Turin hands over keys of Eurovision to Liverpool
The official keys of the Eurovision Song Contest have been handed from the previous host city Turin to Liverpool in a grand ceremony, the Daily Mail reported.
Ukrainian tears of gratitude flowed after Britain stepped in to host the competition on their behalf with a prediction this year's event in Liverpool will be 'the best show ever'.
Mayor of Turin Stefano Lo Russo and the mayor of Liverpool, Joanne Anderson, sealed the handover, known as the Insignia, with a handshake.
It was announced Britain would be hosts after it was decided that Ukraine could not hold the event for 'safety and security reasons'.
The Ukrainian entry, Kalush Orchestra, won the annual competition last year in an emotional victory in Turin, Italy, and it is traditional that the winning country hosts the event the following year.
The United Kingdom were chosen as hosts after singer Sam Ryder 'destroyed the stigma' of underwhelming performances and finished in second place last year.
The international music show will take place at the 11,000-capacity Liverpool Arena in May, culminating in the grand final on May 13.
A total of 37 countries are set to take part in Eurovision this year , with Ukraine automatically qualifying as 2022's winners as well as the so-called 'big five' UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain - who each get a free pass because of their financial contributions to the event.
It was announced that the 15 countries who will be performing in the first semi-final on May 9 include Ireland, Serbia, Latvia, Norway, Portugal, Croatia, Malta, Sweden, Moldova, Switzerland, Israel, the Netherlands, Finland, Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic.
Meanwhile, semi-final two on May 11 will see Armenia, Cyprus, Romania, Denmark, Belgium, Iceland, Greece, Estonia, Albania, Australia, Austria, Lithuania, San Marino, Slovenia, Georgia and Poland go head to head.
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