Switzerland Wins Eurovision Amid Protests – Full Coverage of Eurovision 2024 Final

normal

Malmo – (Reuters)
On Saturday, Switzerland won this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in the Swedish city of Malmo, which hosted the event, beating Croatia, the second most likely candidate, after being among the three key places in the stakes.
This year’s competition was billed as a celebration of European diversity, but took on a political tone amid calls to boycott Israel over its military offensive on the Gaza Strip after an attack by militants. Hamas attacks Israel on October 7.
Swiss rapper Nemo (24 years old) won the competition with the song “The Code,” which combines different musical styles, including drums, opera, rap, and rock, and talks about the journey of singer for self-examination and inclusion.
“I hope that this contest fulfills its promise and continues to protect peace and dignity for everyone in this world,” said Nemo after receiving the Eurovision award on stage.
Croatian singer Marko Burisic (28 years old), known as (Pepe Lasana), came second with the song (Rem Tim Taji Deem), which revolves around the desire of a young man to leave his home and who are trying to stay in the town where the opportunities are better.
Israel’s Eden Golan (20 years old) came in fifth, despite calls from activists to exclude her.
A Reuters photographer reported that some boos erupted from the audience before and during Golan’s performance of her song, but there was also applause. The sound could be heard during the broadcast, which was watched by tens of millions in Europe and the world.
There were also boos while the judges announced the Israeli singer’s points.
Thousands of people demonstrated in Malmo, Sweden, on Saturday before the final of the contest, waving Palestinian flags and chanting, “Genocide unites Eurovision,” instead of the contest’s official slogan, which is, “Music unites us.”
Hundreds of people later protested in front of the competition’s headquarters, chanting: “Eurovision, you can’t hide, you support genocide. “
Pro-Palestinian activists complained of double standards, as the European Broadcasting Union banned Russia from participating in the Eurovision contest in 2022 after the war broke out in Ukraine.
A Reuters reporter outside the square where the protests were held said police confronted some of the demonstrators before surrounding them and taking them away. Some protesters were seen lying on the ground after police used pepper spray to disperse the demonstration.
25 countries competed in the final after Dutch singer Joost Klein was kicked out earlier on Saturday, due to a protest by a member of the production team.
Viewers’ votes made up half of Saturday’s final score, while a judging panel of five music experts from each participating country made up the other half.
The winner of the competition receives the competition’s official glass trophy, which is shaped like a classic, old-fashioned microphone. The winning country also gets the right to host the tournament the following year.
Nemo broke the fragile prize shortly after receiving it, but was replaced with a new one.