CyBC, the Cypriot national broadcaster has announced on their official website that Cyprus will not compete at the forthcoming 2014  Eurovision Song Contest. 

RIK, the Cypriot public broadcaster has taken this decision due to the financial restrictions and budget cuts implemented on the broadcaster due to the financial crisis afflicting the country.

The announcement as it was published on RIK

RIK announced the decision of the managment board to abstain from the Eurovision Song Contest 2014. The board was led to this decision, after taking into account public opinion on the economic crisis. (The institute) took into consideration further cuts to RIK’s budget for 2014, and the need for drastic cuts to spending for the programmes.

This is the 3rd time that Cyprus will be missing the event as was the case in 1988 and 2001.

Cyprus will be joining Croatia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Monaco, Morocco, Andorra and  Luxembourg all whom have confirmed that they will not compete at the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest.

In 2013 Despina Olympiou represented Cyprus at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest with her entry An me thimase, failing to qualify to the final.

Cyprus debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1981 with Island’s Monika and is yet to win Europe’s favourite television show. The Mediterranean island’s best placing at the contest has been a 5th placing in 1982, 1997, and 2004.

Despina Olympiou- An me thimase– Eurovision Song Contest 2013

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