A giant faceted ball in the shape of a heart was hung on the façade of City Hall. Liverpool falls into Eurovision madness for the first time. Much more than the British Union Jack, it is the flag of Ukraine that is displayed in the streets of the city. It is everywhere: on the facades of pubs, on the balcony of houses and the concrete blocks placed on the road to pedestrianize the city center are painted yellow and sky blue.
No question for the English to steal the show from the Ukrainians. They are the ones who won Eurovision last year. They are the ones who will be in the spotlight tonight, throughout this 67th edition of the European Song Contest, even if, for security reasons, the show has found refuge in the capital of rock. All the tape recorders broadcast during the show will highlight both the host country and the defending champion.
VIDEO. "Huge public support", "hearts won", NATO and the European Union hail Ukraine's victory at Eurovision
Fear of a cyberattack
The party will take place. Fans have already pulled out their sequined costumes. However, there is no question of putting on blinders, the conflict will be in everyone's mind. The organizers are walking on eggshells. Russia has been banned again due to the military invasion launched on its neighbor last year. For tonight, the rules prohibit any politicization of the contest.
"One of the pillars of the competition is the non-political nature of the event," explained the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), to justify its refusal to broadcast a video of Volodymyr Zelensky. The Ukrainian president regularly sends filmed interventions during this kind of over-mediatized events, as at the last Cannes Film Festival for example. Rishi Sunak, the British Prime Minister, regretted the EBU's decision. "The values and freedoms for which President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people are fighting are not political, but fundamental," his spokesman said.
Behind the scenes, the BBC fears a cyberattack. Last year, in Turin, several computer assaults from Russia were prevented during the performance of the Ukrainian group. "This is our main source of concern because they are becoming more and more frequent. We are aware that we are exposed, but I think everything has been done to mitigate this risk," Kate Phillips, the BBC's director of programmes, told the Guardian.
Tvorchi in 3rd place among bookmarkers
On air, this evening will be eminently political. From the first minute, with the majestic opening by the title holders, the group Kalush Orchestra. Neon pink hat and translational outfits, they mix in their hit "Stefania", rap and ancestral singing, unless it is a military rhyme to mobilize the troops. Last year, the group flew through the contest, 170 points ahead of their challenger. Only a few weeks after the start of the war, the context obviously came into play. Since then, they have toured Europe several times to witness the ravages of war in their country.
This year, Ukraine has bet on the electro duo Tvorchi. Their title "Heart Of Steel" refers to confit. They say they were inspired by the strength and bravery of the defenders of Mariupol, a martyred city taken by the Russians after a siege and long fighting. The duo, who recorded their music video on the Kiev metro platform, are also not reluctant to play ambassadors.
All week, they met with the press, steel hearts embroidered on their T-shirts, to warn of the risks associated with nuclear weapons. Their speech does not put off fans, more political than the contest itself. A few hours before kick-off, Tvorchi climbed to 3rd place at the bookmakers, the one occupied until now by the French candidate La Zarra, now 7th.
