Belfast has been named as the ideal city to host next year’s Eurovision Song contest by all the competition winners from across the island of Ireland.
Ireland has won Eurovision a record seven wins, and today we can reveal these stars are backing Belfast to host this year’s winner Ukraine whose Kalush Orchestra won the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest with their song 'Stefania'.
It is estimated the visitors to Belfast and further afield would boost the economy by about £20million through booking hotel rooms, restaurants, cafes, bars, taxis and other jobs would be boosted including security, pedestrianisation of parts of the city and other preparations for the competition.
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Other UK cities have already submitted ambitious bids to the Eurovision Broadcasting Union which runs the competition, but to date Belfast City Council has not yet had a formal meeting about a potential proposal.
The lack of activity has brought Ireland’s winners together in a bid to trigger some interest in the multi-million pound programme that can boost hospitality and tourism for years to come.
The host city will ultimately be decided upon by the BBC and the EBU, and the BBC says it may “consult” the UK Government too.
The EBU has confirmed a two-stage selection process in which applications will be shortlisted based on their ability to meet the requirements and their responses around capability and experience. London, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, Glasgow and Aberdeen already have bids in place as Eurovision gears up for its ninth appearance in the UK.
Three Belfast City Councillors, Seamas de Faoite from the SDLP, Anthony Flynn of the Green Party, and Alliance's Micky Murray have joined forces to try to have a bid prepared as a matter of urgency, with the final decision expected in early Autumn ahead of the May 2023 contest.
Mr de Faoite said: "My great-uncle was a producer for the live finals the last time Eurovision came to the island and I'm delighted to see the spirit of those past victories get behind the campaign to bring the 2023 final to Belfast.
“We understand the promise and importance of peace more than any other potential host, which is why Belfast is the best city to host the Ukrainian victors and put on a show that honours them.”
The EBU says :
- Last year the venue accommodated 10,000 spectators
- The city should be within easy reach of an international airport
- The location must also have ample hotel accommodation
Ukraine will automatically qualify for the grand final alongside the big five nations – the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, who each get a free pass because of their financial contributions to the event. The host city is expected to be announced by the autumn and it is believed Belfast ticks all of the EBU’s boxes and more.
- The SSE Arena can seat 11,000 with the iconic Titanic Exhibition Centre next door
- Belfast has a minimum of 9,600 hotel rooms, twice the number the EBU believes would be needed
- Belfast International Airport, Belfast City Airport, along with the proximity of Dublin Airport and even City of Derry Airport
What the past winners say
Dana 1970: ‘All Kinds of Everything’
Performed by 18-year-old Rosemary ‘Dana’ Brown, from the Bogside in Derry, the song was written by Derry Lindsay and Jackie Smith for the occasion.
Dana said: “People in Northern Ireland have experienced the devastation of years of unrest and have successfully come through it. We understand and empathise with so much of the pain suffered by Ukraine’s people.
"And like them, the people of Northern Ireland are steeped in music, culture, the arts, creativity and in particular, Eurovision success. An all-inclusive Northern Ireland bid for Eurovision 2023 should be held in the capital city Belfast, I believe it’s the very best place to represent the people of Ukraine.
“Linda Martin is from Belfast, Niamh Cavanagh is now living near Belfast, myself and Johnny Logan’s father are from Derry Londonderry so that adds up to five Eurovision wins. Add Phil Coulter, the composer of UK’s first ever Eurovision win, Puppet on a String.
“Belfast also has the full support of Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan who won Eurovision with “Rock and Roll Kids” so that takes us to seven winners.
“Is it not fitting that Belfast could be the Eurovision host for Ukraine? We have the huge capacity SSE venue right next door to the globally recognised Titanic centre. We have very talented people at BBC NI and TV production companies as well as excellent logistics to facilitate.
“Northern Ireland and Belfast can do justice to the people of Ukraine in hosting Eurovision 2023, not only because of our logistical abilities but because of our big-hearted and community-driven people.
Johnny Logan 1980 : ‘What’s Another Year’ and 1987: ‘Hold me Now’
Johnny Logan's is the only performer to win the Eurovision Song Contest twice, first in 1980 with ‘What’s Another Year’, written by Shay Healy and then in 1987 with ‘Hold Me Now’ which he composed and performed himself.
