KAN, the Israeli national broadcaster, caught up with Mr Jon Ola Sand earlier this week right after the 2019 Eurovision Semi-final Allocation draw in Tel Aviv. The Executive Supervisor of the EBU shed more light on the ongoing ESC preparations in Israel.
KAN’s Shachar Geva got a chance to interview the Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest Mr. Jon Ola Sand right after the 2019 Eurovision Host Insignia Handover Ceremony and Semi-final Allocation Draw.
Jon Ola was very pleased with the Host Insignia Handover Ceremony and Semi-final Allocation Draw. 2019 will be his 9th year overseeing the Eurovision Song Contest as the EBU’s ESC Executive Supervisor. Before his job at the EBU he has been involved in the Eurovision Song Contest for many years having produced the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest in his homeland Norway, and heading the Norwegian delegation at ESC on numerous ocassions.
Mr. Sand attended the 1999 Eurovision Song Contest when it was last held in Israel, namely in Jerusalem. He has great memories of both Jerusalem and the contest back then. It was his first time in Israel and he was the HoD of the Norwegian delagation in ESC 2019!
He has been travelling frequently to Israel since last May in order to prepare for the upcoming 2019 Eurovision Song Contest. Jon Ola has been working in close coordination with Israeli national broadcaster in their quest to organize a great show come May. He goes on to praise both KAN’s Eurovision team and the Israeli delegation for their professional approach and hard work, saying that they have a fantastic team!
During the interview Mr. Sand tells Ms.Geva that organizing the contest requires a lot of hard work and organization as it is a massive event, and that there isn’t a minute to lose as you only have a short year to organize the competition.
Jon Ola also spoke about the 2019 Eurovision hosts, eventhough he’s only met three out of the four hosts (he is yet to meet Bar Refaeli), he was all praise about them saying that they had great energy and spirit, they were professional to the core and that they will be wonderful hosts when they take the stage next May.
He has travelled throughout Israel and has visited Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the Dead Sea. He said that Tel Aviv is a fantastic and vibrant city with many good restaurants, cool places, great sights and an amazing beach!
Check out KAN’s special interview with Mr. Jon Ola Sand below:
The 2019 Eurovision Song Contest will be held on 14, 16, 18 May at the Expo Tel Aviv in Tel Aviv, Israel.
