Eurovision journey for Ukrainian support staff was ‘extremely moving’ – organiser
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Liverpool man stated there have been “so many extremely moving moments” throughout a visit made by a gaggle of fellow support staff to Liverpool for the Eurovision tune contest.
Tim Johnson, a 37-year-old IT guide, introduced a gaggle of volunteers: six Ukrainians and 6 Poles; who’ve labored with Ukrainians affected by struggle, to the UK to participate in Eurovision occasions in Liverpool and go to London.
Two of the group travelled from Ukraine through Warsaw, whereas the others joined Johnson from Poland, to observe two rehearsals for the Eurovision Song Contest within the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool.
The support staff additionally loved some vacationer actions throughout their week-long keep, together with using a speedboat down the River Thames as songs from James Bond performed, and having fun with a non-public viewers with the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, accompanied by afternoon tea.
Speaking to the PA news company after the Eurovision grand ultimate, Mr Johnson stated he was “tired but very, very happy and overwhelmed” by the help the Ukrainian and Polish support staff had acquired in Liverpool and their pleasure throughout the journey.
He stated: “Although I knew it would be significant and a big deal for them, I never could have imagined the huge impact it’s had on them.”
The group watched the Eurovision grand ultimate in Liverpool’s fan village, with Mr Johnson saying the volunteers “had high hopes for Ukraine but unfortunately it didn’t turn out that way in the end”.
The group discovered Finland’s tune, Cha Cha Cha, probably the most memorable of the night time however, Mr Johnson stated, the group had a “very serious moment” amid the euphoria.
One of the volunteers acquired a message throughout the present that her Ukrainian dwelling of Ternopil had been attacked shortly earlier than the Ukrainian band, Tvorchi, was to carry out.
Mr Johnson stated the news of the missile strike on Ternopil – which can be the hometown of the Ukrainian act – was a “moment of sheer fear and panic”.
“I had to get her very quickly out of a maintenance gate and try to make a call to check if everyone was alright and luckily her family were, but it’s just another example of what they’re going through.”
The volunteers additionally attended the rehearsals for the primary semi-final and the Eurovision grand ultimate and Mr Johnson stated they had been “absolutely blown away” by the expertise.
He stated: “They couldn’t quite believe that they were stood there.”
In the run-up to the grand ultimate, the group draped Ukrainian flags on the statue of The Beatles on Liverpool’s waterfront and held up an enormous Ukrainian flag embellished with the painted handprints of youngsters from the occupied Ukrainian metropolis of Mariupol.
Mr Johnson stated the big Ukrainian flag attracted the eye of passers-by, saying: “Literally hundreds of people gathered around taking photos and nobody said a word but you could just feel the huge outpouring of support there.”
He continued: “It was one of those lump-in-the-throat moments.
“It’s hard not to be moved by so many people gathering around like that and the silent support.”
From visiting Buckingham Palace to attending a Beatles tribute live performance, the group of support staff made probably the most of their UK journey by having fun with varied vacationer actions in Liverpool and London.
Mr Johnson stated it was the speedboat experience down the River Thames that “really stuck with everyone”.
Talking in regards to the “thrilling” boat experience, Mr Johnson stated: “It sounds a bit corny saying it this way, but they rediscovered what having fun was because some of these guys have not smiled in over a year.”
“They’ve been dealing with some really serious stuff and to see them arrive at the airport, very nervous at the start and then you know, come to be smiling, relaxed, happy, joking…
“I couldn’t wish for more from the trip than to see that.”