The first step towards the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 has been taken!
Arguably that was when rockband Måneskin were victorious at the contest of 2021 but now the first work meeting has taken place as well!
Yesterday, exactly one month since the Eurovision final in Rotterdam, the Italian delegation visited the headquarters of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in Geneva, Switzerland. There, they met with the contest’s Reference Group. The Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group is the executive Committee for all Members, its purpose being to control and guide the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC).
This is who met up yesterday:
From left to right, you see: Claudio Fasulo, Deputy Director of RAI Uno, Simona Martorelli (RAI), Felix Bergsson (RÚV), David Tserunyan (AMPTV), Martin Österdahl (EBU), Carla Bugalho (RTP), Yuval Cohen (KAN), Sietse Bakker (NPO), Astrid Dutrenit (NPO) and Frank-Dieter Freiling (ZDF).
(Claudio Fasulo is not a member of the Reference Group and Alexandra Redde (FTV) who is, is absent from the photo.)
The Head of Delegation of the winning country, Italy, said the following:
There is a lot of enthusiasm around the Eurovision Song Contest in Italy. This victory is combined with a sentiment of rebirth that Italy really needs. We’re looking forward to working with the Reference Group on producing an incredible ESC in Italy in 2022.
In the story of Eurovision, my favourite song is ABBA’s Waterloo and my favourite Italian entry is, of course, Maneskin’s Zitti E Buoni!
To which our Executive Supervisor Martin Österdahl, who had his debut edition in that role in Rotterdam last month, added:
It’s great to finally be able to welcome the Reference Group to Geneva and meet in person for the first time in over 18 months.
The handover between the previous and next year’s Host Broadcaster is always a special moment and even more so this year. We’ve reflected on three spectacular shows in Rotterdam and are excited to welcome the team from RAI onboard and already looking forward to what they will bring us in 2022.
Let’s listen to Italy in 2022:
We’re on the road!
