Eurovision 2022: Martin Österdahl speaks out on Russia's suspension from the contest

• EBU's Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, Martin Österdahl, has openly commented on Russia's suspension from the Eurovision Song Contest. 

  As a consequence of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, an upgrowing wave of reactions among the other participating broadcasters created a tensed and explosive atmposhere three months before the next contest. Namely, the following broadcasters openly asked Russia's suspension from the contest with some of them ready to withdraw if Russia participated:

  UA:PBC(Ukraine),NRK(Norway),YLE(Finland),DR(Denmark),SVT(Sweden),LRT(Lithuania),AVROTROS(Netherland), ERR(Estonia), RUV(Iceland).

  EBU eventually through an official statement last on February 26, excluded Russia from Eurovision 2022 bringing the number of countries to take part in the competition in Turin down to 40. Following that first statement a second EBU statement  on March 1 kicked out all Russian members from its govenance groups.

  Now the Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, Martin Österdahl, during an interview to NVP he stated regarding the country's supsension: 

  "It was not entirely easy, because it is not Russia as a state that competes, it is the Russian member organization. And they had not really done anything wrong. They had sent good material and had not broken any rules. But it became unsustainable because we have a rule that says you must not bring disgrace over the competition".

  While Russia was the second country expelled following last year Belarus' suspension which according to Osterdahl was an easier decision as the country wanted to use the contest in order to promote a political message. 

  Mr. Österdahl revealed during the interview for the first time  that there have been discussions for a number of years around whether Belarus and Russia should be excluded from the contest:

  Honestly, it has been a discussion that has been going on for a very long time, but now it became very topical due to the invasion. Public service cooperation is based on a number of fundamental values ​​that neither Belarus nor Russia live up to. It is primarily about freedom of expression.

  Asked what impact the war in Ukraine  will have on mood during the contest , the Executive Supervisor added:

  "We do not want to do political manifestations on stage, but we can not do the world’s biggest entertainment show without touching what all people are thinking about right now in Europe."

   

  The 66th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest is set to take place in Turin on May 10, 12, and 14, 2022 at the Pala Olimpico following last year's victorious participation of Maneskin with the song "Zitti E Buoni". 

   

  News Source: Eurovoix/ NVP

  Image: NVP

   

   

   

   

AUTHORS

Angelos D.
Loyal follower of the Eurovision Song Contest since 1987, I've made the competition one of the stories of my life. After attending as accredited press the event for 13 consecutive years along with the 2017-2024 JESC editions, I also enjoy the last three years sharing more Eurovision music through the Eurofans radio's project.