The Eurovision song contest will “go ahead as planned,” despite the resignation of 21 key staff members.
A spokesperson for Eurovision told Independent.ie: “We can confirm that the Eurovison Song Contest will go ahead as planned and there has been no change in the dates.”
Eurovision 2017 is set to take place in Kiev on May 13.
News emerged on Wednesday that 21 top level staff responsible for organising the event had resigned.
News emerged on Wednesday that 21 top level staff responsible for organising the event had resigned.
The Ukrainian Eurovision team say they were side-lined and stripped of major responsibilities in December, when a new boss was appointed, it is reported.
According to their resignation letter, they were “completely blocked” from making decisions about the show.
According to their resignation letter, they were “completely blocked” from making decisions about the show.
An open letter penned by the former staff reads:
“Hereby we, the Eurovision team, for whom this contest has become not only part of our work but also part of our life, officially inform that we are resigning and stopping work on preparations for the organisation of the contest.”
“Hereby we, the Eurovision team, for whom this contest has become not only part of our work but also part of our life, officially inform that we are resigning and stopping work on preparations for the organisation of the contest.”
A statement from Eurovision regarding the resignations thanked the team for their “hard work.”
“Victoria Romanova, Oleksandr Kharebin, Iryna Asman, Denys Bloshchynski and his team and Oleksii Karaban informed the EBU on 10th February that they were resigning from their roles for the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest. The group felt they were not able to continue work on the project owing to staffing matters at UA:PBC, which the EBU cannot fully comment on.
“Victoria Romanova, Oleksandr Kharebin, Iryna Asman, Denys Bloshchynski and his team and Oleksii Karaban informed the EBU on 10th February that they were resigning from their roles for the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest. The group felt they were not able to continue work on the project owing to staffing matters at UA:PBC, which the EBU cannot fully comment on.
“The team have been instrumental in the planning for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, and we thank them for their hard work. We have reiterated to UA:PBC the importance of a speedy and efficient implementation of plans already agreed, despite staff changes, and that we stick to the timeline and milestones that have been established and approved by the Reference Group to ensure a successful Contest in May.
“Further information regarding the core team of the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest will be released in due course.”
“Further information regarding the core team of the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest will be released in due course.”
This year Ireland’s entry will be performed by Hometown member Brendan Murray, who will perform a yet-to-be-revealed song.
Tickets for the Eurovison Song Contest went on Sale on Tuesday via Concert.ua for the designated dates.
Tickets for the Eurovison Song Contest went on Sale on Tuesday via Concert.ua for the designated dates.
Independent Online Editors
