Eurovision: Ukraine to the top – Greece number eight and Norway number ten
Ukraine went straight to the top of the gaming companies’ lists after the Russian invasion at the end of February and has been there ever since.
– Thanks so much. This is for all Ukrainians. Long live Ukraine, said rapper and frontman Oleh Psiuk – before the band went on stage to perform the winning song again.
Record number of people points
Ukraine was in fourth place with 192 points when the juries’ points were distributed. Then Britain led. But a record number of votes – 439 points – ensured that no one could do anything with the Ukrainian folk-rap band.
Ukraine was followed by Great Britain, Spain, Sweden and Serbia.
Norwegian-Greek eighth place
Norwegian-Greek Amanda Tenfjord represented Greece, which finished in eighth place. She received 158 points from the professional juries and 57 points from the people’s juries – a total of 215 points.
Norway’s contribution, Subwoolfer, was number ten. Of a total of 182 points, 36 came from the professional juries and 146 from popular votes.
The Czech Republic, where two out of three members of We Are Domi are Norwegians, finished in 22nd place.
Nearly 200 million viewers have attended this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, according to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The event also reached millions on Tiktok and was broadcast on YouTube for the first time.
In conversation with broadcaster
Martin Österdahl, top manager of the Eurovision Song Contest, congratulates Ukraine on the victory and a fantastic performance. Now the planning for 2023 starts with winner-broadcaster UA: PBC, he states.
– There are very special challenges in hosting next year’s competition, he says.
– But like every other year, we look forward to discussing all the requirements and duties that come with arranging competitions with UA: PBC and everyone else helps to ensure that we have a suitable program for the 67th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, Österdahl continues.
Zelensky will host the finals in Mariupol
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was quick to congratulate the Kalush Orchestra on his victory.
– Our courage impresses the world, our music conquers Europe. Next year, Ukraine will host Eurovision, the Ukrainian president writes on Telegram.
He points out that this is the third time the country has won the singing competition, and that it will probably not be the last.
– We will do our best to one day host the participants and audit to Eurovision in Ukrainian Mariupol. Free, peaceful and rebuilt, Zelenskyj continues.
– Please help Ukraine
Russian forces and pro-Russian separatists have control of the port city of Mariupol, which has been bombed for weeks. In the Eurovision final, the Kalush Orchestra came with a prayer for help to their home country.
– Please help Ukraine and Mariupol. The only thing I ask of you is to help Ukraine and Mariupol, said frontman Psiuk after the performance.
It was uncertain for a while whether the appeal could lead to disqualification.
– We understand the deep feelings around Ukraine at the moment and consider comments from the Kalush Orchestra and other artists who express support for the Ukrainian people as humanitarian rather than politics in nature, writes EBU to among others VG and the news agency DPA.