Eurovision bars Russia from this 12 months’s music contest.

No Russian act might be allowed to take part on this 12 months’s Eurovision Tune Contest, organizers introduced on Friday, citing fears that Russia’s inclusion would injury the status of the world’s largest music competitors, a showcase meant to advertise European unity and cultural alternate.

The European Broadcasting Union, the coalition of public media organizations that oversees the competition, mentioned it had determined to dam Russian performers after consulting with its membership, which incorporates broadcasters from 56 international locations, together with Ukraine and Russia.

“The choice displays concern that, in gentle of the unprecedented disaster in Ukraine, the inclusion of a Russian entry on this 12 months’s contest would carry the competitors into disrepute,” the group mentioned in an announcement.

Greater than 200 million folks watch the annual competitors, which options performers from 39 completely different international locations singing and dancing to a various vary of songs. Maneskin, a tattooed, four-person Italian rock band, received final 12 months’s competitors and Barbara Pravi, a French solo artist, got here in second after singing a plaintive music of longing backed by a piano and cello.

Russia, which completed ninth in final 12 months’s competitors, was initially given a spot on this 12 months’s semifinal, which is scheduled for Could in Turin, Italy. The competition organizers didn’t say how eradicating the Russian act would have an effect on the construction of the competitors.

The European Broadcasting Union’s resolution to dam Russians from the competition adopted the cancellation of two main European sporting occasions in Russia on Friday.

European soccer’s governing physique voted to maneuver the Champions League closing, the continent’s largest soccer competitors this 12 months, from St. Petersburg to Paris. And the governing physique of Method 1, the worldwide automotive racing group, canceled the Russia Grand Prix, which was scheduled for September, citing “unimaginable” circumstances.