Eurovision Song Contest final screening cancelled due to Israel

The Rio Cinema in London, which has hosted screenings of the Eurovision Song Contest final for years, has announced that it has cancelled this year's final screening due to Israel's participation in the contest.

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Eurovision Song Contest final screening cancelled due to Israel

According to a post on The Rio Cinema's X account, the Eurovision Song Contest final screening has been cancelled.

The post stated, "In light of the current situation, we have decided not to screen the Eurovision Song Contest grand final because Israel is in the competition."

"WE WILL CONTINUE TO ORGANIZE FUNDRAISING EVENTS"

The statement noted that the contest has the power to bring people together and supports core values such as equality, universality, and inclusivity, adding, "We will continue to organize fundraising events for organizations we support, such as Doctors Without Borders and Medical Aid for Palestinians."

"JUST AS WE REMOVED THE RUSSIAN BROADCASTER..."

Noel Curran, Director General of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organizer of Eurovision, evaluated The Rio Cinema's decision in an interview with the US-based magazine Variety.

Stating that Eurovision is a non-political song contest, Curran said, "This is not a contest between governments. We are aware that many have called for Israel to be excluded from this year's contest, just as we removed the Russian broadcaster following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022."

Noting that "comparing wars and conflicts is complex, difficult, and not the job of non-political organizations like ours," Curran stated that their efforts to keep Eurovision a non-political event will continue.

400 celebrities and industry representatives had written a letter to the EBU calling for Israel to be excluded from the contest, which will be held in Malmö, Sweden, this year.