Eurovision 2023: Sheffield City Council announces its hosting bid – ‘music runs through our blood’
and live on Freeview channel 276
At least 17 UK cities hope to host the popular music contest. Usually the winning nation hosts the following year but the BBC took on the job as Tramlines star Sam Ryder was runner-up to Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra.
Sheffield City Council said that it “stands in solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, including those we have long been linked with in our twinned city Donetsk.
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Hide Ad“Sheffield has a proven reputation for hosting major international events – recently including UEFA Women’s EURO 2022, as well as hosting the World Snooker Championship for over 45 years.
“Later this year, Sheffield will host the Rugby League World Cup, as well as the prestigious figure skating grand prix, the MK John Wilson Trophy.
“Sheffield’s main arena, the Utilita Sheffield Arena, is a 13,600-capacity venue that delivers more than 100 events every year. We also have a thriving and diverse hospitality industry, with world-class hotels across our green city.”
Councillor Martin Smith, chair of Sheffield City Council’s economic development and skills committee, said: “Sheffield is made for hosting Eurovision – music runs through our blood and we put on a good show.
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Hide Ad“We’ve been hosting the World Snooker Championship for over 45 years, we’ve welcomed thousands of fans to UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 and just this weekend Sam Ryder wowed absolutely everyone at Tramlines Festival.
“We have the infrastructure, the venues, the hospitality and the transport links. We also have one of the strongest creative and cultural sectors in the country.
“We have a long and important relationship with Ukraine, particularly with our twinned city of Donetsk.
“This began in 1956, and intensified during the 1980s – aided by the similarities of our cities, both having a steel and mining heritage.
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Hide Ad“As the UK’s first designated City of Sanctuary, we’re reaching out to offer our city not only as a place of sanctuary, but as a place to celebrate the unity and togetherness that Eurovision symbolises.
“Sheffield stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine – we are putting ourselves forward to host Eurovision 2023 to do its people proud.”