Russia Launches “Intervivor” Competition as Alternative to Eurovision
Moscow, Russia – Russia has launched a new โขinternational song โฃcompetition, “Intervivor,” presented as an alternative to eurovision,โค from which the โcountry was excluded in 2022. The competition began at โฃ5:30 p.m. GMT โขin Live Arena, near Moscow, adn was ordered toโ be relaunched by President Vladimir Putin in February.
The inaugural event โฃfeaturedโฃ a โฃperformance by Dimaโ Bilan, winner of Eurovision in 2008, and โPolina Gagarina, who placed โsecond in Eurovision in 2015, singingโ aโฃ song titled “Dawn.” Russian stateโ television โคchannel Pervy Kanal, โthe main organizer, described the โevent asโ “a tale โof high technologies for the whole planet” โคand the “dawn of a new era.”
Twenty-three countries were initially slated to participate, including the โUnited States, butโค Vasiliki Karagiorgos โฃ(Vassy), โขthe Australian โpop singer representing the US, withdrew at the lastโ minute due to what organizers cited โas “unprecedented political pressures from the โAustralian government.”
Participants showcased their cultures through giant โdancingโฃ silhouettes created with augmented reality. In a video message, Vladimir Putin stated โคthe competition’s “main idea” is “respecting conventional โคvalues and multiple cultures.”
Notably, no country fromโค the โEuropean Union sent aโฃ participant. โThe competition emphasizes performances in โnative languages,contrasting with Eurovision’s prevalence of English-language songs. An international jury will determine the winner.
Organizers claim the show could reach โคa potential audienceโ of one โbillion viewers, broadcast โคlive orโ delayed in participating countries. The participating nations,includingโข BRICS partnersโข like Brazil,India,China,South africa,Egypt,and the United Arab Emirates,collectively represent over four billion inhabitants.
the launch of โIntervivor comes as Russia faces heavyโ Western sanctions following its 2022 offensive in Ukraine and โฃpositions itself as a โขpromoter of values contrasting with those of the West, which Russian authorities haveโค labeled “decadent.”
