Karin Karlsson, one of the organizers of Eurovision 2024 on behalf of the city of Malmö, warns Switzerland of the possibility of an attack on the city.
Karin Karlsson, one of the organizers of Eurovision 2024 on behalf of the city of Malmö, discusses the challenges of organizing the competition during such a tense period. She warns Switzerland about potential attacks on the city and highlights the advantages that hosting the event can bring.
Recent Developments
Three months have passed since the lights went out in Malmö after Switzerland’s victory in Eurovision 2024 with the singer Nemo. Meanwhile, preparations in Switzerland are progressing rapidly, with Basel and Geneva competing to host the upcoming competition.
At the same time, Sweden is reflecting on one of the most controversial competitions in Eurovision history. Karin Karlsson, the general project manager of Eurovision 2024 and a partner in the production of Eurovision 2013, which also took place in Malmö, was interviewed by the Swiss website Blick, where she shared the challenges faced by the organizers this year.
Tips for Becoming a Host City
In the interview, Karlsson reveals that the city of Geneva approached her for advice on how to be selected as the host city. She shared, “For winning the bid, besides financial aspects, it is important to present a vision, not just simple ideas. Why should the ESC take place specifically in this city? What should be remembered after the event?”
She emphasized the importance of negotiation with the television network, stating, “Cities should try to set up something that can appeal to them. There are some obligations for the host city, but that doesn’t mean you can’t negotiate.”
A crucial part of the process is assembling a reliable team to prepare the most convincing proposal. Karlsson advises, “Don’t rush! Certainly, there is little time before the event, but you need to build a team you can trust and invest time in so that it pays off later.” Reflecting on her first experience organizing Eurovision, she said, “When we got the contract in 2013, Sweden hadn’t organized the ESC for over 20 years. It took us a long time to understand what our mission was.”
Security Concerns and Warnings
This year’s Eurovision was not without its challenges, including protests against Israel’s participation, withdrawal threats, and the disqualification of the Dutch representative, Joost Klein. Karlsson discusses the significant security challenges faced during the event: “All security matters were really complicated. When we won the ESC, we didn’t know that the level of terrorism in Sweden would rise, and there was no war between Hamas and Israel yet. This led to many challenges.”
She explained that during her first ESC, they could set up a Eurovision village on any square and spread events throughout the city. Last year, they had to plan carefully and move events indoors for more control.
Karlsson also warns Switzerland about the risks of cyberattacks and terrorism. She stated, “I would be surprised if Switzerland does not also suffer from cyberattacks. Liverpool has already suffered in 2022. The problems are not only related to the war in Ukraine; the attacks came from Russia, Iran, and North Korea.” When asked what Switzerland can do to prevent such attacks, she noted, “I don’t think much can be done. We established a cyber defense group very early, in September. And even within the city, we had a special unit dealing with cyberattacks. Despite everything, zero risk does not exist.”
The Value of Hosting Eurovision
Despite the challenges, Karin Karlsson expresses pride in hosting the competition and emphasizes the benefits that come with it. “I was very proud and happy that Malmö was selected again. After the first ESC, I was really tired. But later, I realized how much it was also a huge privilege.” She mentioned that Malmö is a vibrant city with many great values, and thanks to Eurovision, they managed to put Malmö on the world map for a while. Karlsson also mentioned her plans to visit Switzerland during the competition: “Absolutely. I’m really looking forward to it and hope to get tickets for some performances. We all envy the city that will be chosen. It’s hard to organize the competition, but it’s incredibly fun.”
Source: Blick
Eurovision 2025: The 69th Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Switzerland following its third victory in the history of Switzerland with the song “The Code,” performed by the singer Nemo. This will be the third time the contest is hosted in Switzerland, after it was held there in 1956 and 1989.
