Where Eurovision 2022 is, how the country is chosen and capacity of Turin venue

Eurovision week is finally upon us, with the semi-finals taking place on Tuesday and Thursday, ahead of Saturday’s grand final.

In a very rare turn of events, the UK is actually expected to do well this year, with Sam Ryder among the favourites for the competition

Ukraine’s act, rap trio Kalush Orchestra, is tipped to take home the crown. The band was granted special permission to leave Ukraine to travel to the contest – all adult men under 65 are currently required to remain in the country in case they are needed to fight the Russian invasion.

Russia, meanwhile, has been banned from the competition.

Where is the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest?

The 2022 Eurovision Song Contest is being held in Turin, Italy.

The semi-finals and final will take place at the same venue, the Pala Alpitour.

How is the host country chosen?

The country that wins the previous Eurovision Song Contest is granted the honour of hosting the next one.

Italy’s Måneskin won the 2021 contest with their song “Zitti e buoni”.

There are additional requirements that then must be considered when selecting the host city.

Executive supervisor of the song contest, Jon Ola Sand, said: “Choosing a host city is one of the most crucial decisions to take when it comes to the Eurovision Song Contest.

“Everything has to be scrutinised, it is not only talking to the city once or twice, you need sit down and negotiate down to the finest detail.”

The venue should accommodate around 10,000 spectators and the city should be within easy reach of an international airport.

The location must also have enough hotel accommodation for at least 2,000 delegates, accredited journalists and spectators.

Palasport Olimpico, which is officially known by its sponsored name, Pala Alpitour, has a capacity of 13,347 when it is set up with its end stage, as it is for Eurovision.

It can also be used to host sports like ice hockey, basketball and volleyball, so the capacity varies. It can fit around 16,600 spectators for a basketball match, making it the largest indoor sporting arena in Italy.

The stadium was originally built for ice hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics and cost €87m.