The Rio Cinema stated in a post on its X account, "Following discussions with the organizers, we have decided not to host the Eurovision Song Contest grand final screening because Israel is in the competition."
The statement, which noted that the contest has the power to bring people together and supports core values such as equality, universality, and inclusivity, added, "We will continue to host fundraising events for organizations we support, such as Doctors Without Borders and Medical Aid for Palestinians."
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.
'THIS IS NOT A CONTEST BETWEEN GOVERNMENTS'
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 excluded 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 they will continue their efforts to ensure Eurovision remains a non-political event.
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.
News Source: AA
