minimum expectations but I thought at least juries should watch and judge separately with filming. “Cynically” – I’ve heard this in 2014 already, yet this year mockery between post-soviet countries raised 🙂 Let’s wait for august – I’m predicting tons of poison from fans and r.o. media if there’ll be fail from ukrainian side.
@Ugnius(LT)
Your response to @Alsou is exactly what I have been trying to explain for so much hour.
@Ugnius(LT)
Russia is not lying. Crimea rejoined Russia willingly. It is as irrevocable as Ukraine’s ESC win this year and nobody cares for what 40 or 100500 lands think about it.
Stop it, I am asking you once again. No further answers from me.
@SummerWine=Plum
“Crimea” – why should ~40 lands lie about Crimea, if it doesn’t belong to neither of them ? Why ?? What is the point ? And why are Russia lying – because you counterfeited Crimea’s referendum results, because you wanted to annex it, to make revenge to Ukraine, when it decided to make further development on relations with EU, not with Russia.
@Alsou
” I´m a tatar girl from Russia and I haven´t voted for Jamala” -You haven’t voted for Jamala, and that means neither of tatar/Ukrainian living in Russia haven’t voted for it ? 1.4% population of Russia means ~1,9millions. That large amount of citizens can really bring 12 points from televoting (e.g. there is 140 000 lithuanians in UK/Ireland and 20 000 in Norway, and we get 12 points from these lands televoting every year – check it on eurovision.tv if you think I’m lying)
@Ugnius(LT)
Better stop further discussion? ok?
@Ugnius(LT)
=)))
“why should whole Europe (and USA as well) be lying about Ukraine’s annexation ?”
Crimea. No other comments=))
@SummerWine=Plum
“I believe some day you will get to know all the truth about Russian aggression in Ukraine” –> haha, the whole world is lying, only Russia says the truth, yes ?? Where’s the logic – why should whole Europe (and USA as well) be lying about Ukraine’s annexation ? What’s the point for us to do so ? My dear, read some international portals, newspapers etc, which really have no reasons to lie, probably then you’ll wake from that dream, you’re living in…
Thank you all for confirming my theory: that unfortunately, there are many people who constantly try to include politics in the contest and that there are also many people who can’t read a comment, accept the commentator’s opinion and go on. Look at all this fuss created over nothing. Why? Because I posted a comment. Unacceptable.
Bye bye and please, don’t reply to me.
@Darren
Thank you for your sobering comment.
I believe some day you will get to know all the truth about “Russian aggression in Ukraine”. I really believe it, ok?=)
And what for the song contest… the winners are not judged=)) It so happened this year.
Peace.
Oxana not oceans 🙂 (damn auto correct)
@jesc fanatic Oceans was not the victim on this site. She attacked everyone! She attacked me because I said Ukraine wasn’t good this year, she completely hijacked the whole site for about a week after the contest, commenting on articles that had nothing to do with Russia/Ukraine and trying to bring the conflict in there. I’m glad she’s gone, she was ruining this website with her hate. I have said it before, and I will say it again. Wiwibloggs is not NATO or the UN or the EU. Sorry to disappoint you all. It’s a little fan site for a… Read more »
@ESC Fanatic and the last one: how can you write that Russian hate Ukraine. That so untrue. Stop to write these stupid things about our country.
Almost all Ukranian singer are performing in Russia. Why would they do that???
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtR_ydw2sZw
In this video Ukranian singer Ivan Dorn performs song in Ukranian language in heart of Moscow few monts ago. And the crowds reaction is amazing. I have been to this concerts, lot of people brought flags of Ukraine and Russia with hearts.
@ESC Fanatic OMG! Are you living in Russia? Nowday no one is talking about Jamala winning in Russia, most of people have forgotten about it. So may you will stop writing you stupid comments about thethings you don´t know.
@ESC Fanatic stop talking about the things you dont know. I´m a tatar girl from Russia and I haven´t voted for Jamala. None of my friends have voted for her. Volga Tatars are not Crimea tatars.
Ukranian diaspora representing JUST 1.4% of the total population of the Russian Federation.
According to your primitive logic Ukraine should always get high points from Russia but it didn´t.
@(J)ESC Fanatic
“I know, there was an Ukrainian reader named Oxana and Russians were attacking her all the time.”
Really? Wasn’t it on the contrary?
The most amusing thing is that already on Friday May 13th it was absolutely clear that Russia had no chance to win. Guess why. If you cannot – than look through European mass media on that day.
The Ukraine’s win is not much of a trouble for Russia. The trouble is that the way the voting was presented this year showed how cinically it was done.
@Zebb I know, there was an Ukrainian reader named Oxana and Russians were attacking her all the time. Calm down, Russians! It’s a song contest, you can’t win every single year. My country, Greece didn’t even qualify for the first time ever but I’m not nagging. Just accept that Ukraine won and go on with your life. It was pretty annoying to hear Russians nagging all the time and saying “Russia is the real winner because the juries don’t know anything about music and the televote alone should decide on the winner, blah blah blah…” Did they say that last… Read more »
@ Zeb,
First of all I’d like to tell you that I am not “he”.
Now that you know this I am paying your attention that Russian patriotism is not so widely spread here as anti-Russian moods and for us it is really ridiculous to read sarcastic statements of some people who think that Russia = Siberia and all other silly things.
In fact Russia would not agree to host this contest even if it were asked to do it. So you sdn’t worry. We are mentally healthy=))
@J Esc Fanatic, ok I got it. I was rather telling that to russian patriots after one lady from Ukraine left (or was banned) comment section. That is so ridiculous when you see Plum again and again embarassing himself and his side by telling here “Only Russia”. I dunno if there were such hatred reactions (overall) from italians last year but they seem to be okay with esc this year – will russians be cured that fast? 😀