The Eurovision Song Contest’s final takes place in Vienna on Saturday, with the organisers hoping the annual show of glitz and Europop will be a success despite five countries’ withdrawal over Israel taking part.
The run-up to the event – a kitsch and usually good-natured competition between pop acts from countries across Europe and beyond, now in its 70th year – has been overshadowed by a boycott of the event by the public broadcasters of heavyweights Spain, the Netherlands and Ireland, as well as Iceland and Slovenia.
Those countries are protesting Israel’s participation in the wake of the country’s military offensive in Gaza.
Ireland’s RTE said that to take part would be “unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there”.
Israel has alleged a global smear campaign against it.
The boycotts cut the number of contest entries to 35, the smallest since 2003, which will almost certainly reduce the global television viewership of an event that last year was estimated at 166 million people, more than the Super Bowl’s roughly 128 million.
There will be 25 countries, including Israel, taking part in Saturday’s final.
The mood in the Austrian capital has been tense and subdued, with protests during the week over Israel’s participation drawing small crowds.
Police are still bracing for protests on Saturday and anticipate possible “blockades and disruption attempts”.
—Reuters
