Another day, another twist in the Eurovision 2017 host city saga. On Tuesday the Director General of Ukraine’s broadcaster NTU, Zurab Alasania, revealed to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency that the decision now rests solely with two people. They happen to be the most important men in the country: President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman.
Last week Ukrainian media reported that the decision would be announced on September 5. That didn’t happen and Mr. Alasania’s statement has thrown another curveball. Now he says that the only two men who know the answer are Pereshenko and Groysman. Indeed, Alasania stated that there’s “not a hint of a winner”. That means that Kyiv does seem to be in with a chance, despite the fact recent reports have suggested Odessa had this in the bag.
Mr. Alasania also said that he expects the decision to be made “by the beginning of next week”. This is due to a meeting between NTU and the EBU’s supervising committee next week in Berlin, where Ukraine’s decision will have to be presented. This is a marathon of Lithuanian NF proportions!
This latest statement will raise some eyebrows. Politically, Mr. Poroshenko is more closely aligned to Vitali Klitshcko, the Mayor of Kyiv, than he is Gennadiy Trukhanov, the Mayor of Odessa. Whilst you’d hope the decision would be made solely based on suitability, there is a possibility that politics could now play a big part. Calling the decision “political” certainly suggests that.
One positive that can be taken is that Mr. Groysman was indeed part of the initial selection committee established in July, which took an overview of the submitted bids. Therefore, the decisions reached through the committee should play a part in the decision.
As a reminder, here’s what EBU Executive Supervisor, Jon Ola Sand, had to say about what a host city needed:
What do you think about this latest statement from NTU’s Director General? Do you think that this will help one city over the other? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section!
Alasania simply loves intrigues and attention.
Let this serve as a lesson to potential host countries in future contests to do their homework by having diplomatic negotiations among fellow local politicians and create or appoint already existing proper arenas for the venues as early as possible.
I am sure the Eurovision will be organized in Saint Petersburg, Russia
Ukraine has the money, just not the resources. SVT and the EBU said they’d help out with money and connections but Kyiv is the only city that can properly host ESC 2017. Everyone wants Odessa but THEY DON’T EVEN HAVE ROOFS on their stadiums! Kyiv seems to be the obvious answer.
In my opinion, Sweden was over the top, with huge stage and parodies and patronising atitude, but why other countries can’t see in hosting ESC, an oportunity, like Azerdaidjan saw. I really like Baku 2012, because that country appreciated the fact that is the host and can promote turism. I like when a country has that approach, and all citizens really come together to do something constructive.
In my opinion the decision should be made by NTU and not the prime minister and president.
Also, don’t these two have more “important” issues to take care of?
I can’t at this mess. There should be s rule wherein bankrupt & corrupt countries are banned from participating to avoid situations like this. How fitting that Ukraine won with a political song and now, this political mess. At this rate, they should just pass hosting duties to Raqqa, Aleppo, Tripoli or Baghdad lolz
Let us not think about politiks or corruption, maybe it’s just some Poroshenko’s “personal” story. He will tell it to us later and we shall believe him. Ukraine is full of believable “personal” stories.
@Leo Valdez
At some point that does make sense. For some countries it is hard to organize the contest. San Marino, for example, may have the budget, even the venue. But what about human capital? At least 200 volunteers are needed, more than 200 full-time employees should be engaged in organization. The contest alone needs stylists, stage personnel, directors, soundmen, designers etc. And what about security? Hotels for additional 4-5 thousand guests? The best solution would be that EBU collect more money from participants and take part more seriously in funding the contest.
@Leo Valdez
At some point that does make sense. For some countries it is hard to organize the contest. San Marino, for example, may have the budget, even the venue. But what about human capital? At least 200 volunteers are needed, more than 200 full-time employees should be engaged in organization. The competition alone needs stylists, stage personnel, directors, soundmen, designers etc. And what about security? Hotels for additional 4-5 thousand guests? The best solution would be that EBU collect more money from participants and take part more seriously in funding competitions.
At least this shows how important Ukraine even considers Eurovision, to the point it involves the President and Prime Minister.
They genuinely admit it’s a political decision, this is how used to be corrupt politicians are in Ukraine.
You can imagine why Crimea voted to go back to Russia.
It’s a shame that this makes half of the continent look bad, not all countries from east are like that.
EBU have to change the rule that last years winner should host the next year’s contest
It doesn’t work anymore
Which will we have first, a country announcing their contestant or the host city being named?
Just pick one. God It’s not that difficult, it doesn’t have to go to presidential level, just would NTU pick a city
One takeaway from this is that the mayors from Odessa and Kiev/Kyiv care so much about their respective localities that they are willing to fight tooth and nail, figuratively, to get hosting duties for a yearly show.
This is not hosting contest, this is a song contest, the best song wins, not the best host country and Ukraine deserved to win, so they did! Russia had just poor pop song that we heard so many times in Eurovision, in the case of winning Russia we would get more than 40 pop songs for next year’s contest and nothing more. Sweden already won with pop song in 2015 and that was enough. Good that Ukraine won, it is for the best of Eurovision, so let’s just stay calm and wait for their final decision.
dd;
I understand why EBU doesn’t want those Eastern countries to win.
Ahaha, in reality in Ukraine we have situation with corrupted Mayor of Odesa which try to propose bribery to PM and with Mayor of Kyiv who is in inside-political conflict with President. And PM afraid that Klychko will give information about corrupted scheme of the next ESC in Odesa and Ukrainians would not forget it so easily. They try to find argue for Odesa`s hosting in opposite to Kyiv, but it is very difficult because Odesa do not ready now and will not be ready for such great event. But it is now politic – it is all about money… Read more »
Stop making everything so political and take a damn decision. You cant do a good show if u decide the host city in the middle of september…
And you all guys didn’t want an ESC in Sochi, in the Olympic arenas all due to the “politics”. Well, I hope you have fun nowadays. 🙂 And next year.
many europeans didn’t wanted Russia to win,—> but Russian won the televoting?
So it seems that the Kyiv mayor is doing everything to get the rights to bring ESC in Kyiv and not Odessa. This is disgusting. EBU should ask Switzerland or UK to host Eurovision (Germany did it a few years ago and no more Scandinavia please). Switzerland would seem a good choice as they are rich and EBU is based there.
Once again, shame on them as this is all about power and politics.
Everything is apparently a political in Ukraine! Just remember that horrid national final last time! I think they should withdraw as hosts before we get the most tedious and annoying Eurovision show in years. Probably London should host in the name of Australia.
Honestly….they should give it to a more experience country to host : United Kingdom for example
I knew Ukraine would have a hard time picking. Just give it to a country that can afford it already, Ukraine is hopeless.
Can the EBU withdraw the hosting gig from Corruptistan please?
It really is unacceptable the way ukraine’s tv’s dealing with the whole thing.
I think that Russia is laughing right now, many europeans didn’t wanted Russia to win, but now take that.
Still don’t understand if hosting Eurovision is a burden that bunkrupts the broadcaster (like some countries complain), or if it’s profitable.
What a farce.
Does anyone surprised?
@Mitchelvaneijk definitely yes
usual squabbles, the goal is to manage serious event in a complicated country, and with the political sympathies methods, does not help.