Karin Karlsson, Managing Director of Eurovision 2024 for the City of Malmö, shared valuable advice with Switzerland as it gears up to host the iconic song contest. In an interview with Swiss newspaper Blick Ms Karlsson spoke about the biggest challenges and successes from hosting the contest.
No one knows better what to do regarding organising Eurovision than the Swedish Karin Karlsson. Karlsson has already done it twice. As Managing Director, she was responsible for last year’s edition in Malmö, as well as for the 2013 edition. With her extensive experience, Karlsson emphasises the importance of embracing the joyous and inclusive spirit of Eurovision.
Karlsson recalls the vibrant atmosphere of Malmö, where people from diverse backgrounds united in celebration. “Eurovision is more than a song contest; it’s a festival of unity and happiness,” she says. She urges Switzerland to foster an environment where everyone feels welcome and included, highlighting that this inclusivity is what makes Eurovision special.
Unfortunately, organising Eurovision 2024 did come with challenges, regarding security Karlsson states:
At my first ESC, we could set up a Eurovision village on any square and spread events throughout the city. Last year, we had to plan carefully in advance and move events inside in order to have more control. I gave a daily interview on the theme of security. So it wasn’t just a happy and inclusive party. On the contrary, it was caught in the vortex of world politics.
On top of the security issues for the large-scale event, the Swedish organisation also faced the threats of cyberattacks. This raises the question of whether Switzerland will face similar challenges in 2025. On that, the organiser commented:
“I would be surprised if Switzerland will not have to deal with cyber attacks.
Cyberattacks and security thread because of Israel. I’m assuming. Right?