Yesterday, we woke up to the news that the president of Poland, Lech Kaczynski, along with his wife, state's officials and other Polish citizens – 96 people in all – were killed in a jet crash in Russia, when they were heading to Katyn to attend a memorial for a World War II massacre. This tragical event has also collaterally affected the country's Eurovision plans.

The new version of the Polish entry for the Eurovision Song Contest, Legenda, was scheduled to be released yesterday, April 10th. Following the dreadful episode happened in Smolensk, Russia, and the national mourning declared in Poland, some of the country's plans for this year's contest have been postponed or cancelled, as Marcin Mrozinski, Poland's representative in Oslo, explains in the following statement:

"Dear Friends,

It was supposed to be a happy day. I wanted to show off a new version of my song. Unfortunately, in the morning I learned about one of the most tragic events in the history of my homeland. The plane crash killed the President of Poland and many honest people who were going to Katyn. In these circumstances, it remains for me nothing other than regret, sympathy and condolences to the relatives of the victims.

I refrain from publishing the songs in the coming week and cancel my trip to Amsterdam.

I hope for your understanding.

Marcin"

Besides that, Eurovision Song Contest's official page on Facebook has confirmed that the Flash Mob Dance, which was scheduled to take place on Monday, has been put off:

"Due to yesterday's tragic accident we are mourning together with the people of Poland. The flashmob that was supposed to take place on Monday has been postponed. The organisers will come back with more info as soon as possible".

The team of esctoday.com would like to express its deepest condolences and sympathy to the people of Poland and wish them strength in these difficult times.