UK to host next year's Eurovision Song Contest instead of Ukraine
July 26, 2022, 10:50 am

UK to host next year's Eurovision Song Contest instead of Ukraine

Sam Ryder (born 25 June 1989) is a British singer-songwriter. Ryder rose to prominence through TikTok, after posting music covers during the first lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 - Photo. Sam Ryder official Facebook account

The UK will host the Eurovision Song Contest next year after organisers decided it could not be held in winning country Ukraine due to the ongoing war, the BBC reported.

The UK, which has hosted Eurovision eight times, was chosen after Sam Ryder came second in this year's contest.

Several UK cities have already expressed interest in hosting.

The country which wins usually stages the following year's competition. But show organisers the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) opened talks with the BBC last month after assessing the situation following Russia's invasion.

Oleh Psiuk, the lead singer of 2022 winners Kalush Orchestra, said he was "very sad" that Ukraine could not host the contest but he hoped it would "celebrate our beautiful, unique culture".

He added: "We, in turn, will make all efforts to help Ukraine win next year as well, so that Eurovision 2024 can take place in a peaceful country."

Ukraine: Kalush Orchestra - Stefania
Ukraine have brought a hypnotic mix of rap, folk and a flute loop so funky, you'll remember for days... 🇺🇦 #Eurovision
Posted by Eurovision Song Contest on Tuesday, May 10, 2022

"The main thing is that we throw an amazing event that celebrates Ukraine - and one thing's for sure, we know how to throw a party here in the UK."

Officials have called for the singing competition to reflect and celebrate Ukrainian culture.

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Hosting Eurovision can be an expensive business. Azerbaijan reportedly spent £48 million on hosting the event in 2012.

A BBC spokesperson said the singing competition is a "a co-production of the host broadcaster and participating members of the EBU".

"There are a number of funding options to be explored that will contribute towards delivering a fantastic event and great value for licence fee payers."

Tickets usually go on sale a few months before the contest, once the specific venue is chosen.

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The date for the contest's Grand Final hasn't been announced yet but it usually happens in May.

Ukraine will automatically qualify for the Grand Final, as is usual for the winner, along with the so-called Big Five - which includes the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

They each go straight through to the final because of their financial contributions to the event.

Source: BBC

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
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Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”