Eurovision 2022 might be over, but winners Ukraine are putting their victory to good use. In order to raise money for the war effort in Ukraine, Kalush Orchestra are auctioning their winning Eurovision trophy that they earned in Turin.
Win the Eurovision trophy… and more!
Following their victory in Turin in May, Kalush Orchestra have returned to Ukraine to continue fighting against Russian aggression. However, in an effort to raise money for the Ukrainian army, the band are now giving fans the opportunity to own priceless Eurovision memorabilia.
In a video on Twitter, lead singer of Kalush Orchestra Oleh Psiuk teamed up with Ukrainian TV personality Serhiy Prytula. Prytula is no stranger to Eurovision fans, having hosted Vidbir from 2017 to 2019 in dual collaboration with commercial broadcaster STB. In the video, both Prytula and Psiuk announced that Psiuk’s iconic pink bucket hat is up for grabs.
Those who wish to take part in the raffle have until Saturday (May 28th, 2022) to donate to the Serhiy Prytula Foundation, which provides aid and resources to the Ukrainian military. Participants must donate a minimum of 200 hryvnia – the equivalent of €5 – to be entered into the draw. In addition, those who are invested in cryptocurrency can also make donations. An algorithm will be used to determine the winner of the bucket hat. However, the Eurovision trophy will be given to the donor that has donated the most amount of money to the Ukrainian war effort.
On Friday (May 27th, 2022) the auction had already raised 3 million hryvnia. As a result, this is the equivalent of €94,882, £80,640 or $101,619.
Ukraine’s Eurovision journey
Ukraine is one of the most successful countries to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. The country has scored eight top-five placements, with an extra three top-ten finishes. Ukraine won the Contest in 2004 with Ruslana’s “Wild Dances” and again in 2016 with Jamala’s “1944”. Jamala’s win made history for Ukraine, as it became the first ex-Soviet country to win the Contest more than once.
In 2022, Kalush Orchestra represented Ukraine in the 66th edition of the Contest with their song “Stefania”. The band scored 614 points, finishing in first place, marking Ukraine’s third victory.
What do you make of the auction? Have you put any money into the raffle to win the trophy and Oleh’s bucket hat? As always, let us know what you think by commenting below. Also, be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as we prepare for Eurovision 2023.
News Source: Serhiy Prytula Foundation
Photo Credit: EBU / Corinne Cumming
One thought on “🇺🇦 Kalush Orchestra auction Eurovision trophy to fundraise for Ukraine”