The EBU, NTU and the Eurovision 2017 Committee have completed the inspection of the 3 potential Eurovision 2017 host cities.

The inspection of three potential host cities vying 2017 to host the forthcoming 2017 Eurovision Song Contest has successfully concluded.

On July 25 and 26, representatives of the European Broadcasting Union, the National Television Company of Ukraine (ESC 2017 host broadcaster) and the Eurovision 2017 Committee visited Kyiv, Dnipro and Odesa.

The three candidate cities did their level best to showcase themselves during the first stages of the 2017 ESC host city race. Heads of city administrations personally assisted the inspection participants in exploring all the facilities and spaces required for the Eurovision Song Contest, analyzing the city transport infrastructure and discussing the security system.

The inspection was held in the terminals of Dnipro and Odessa airports, four potential arenas for the Eurovision Song Contest, namely the Palace of Sports and the International Exhibition Centre in Kyiv, DniproEuroArena (Meteor Sports Complex) in Dnipro and Chornomorets Stadium in Odesa, locations for official events during the Eurovision Weeks (Euroclub, Eurovision Village, Opening Ceremony).

The hotel capacity in the cities, security measures, financial investment and other issues were discussed. Kyiv, Dnipro and Odesa impressed with their preparedness and willingness to host the contest. Nevertheless, based on the inspection results, a number of additional recommendations were given to each  of the potential Eurovision 2017 host cities,  plus additional time to elaborate their respective bids.

Mr. Jon Ola Sand (EBU’s supervisor for the Eurovision Song Contest commented:

Altogether we will focus on finding the best solution. But we really want to take the time it takes to come up with the right decision. I am happy to be in the middle of the process together with the National Television Company of Ukraine, representatives of the Organization Committee and their partners.

NTU’s Director General Mr. Zurab Alasaniia commented:

Everyone involved in the contest in Europe and Ukraine, namely the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the National Television Company of Ukraine as the Host Broadcaster, the Organization Committee consisting of almost all members of the Government and led by the Prime Minister of the country, we all would not like to rush but get more details instead. The final decision is postponed to consider everything. We put it off together with the EBU inspectors who were in Ukraine for two days, saw all the cities and locations, were satisfied and understood the delay as they would like to get the details as well..

The European Broadcasting Union together with the National Television Company of Ukraine and the Organization Committee are currently analyzing the upgraded proposals of the candidate cities to finally decide which of them will be entitled to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2017.