Johnny said: “Belfast should host Ukraine for Eurovision 2023 - and why not Belfast? Northern Ireland has produced so many great musicians and singers, my father Patrick O’Hagan among them, and hosting Eurovision 2023 would be a wonderful opportunity to highlight the positive side of the north of Ireland and its people.
“So yes, I fully support the Belfast bid, it’s a great musical city with great people and I believe it can deliver.
Linda Martin 1992 : ‘Why Me?’
Linda performed at the Eurovision Song Contest contest twice and won in 1992 with ‘Why Me?’. She said: “Belfast is perfect for Eurovision 2023. It’s a beautiful city with an 11,000 seater arena, thousands of hotel rooms and two airports, one of them right beside the world renowned Titanic experience.”
Niamh Kavanagh : 1993, ‘In Your Eyes’
Niamh won the competition which was held in Millstreet, Co Cork. Niamh said: “Belfast would be an amazing choice to host the Eurovision on behalf of the Ukraine, it’s a thriving city with a great heart that understands surviving conflict.”
Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994, with ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Kids’
Paul said: “I think it’s a brilliant idea. I lived and worked in Belfast for some years and it’s a sparkling place and the people are creative and talented. Music can unite and triumph. So yes, I fully support Belfast for Eurovision 2023.”
Brendan Graham, writer of Rock ‘n’ Roll Kids in 1994, and Eimear Quinn’s winning song, The Voice, in 1996.
Brendan said: “Belfast would be a super city to host Eurovision 2023, in partnership with Ukraine. The amenities are all there, not to mention the history and the surrounding beauty of Northern Ireland.
“In some elemental and visceral way Belfast and its people might have a more natural empatico with the cities and people of Ukraine than perhaps other cities might have. Belfast is a city of hope and belief in the future…and would be a city of huge welcome and embrace for Ukraine.”
COSTS
Eurovision tourism is big business attracting visitors and publicity for the host city and country.
It is estimated the visitors to Belfast and further afield would boost the economy by about £20million.
Sweden hosted the competition in Malmo in 2015 and the £17m they spent was practically offset in the short term by the £16m made in tourism spending from more than 32,000 tourists.
In 2014 Copenhagen generated more than £13m from Eurovision with almost 40,000 people who created over 87,000 overnight stays for local hoteliers.
Funding is achieved through a fee from each participating broadcaster, contributions from the host broadcaster and the host city, and commercial revenues from sponsorships, ticket sales, televoting and merchandise.
Here's how the money breaks down
- EBU contribution from 40 participants : £6million to £8million
- National Government contribution potential : £5million
- NI Executive contribution potential : £2million
- Tourism Ireland contribution potential : £2million
- Potential ticket sales across two semis and the final of 12,000 people across three nights and three rehearsals at an average £100 ticket: £7million
- Contribution from the Host Broadcaster, depending on local circumstances and available resources: between £8 and £16 million
Contribution from the host city, either financially or ‘in kind’ covering expenses of city branding, side events, security, etc.
Commercial revenue from sponsorship agreements, ticket sales, televoting and merchandise, varies from year to year.
More than 90% of all available funds are being earmarked for the TV production and event organisation.
Around 5% of available funds represent the budget for the EBU’s Eurovision Song Contest team and its partners.
Remaining funds are being reimbursed to the Participating Broadcasters and the budget is overseen and approved by the Reference Group, on behalf of all Participating Broadcasters, on an annual basis.
Favourites:
Belfast has the SSE Arena at the Odyssey Complex in the Titanic Quarter boasts a 11,000-person capacity, and Belfast councillors Anthony Flynn, Seamas De Faoite and Micky Murray have been urging the city to put a bid forward. The @EurovisionBFS social media is up and running.
Birmingham hosted Eurovision in 1998 when Katrina and the Waves’ song Love Shine a Light won the previous year.
Cardiff's Principality Stadium has a massive 74,000 capacity. The competition has never been held in Wales before.
Glasgow is the bookies’ current favourite. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has already suggested the city, which was named the UK’s top cultural and creative city in 2019.
London has hosted the competition four times in the past, the last time in 1977. The show could take place at the Wembley Arena, which has a capacity of 12,500 people, or the O2 Arena, which could hold 20,000.
Manchester's AO Arena has a 21,000 capacity and is close to the BBC’s main studio in Salford. Sir Elton John and Magic Mike shows are already scheduled to take place at the arena next May which may be a clash.
A total of 52 countries have participated in the Eurovision Song Contest which is regularly broadcast on TV in more than 40 countries.
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