Eurovision instrumental in boosting Ukraine’s image
KIEV, Ukraine — Portugal won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time early on Sunday with a melancholy ballad performed by a singer who suffers from a serious heart condition.
The song Amar Pelos Dois was performed by 27-year-old Salvador Sobral, who is awaiting a transplant.
It scored a crushing victory, winning top marks both from the televoters and the countries’ professional juries.
Arguably, however, it was Ukraine that was the event’s big winner. Back in May last year when the country was granted the hosting rights after its singer Jamala won the competition in Stockholm, few expected the country could pull off the event successfully.
One year on, it is safe to say that Ukraine worked it out. The large concert hall at the main Eurovision venue and the official fan zones were ready long before the start of the event and high-quality live shows were produced.
“I’m very content. What we saw yesterday was the Eurovision song contest as it should be,” Jon Ola Sand, executive supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, said after the first semifinal.
With regard to safety, everything went smoothly. Despite the concerns, no serious incidents were recorded in Kiev during the time of the contest.
Apart from being an instrument to boost Ukraine’s image abroad, the Eurovision has also benefited locals. Kiev authorities significantly refurbished the city’s infrastructure on the eve of the contest by carrying out a major road overhaul and renovation of pavements, bus stops and recreation zones.
“The city indeed has changed for the better. Especially, I like the way they have arranged the promenade (of the Dnieper River), it became a perfect place for walking with children,” said Kiev resident Denis Gorshkov.
“I wish the Eurovision took place in Ukraine every year,” he added.
According to preliminary estimates, Ukraine spent about $33 million arranging the Eurovision, surpassing the budget allocated by Sweden last year by nearly a third.
Initially, critics warned that the eastern European country, which has just recovered from a financial crisis, could not afford to spend such an amount of money on the music contest and bring financial benefits in return. But now, there are signs that the event will recoup the money.
The Kiev authorities have predicted that the city would receive a financial boost of about $21.8 million from tourists attending the competition.
Besides, according to local Eurovision organizers, good financial returns are also expected from ticket sales, as large audiences attended both the live competition and also the dress rehearsals.
“In terms of income, the figures are very good. We have more income than we planned,” said Pavlo Hrytsak, a Eurovision executive producer from Ukraine.
However, for Ukraine, the Eurovision is far more than a commercial event — money spent on arranging the contest is a real investment in the country’s future.