Maria Kozakou: “Eurovision is over!” – The long post

With her post on social media, the radio producer and director of the Second Program of ERA, Maria Kozakouhas announced her withdrawal from Eurovision 2024, after dozens of competitions in which she has participated as a show commentator.

She thanked both Giorgos Kapoutzidis, with whom they had undertaken the commentary of the competition together for the first time in 2013, and Jeni Melitas, with whom they were at the ERT booth, last May, in the United Kingdom.

In particular, Maria Kozakou wrote in her long post: “Eurovision is over! It’s so nice to go into an adventure with great joy and come out with even greater joy. As I had decided since last year, right after Torino, this year in Liverpool would be my last in the presenting role. Since 2006, initially only for radio, and since 2011 also for television, I have participated in the biggest television event of each year and the most popular product managed by our national television. The job of the presenter, at least as I understand it and this is how we implemented it with Giorgos [σ.σ. Καπουτζίδη] and with Jenny [σ.σ. Μελιτά], is that of the messenger, not the protagonist. Our concern each year, in addition to the accuracy of the information, was to maintain that golden balance in comment and kindness/generosity for each entry. Everyone has dreams. We wanted, and I believe, managed to stay away from critical reports, witticisms and of course the toxicity that pervades the public discourse. And as the years went by, we tried even harder to comment with kindness and even sweetness, so that we could make a difference. It’s been my dream to broadcast Eurovision ever since I’ve been involved in the sport professionally.”

“Because Eurovision has always been for me an opportunity to get to know languages, cultures, colors, habits, idioms, new talents and above all to abolish borders, to bring people, peoples, countries closer. To open our eyes and our ears – and let them hurt sometimes – to what concerns societies far from us. Let’s break down the borders and see how similar we are. The Eurovision scene has always been receptive and open to otherness long before it became fashionable. She was the first to be indifferent to formalism, while at the same time promoting political correctness, questioning it at the same time. He spoke politically even though he was fought ideologically. It has been used by governments to promote “ideas”, sometimes with success and sometimes with failure. The more functional and transparent the Democracy, the more artistic and uncomplicated the participation of each country. The more imperfect the Democracy and therefore the more dependent the respective public radio and television, the more “closed” and serious the history of each country’s participation becomes. The withdrawal from the competition of countries that become conservative and isolated is not at all accidental,” she added.

He also stated:What did I gain from Eurovision? I won love and intimacy from a very large audience, which I could not have dreamed of as a radio person. And especially from very young ages. But the most important thing I gained was a lifelong relationship. Giorgos Kapoutzidis was the reason that I continued to broadcast in the last years and that we try to find something new, fresh, new in our broadcasts. There is no greater “gain” than a warm, honest relationship with a super talented, well-rounded person. However, these are personal and concern both of us. So Eurovision is over. I will never forget those who gave me a chance and trusted me and I thank them, they know. From the beginning until today. The criterion for me has always been and is to work with nice people, in a team spirit, of mutual help and support and in a value framework that puts ethics above all else.”

Finally, Maria Kozakou also spoke about Marina Satti, the representative of Greece at Eurovision 2024: “This year’s choice of ERT in the person of Marina Satti also comes as a personal vindication, as it was my proposal every year, even before the “Fortune teller”. So an amazing year is coming for the friends of the competition, whom I also want to thank for always making me feel like a part of their company. I will never forget their discretion. A chapter closes to open another, even more exciting, challenging and creative. And of course, always “good luck Greece”.