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The Eurovision 2024 has one big question left to answer: will Martin Österdahl be in charge for the next Eurovision? Let’s find out our thoughts about.

If you don’t know who is Martin Österdahl, I have a message for you:

Okay, let’s take this serious. Let’s see how Martin

Eurovision 2013 and 2016

Martin Österdahl played significant roles in the Eurovision Song Contest during the years 2013 and 2016, serving as the Executive Producer for both events. Here is a brief overview of his involvement in those years:

Eurovision Song Contest 2013

• Location: Malmö, Sweden
• Date: May 14, 16, and 18, 2013
• Role: Executive Producer

The 2013 contest was hosted by Sweden following Loreen’s victory with the song “Euphoria” in 2012. As Executive Producer, Martin Österdahl was responsible for overseeing the overall production and organization of the event. This included coordination of the live broadcasts, stage design, logistics, and ensuring the show ran smoothly. The contest was noted for its innovative stage design, emphasis on technology, and a strong focus on the performers and their songs.

Eurovision Song Contest 2016

• Location: Stockholm, Sweden
• Date: May 10, 12, and 14, 2016
• Role: Executive Producer

The 2016 contest returned to Sweden after Måns Zelmerlöw won with “Heroes” in 2015. Once again, Martin Österdahl took on the role of Executive Producer. This edition of Eurovision was praised for its high production values, creative use of visual effects, and engaging interval acts. The show incorporated cutting-edge technology, including a complex and dynamic stage design that allowed for elaborate performances. The contest also featured memorable moments such as Justin Timberlake’s guest performance and a strong emphasis on innovation and inclusivity.

In both years, Österdahl’s leadership and vision helped elevate the Eurovision Song Contest, enhancing its reputation as one of the most spectacular and widely viewed music events in the world. His experience and expertise in television production contributed to the success and smooth execution of these grand events.

Executive Supervisor of Eurovision Song Contest

2020 – today

EBU announced that Martin Österdahl will take the place from Jon Ola Sand as the next Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest and Junior Eurovision Song Contest.

You can read more about that here:

Since then, lots of things escaped from his hands:

• 2022: voting irregularities between 6 countries (when other countries did the same things for years): 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan, 🇬🇪 Georgia, 🇲🇪 Montenegro, 🇵🇱 Poland, 🇷🇴 Romania and 🇸🇲 San Marino

Flemish broadcaster claims six national juries with “irregular voting patterns” planned to swap votes

Read about what happens with the voting irregularities on wiwibloggs.com

• 2024: 🇮🇱 Israel participating in Eurovision 2024 when they did the same things as 🇷🇺 Russia in 2022 (the war) and 🇧🇾 Belarus in 2021 (the song)
• 2024: Disqualification of 🇳🇱 Netherlands for Joost Klein’s behaviour (read more on wiwibloggs.com)

The Netherlands’ Joost Klein disqualified from Eurovision 2024

Read about what happens with Netherlands on wiwibloggs.com

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These are just the things from the surface, we don’t know what happens behind the doors.

What do you think? Should Martin Österdahl stay in the position of Executive Supervisor or not? Let’s see what our team thinks about:

Raul: What Martin has done over time is a little strange because there is a little favoritism for certain countries. What he should do is review this because it is not good for the contest. In the future, he should do a more thorough analysis of the facts before drawing quick conclusions, some hasty. For what he done, Eurovision would be better without him. He did a good job, perfectly managing Eurovision and Junior Eurovision during the pandemic, bringing a lot of positive promotion to the JESC side, increasing the rating. I say it’s not the time for him to leave, all he has to do is be more objective.

Reza: After everything that happened this year and all the drama going on with Israel and other contestants just like Joost, I think that Eurovision needs a change and that could be a new supervisor that could bring some peace and balance for the community.

Robert: Because of corruption, inability. He couldn’t disqualify a country which should have been disqualified. He disqualified Romania and other countries after finding out this countries and others voted in their favour, but ignore that Sweden, Estonia, Australia did the same in 2022. He is just a Clown who proved to be the worst Supervisor Eurovision have ever encountered.

Stefania: I wish there was more open and transparent communication about the changes and decisions being made. It often feels like we’re left in the dark, and it would be reassuring to have a better understanding of the reasoning behind these choices. This lack of clarity makes it harder to connect with the contest and trust the leadership, and that’s why I am not on the same page as Martin Österdahl.

Adi: My opinion might be a bit controversial, but I believe that Martin Österdahl has done a commendable job as the Executive Supervisor of Eurovision in recent years. Following Jon Ola Sand’s departure, Österdahl faced the challenging task of stepping into big shoes during a period marked by intense geopolitical shake-ups. He managed critical situations, including the disqualification of Belarus, Russia’s exclusion following the war, and the sensitive issue of Israel’s participation. Navigating these complex issues required immense courage and resilience. Österdahl was also notable for taking decisive action against irregular voting patterns, even going as far as canceling the votes of six juries in 2022. Such decisions require a significant amount of bravery and integrity. Admittedly, there were missteps this year, such as the disqualification of The Netherlands and a perceived lack of openness regarding security and participant welfare. However, there were likely many behind-the-scenes factors that fans were not aware of. Overall, Österdahl’s tenure has been marked by tough decisions and a commitment to upholding the integrity of the contest.

Antonio: Considering the fact that Martin Österdahl has allowed all the requirements within the Israeli delegation to go everything according to them BUT when other delegations came to complain on how the Israeli delegation is behaving around other contestants they just closed their eyes like nothing happened – double standards. Moreover, his ignorance regarding the whole situation made it even worse for the fans during this year’s contest – the boo’s were loud and clear. Hence, his position as head of the EBU should be handled by someone who is capable of manage this contest and listen to the audience as well.

Florin: From my point of view, Eurovision would be better without Martin Österdahl as Executive Supervisor as his leadership seems to have led to decisions that are in contradiction with the contest’s message. Issues like the false connection problems during the 2022 voting, lack of transparency, censorship of free expression, putting at risk the safety of fans and artists, and favoritism towards certain countries have no place at Eurovision. The contest demands transparency and an Executive Supervisor who can provide genuine, straightforward answers when addressing serious matters, rather than trying to make the issue seem smaller.

Laur: Martin Österdahl, the executive supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, has had a significant impact on the competition, bringing some welcome changes and innovations. During his tenure, Österdahl has successfully upheld and promoted the core values of Eurovision, such as diversity and unity through music. However, his tenure has not been without controversy. This year, one of the biggest issues was the handling of the situation with the Israeli delegation. Despite considerable pressure and numerous complaints regarding the inappropriate behavior of the Israeli delegation, Österdahl did not take firm measures, such as suspending Israel from the competition. This lack of action negatively impacted the contest’s image and generated dissatisfaction among participants and Eurovision fans alike. In light of these events, it would be appropriate to consider a change in the executive leadership of the contest. A new executive supervisor could bring a fresh perspective and manage delicate situations more effectively. While Martin Österdahl has had notable achievements, I believe a new leader would be better suited to ensure a fair and respectful competition for all participants, especially given the recent issues with Israel.

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What do you think? Should Martin remain in this position or not? Leave your thoughts in the comment section of our socials.