Svante Stockselius (photo), supervisor for the Eurovision Song Contest at the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), explained esctoday.com the details about the idea to organise a world edition of the Eurovision Song Contest.

Although the Swedish newspaper Expressen wrote that the EBU plays with the idea to organise a world version of the contest, something should be mentioned aditionally: “No, there are no plans to replace (!) the Eurovision Song Contest by a world edition. Originally the idea to organise one came up as one of the alternative ideas for how to
celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2005. To make a special contest with the first placed songs from the 2005 contest up against songs from similar
contests on other continents. But this idea will not be executed to celebrate the 50th anniversary. However, we do receive questions from many broadcasters in countries on other continents. Mainly because they are interested in the Eurovision Song Contest its success and ask for cooperation when producing a similar contest themselves. And, and this is what I have said, maybe we still could organise some kind of a world contest in the future. For instance, in football they have the European winners of the Champions League playing the club winners of South-America, Asia and Africa. An exiting and special tournament with big interest!”, Stockselius said to esctoday.com.

Also he added: “This, of course doesn't mean they change the Champions League. Neither would we. The Eurovision Song Contest will remain a contest for the members of EBU”.

Fans expressed their concerns towards esctoday.com about the idea of a world edition, but it should be stated clear that this will, however, not influence the existance of the Eurovision Song Contest as pan-European annual event.