Eurovision Song Contest 2023 has officially opened: participants from 37 countries walked the traditional turquoise carpet. Photos and videos

On Sunday, May 7, the opening ceremony of the large-scale Eurovision Song Contest 2023 took place in Liverpool, United Kingdom. Participants from 37 countries traditionally walked the turquoise carpet.

The performers were greeted by fans and paparazzi, and the hosts of the evening talked to the contestants to learn more about them before the vocal battle. By the way, this year's opening ceremony was hosted by Ukrainian Timur Miroshnychenko, who is called the voice of Ukrainian Eurovision, and British field hockey player Sam Quek. The live stream from Liverpool can be viewed on the official YouTube channel of the contest (scroll to the bottom of the page to see photos and videos).

The event started at 17:00 Kyiv time. The contestants took to the track in the order in which they would perform in the first and second semi-finals.

The performers tried to surprise the audience with outrageous costumes and spectacular performances.

Representatives of Ukraine - the TVORCHI duo - symbolically entered Liverpool's St George's Hall concert hall.

The participants walked the turquoise carpet and shone in front of the cameras.

Loreen from Sweden, the bookmakers' favourite, who has already conquered Eurovision 2012 and seems to be planning to do so again, took to the stage.

The performers tried to attract attention in any way they could. And this is quite understandable, because the audience will vote for the participants they remember. Therefore, the contestants were not afraid of shocking antics that will definitely remain in the memory of Euro fans.

Representatives of Ukraine appeared at the large-scale event, which was watched by millions of Euro fans around the world, in symbolic costumes. The jackets of TVORCHI duo members Andriy Hutsulyak and Jeffrey Kenny featured the names and weights of the prematurely born children during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In this way, the musicians wanted to draw public attention to an important project called "Caring People Save Children's Hearts". Its goal is to raise UAH 10 million to purchase 10 incubators to save premature babies.

TVORCHI will perform at the Eurovision Song Contest final as our country won last year. The duo will take to the stage and fight for victory on May 13. Read our article to find out where and when Ukrainians can watch the final.

TVORСHI will try to win the crystal microphone with the English-language track Heart of Steel, written under the influence of the war. According to the performers, they were inspired to create the song by the unbreakable spirit of Azovstal's defenders, and the day before they had their first rehearsal in Liverpool with the updated number. You can see how the stars' performance and new costumes will look like here.

As OBOZREVATEL wrote, bookmakers have decided on the likely winner of the show. This artist has significantly broken away from her competitors and is claiming the second Eurovision victory in her life.

Only verified information is available in our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!