🇮🇹 Turin to host the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest

The EBU has officially confirmed that the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest will be held in PalaOlimpico in Turin on the 10th, 12th, and 14th May 2022. Italy will be hosting the Eurovision Song Contest once again after 31 years, when it previously hosted the contest in Rome in 1991.

“Turin is the perfect Host City for the 66th Eurovision Song Contest”

Upon the announcement of the Host City; Eurovision Song Contest’s Executive Supervisor Martin Österdahl had the following to say:

‘Turin is the perfect Host City for the 66th Eurovision Song Contest.

As we saw during the 2006 Winter Olympics, PalaOlimpico exceeds all the requirements needed to stage a global event of this scale and we have been very impressed with the enthusiasm and commitment from the City of Turin who will welcome thousands of fans next May.

This will be the first Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Italy in 30 years and, together with our Host broadcaster Rai, we are determined to make it a special one.’

Meanwhile, the CEO of RAI Carlo Fuortes shared his excitement that Turin will be hosting the contest:

‘We are happy that Turin will host the next edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, the international festival loved by a huge audience in every country.

Thanks to the beautiful victory of the Måneskin, the Contest returns to Italy after 31 years, in a city that has all the characteristics to host such a prestigious event.

The choice made by Rai, together with EBU, was not easy given the very high level of the proposals made by the competing cities, which I thank for their enthusiastic participation.

From today, an exciting journey begins for Rai and the city of Turin that will lead us to May 2022. A great challenge for Rai and for our country’

Whilst the Mayor of Turin, Chiara Appendino told the following:

‘Hosting the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin is, at the same time, a great honour and a great result for our city and our country.

After inaugurating a new season of great events, Turin will be a stage for music and culture, in a dynamic and inclusive international event that will involve the whole city.

We are delighted to represent Italy in front of such a large audience and we are already preparing to welcome guests from all over Europe. As always, we will be ready.’

Italy’s Eurovision Journey

Italy has participated in the contest 46 times since it began in 1956. In addition to 2021, they also won in 1964 with Gigliola Cinquetti’s “Non ho l’eta” and in 1990 with Toto Cutugno’s “Insieme: 1992”.

Italy took an extended break from the contest from 1994 to 2011 (returning once in 1997). They became a member of the Big Five upon their return and have only missed the top 10 twice since. They finished second twice: in 2011 (with Raphael Gualazzi’s “Madness of Love”) and in 2019 (with Mahmood’s “Soldi”). Italy also notched third place in 2015 with Il Volo’s “Grande Amore”, which won the televote.

Perhaps the most iconic Italian Eurovision entry is Domenico Modugno’s “Nel blu, dipinto di blu” – better known as “Volare” – which placed third in 1958. It was a success in the American charts and won the first-ever Grammy Award for Song of the Year.

Are you excited about the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest? Will you be planning to attend the competition in Milan? Let us know in the comments or on social media. Be sure to follow ‘THAT Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

News Source: EBU

Photo Source: EBU/NOS/AVROTROS