5 days ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Eurovision Song Contest's Martin Österdahl to step down
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) confirmed the news following Österdahl's five years of overseeing and transforming the world's largest music event.
Österdahl said: 'From day one, I was inspired by the Contest's unique potential and power to unite people through music—never more so than in 2021, when we brought Eurovision back live to millions around the world amid a global pandemic, demonstrating the resilience and spirit at the heart of our community.
'I am immensely proud of the changes we made to modernize and strengthen the Eurovision Song Contest.
"These include establishing the permanent 'United By Music' slogan for the event, attracting long term sponsors and brand extension partnerships, and growing engagement and reach on our digital platforms that have brought millions of new fans to the Contest.
'The ESC is now an event where hundreds of thousands sign up to buy tickets, a show watched by hundreds of millions, connecting with youth audiences worldwide, and stands as a unique platform for overnight global success for artists and songwriters.
'As my overall involvement with the ESC is now approaching a period of twenty years in total, it has been the honour of my professional life to steer the world's largest music event, developing the Contest as a global super brand that brings joy to more people than ever before.
'I am deeply grateful to the entire ESC community and particularly to the ESC Core Team, participating broadcasters, artists, and fans for their passion and support.'
📡 BREAKING: Martin Österdahl will step down as #Eurovision Executive Supervisor.
The EBU reports that "further announcements regarding the future structure of the Eurovision Song Contest team will be made in due course."
The EBU said Österdahl was 'appointed in 2020' and 'managed a period of remarkable innovation and resilience in the Contest's history".
"This included the staging of the Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam during the global COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, the unprecedented hosting of the 2023 Contest by the BBC in Liverpool on behalf of 2022's winning broadcaster, Ukraine's Suspilne, and this year's record-breaking edition hosted by SRG SSR in Basel."
He was the Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) for five years in Rotterdam, Turin, Liverpool, Malmö and Basel.
He had the same role for Junior Eurovision Song Contests (JESC) in Warsaw, Paris, Yerevan, Nice and Madrid.
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Martin Green CBE, Director of the Eurovision Song Contest, commented: 'On behalf of everyone at the EBU, all our participating broadcasters, partners and the entire Eurovision Song Contest community, I extend my sincere thanks to Martin Österdahl for his vision, expertise and tireless commitment to the event.
'His steady leadership through some of the Contest's most challenging and innovative years has set new standards of excellence.
'As we approach our 70th anniversary next year, Martin is leaving his role having played an integral part in growing the Eurovision Song Contest brand and ensuring its bright future.
"We thank him for his amazing work and lasting impact on the Song Contest, and wish him every success.'
The EBU said: 'Further announcements regarding the future structure of the Eurovision Song Contest team will be made in due course.'
