It has been confirmed that around 3,000 tickets for Eurovision 2023 will be given to displaced Ukrainians.
The government of the United Kingdom has confirmed that around 3,000 tickets for Eurovision 2023 will be made available for Ukrainians who have been forced from their homes and are currently living in the United Kingdom.
Various people have spoken out on this decision, including Culture Secretary for the United Kingdom Lucy Frazer and Ukrainian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Vadym Prystaiko.
“Today’s announcement means that thousands of tickets will be offered to those displaced by war, so that they can take part in a show honouring their homeland, their culture and their music. As always, we stand together with the Ukrainian people and their fight for freedom.”
“The allocation of almost 3,000 tickets to displaced Ukrainians for the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool will allow our compatriots here to enjoy the event and celebrate our country’s rich culture and music.”
The Mayor of Liverpool, Joanne Anderson, has also spoken out about this, and can’t wait for her city to give them all a warm Liverpool welcome in May:
“Ukraine is at the heart of all our Eurovision host city plans. Working with our Ukrainian community we are shaping a thought-provoking and powerful programme that is all-encompassing and representative of modern Ukraine – inspiring, poignant, funny, beautiful and moving. We’re delighted with the news that displaced Ukrainians are being given the opportunity to come to the city in May – this is their Eurovision after all. Our team has been working tirelessly behind the scenes and we can’t wait to give them a warm Liverpool welcome and, fingers crossed, do them, the rest of the Ukraine and the UK proud.”
Ukrainians that are based in the United Kingdom via the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, Ukraine Family Scheme and Ukraine Extension Scheme will be able to apply for tickets for all nine shows – the live show, jury show and family show for semi final 1, semi final 2 and the grand final.
The tickets for displaced Ukrainians will be subsidised by the United Kingdom’s department for Culture, Media and Sport, with a £20 charge being applied to each sale.
Further information about this is expected to be revealed in the near future, along with information about general ticket sales for Eurovision 2023.
Photo credit: Patricia J. Garcinuno/GI