The French national newspaper Le Monde ran a headline this week, it said: "La ville de Liverpool se pare des couleurs de l'Ukraine."
The translation? 'The city of Liverpool, carried away by the madness of the competition, is adorned with the colours of Ukraine.' I'd say they nailed it with that one. If you have been lucky enough to have spent any time in Liverpool this week, then you will have felt part of something very, very special.
From the minute we saw a giant octopus pursuing a huge blue and yellow submarine along Church Street, we knew this was going to be an incredible week for this city.
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What has followed has been a kaleidoscopic festival of fun, music, art and love. Liverpool has never been a city that does things by half measures and this week has surpassed even the loftiest of expectations.
Let's face it, we've had a tough time in recent years. This city was hugely affected by the covid pandemic, we lost friends, family members and colleagues and our visitor economy - the lifeblood of this place - was brought to its knees by the lockdowns.
We've suffered monumental tragedies in which young lives have been lost and deprivation and poverty continue to be major issues in swathes of our city.
So when the possibility of hosting this wonderful fiesta of fun came along, it felt like a vital moment of catharsis for a boisterous, buzzing city that was in real need of a proper good party. With budget pressures and council commissioners it was always going to be a risk - but when did Liverpool ever shy away from taking a risk?
And boy has that risk paid off.
If you have been fortunate to spend any time at the Pier Head Euro village this week you will know exactly what I am talking about. With the sun dancing off the Mersey, bathing thousands in a golden hue as they dance the night away to pop icons and Ukrainian stars, the atmosphere has been nothing short of electric.
It's a place where Scouse nans from Anfield could be found boogying with Eurovision super fans from Estonia, brought together by a shared love of music and solidarity.
If you could bottle that vibe and sell it, you would make a pretty penny, let me tell you.
As we all know, this is not just Liverpool's party, it is Ukraine's and I can confidently say that no other UK city would have paid as stunning an homage to the spirit of Ukraine's people as Liverpool. Ours is a city that prides itself on fighting for those who need help, of sticking up for those in trouble and my word have we done that this week. Liverpool has transformed into Kyiv-on-Mersey.
From sandbagged monuments, to Kharkiv songbirds and the Ukraine village, every corner of the city has showcased the incredible culture and character of a country that refuses to back down to tyranny.
This week I met a group of Ukrainians who were able to make it over to Liverpool to enjoy a week of joy away from the horrors they face each day at home. One told me: "This is a beautiful city, with beautiful open-hearted people". It cannot be overstated what this event and how it has been put together has meant to the people of Ukraine.
Huge credit must go to Liverpool Council and its Culture Liverpool team for throwing together the world's biggest party on the banks of the Mersey in just six months. The authority has had its many difficulties in recent years but when it comes to putting on a show, it rarely misses.
It was 15 years ago that Liverpool began its pivotal year as the European Capital of Culture. It was a 12-months that turbo-charged this city's renaissance from the dark days of the 1980s and early 90s and cemented our place as a forward-looking, international destination with a cultural offering to rival anywhere in the world.
It is fitting that even in a post-Brexit world, Liverpool has turned to Europe once again for its next big moment. The legacy of Eurovision will be felt in this city for many more years to come.
If there are two things that Liverpool is known for (Footy and Beatles aside) then it is having an unshakeable passion for social justice and a love of throwing a big party.
When it comes to Eurovision, this city, this brilliant, colourful, bonkers city has risen to the occasion once again.
Bravo Liverpool, bravo.
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