Eurovision 2024: Dozens of possible threats to the competition, according to the police authorities

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Classified report cites threats from cyber attacks to anti-Israel protests Ground and aerial means, mainly drones, will guard security during the Eurovision Song Contest, which will be held at the Malmö Arena sports and entertainment center in the Swedish city of Malmö.

The Swedish police have drawn up a 23-page special report on possible threats during Eurovision, most of which is classified.

The report highlights the wide-ranging nature of the threats, which include possible cyber-attacks, disruption of television broadcasting by hackers, acts of civil disobedience, while Sweden is considered a “priority target” for Islamist terrorist groups.

Police also note the possibility of protests against Israel, whose representatives are participating in the contest. The “Palestinian Group” organization in Malmö has already announced its intention to organize demonstrations in which tens of thousands of people will participate.

The rehearsals for Eurovision 2024 continue with the countries’ second rehearsals taking place at the Malmö Arena.

Source: Euronews

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the updates around the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest!

Follow us on all our social media, so that you’ll not lose a thing of what’s happening Eurovision:

Eurovision 2024: Käärijä and Gunilla Persson among others will perform at Eurovision village!

/0 Comments/in , , /by

On Saturday, May 4, what is known as Eurovision Village will open for the first time in Folkets Park in Malmö. After the defections in recent weeks, under pressure due to Israel‘s participation in the competition, the show has started to look sparse on the Eurovision Village stages.

But now the city of Malmö is squeezing in with a long list of new artists with clear Eurovision connections.

The Herreys

The Swedish Eurovision winners from 1984, the Herreys, are ready for a gig on the opening night on May 4 at Folkets Park‘s main stage Euphoria Stage.

Photo: ESC/TT News Agency

Kalush Orchestra and Käärijä

Ukrainian Eurovision winners Kalush Orchestra from 2022 will perform a concert in Folkets Park on the final night on May 11. Also coming will be the Finnish artist Käärijä who was close to winning Eurovision last year with “Cha cha cha“, but was beaten at the finish line by Loreen. Now, he’s coming to the Euphoria Stage on May 10.

Photo: Luca Bruno

Gunilla Persson will also perform

The Swedish Eurodance artists Pandora and Da Buzz will perform a joint concert on the Euphoria Stage on May 5 and the same evening Swedish Hollywood wife Gunilla Persson and Therese “Drömhus” Grankvist will perform a joint concert on the same stage.

Photo: SVT

Arvingarna

Swedish band Arvingarna has competed several times in Melodifestivalen and won in 1993 with “Eloise“. They will come to Folkets Park on the night of the final, May 11.

More confirmed artists

Also confirmed for Eurovision Village are French Eurovision Song Contest Junior winner Zoé, who charmed viewers last year with “Coeur“, and Norwegian artist Raylee, who has competed in Norwegian Melodi Grand Prix several times. They will perform on May 11 and 4, respectively.

Source: Sydsvenskan
Photo:Heiko Junge

Follow us in all our social media, so that you wont miss a thing of what’s happening in Malmö:

 

 

 

 

 

Eurovision 2024: SVT reveales the theme of this year’s postcards!

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

We’re already almost halfway through rehearsals for Eurovision 2024, and with the Contest being just a week away, SVT, Sweden’s public broadcaster, has revealed the theme of this year’s postcards! Read more

Eurovision 2024: volunteers drop out over “security concerns”

/0 Comments/in , , /by

We are just over a week before the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 kicks off in Malmö.  The organization selected 600 volunteers to help during the event.  Unfortunately, ten percent of the selected volunteers have decided to drop out.

Volunteers play an important role behind the scenes to ensure that all Eurovision-related activities are successful and work smoothly.  The volunteer roles range from backstage staff to the well-being of hosts.

We make sure that everyone who works here is happy. We serve cakes and pastries from local bakeries. Everyone gets to taste Malmö and it’s one fantastic creation after another and that makes people so happy.

Volunteers drop out

As we have previously informed several artists who were supposed to perform at various events during the Eurovision week cancelled their plans in protest against the Israeli participation in the competition.

Further, 60 volunteers will not complete their assignments citing “personal reasons” among other justifications.  It is possible that some volunteers did not get holidays at work as planned or that other things have gotten in the way.   In addition to this, there is controversy surrounding this year’s Israeli participation.

Security concerns

In addition to the abovementioned reasons, volunteers are also affected by security concerns. The city of Malmö has prioritized security.  There are security checks in place for entering the area.

It’s about communication, and who to contact. There are also training courses for everyone, and there is also a volunteer handbook where they can turn for updated information

Source: TV4

Stay tuned at EurovisionFun for more news about the Eurovision Song Contest 2024!

Follow us on all social media, so you do not miss any news about the biggest music festival in Europe:

Watch the performances of Sweden, Norway and Finland in “A Little Bit More”!

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

Just like last year, some time before the first rehearsals of the countries, the show called “A Little Bit More” aired on the official Eurovision YouTube channel. Read more

Eurovision 2024: Bomb dogs search hotels in Malmö, ahead of Eurovision!

/0 Comments/in , , /by

As the Eurovision contest draws closer, security precautions in Malmö have escalated. Hotel guests have been informed that their rooms will undergo searches by bomb-sniffing dogs during the day, according to reports from TV4 News.

The police have confirmed that the event area in and around Malmö Arena will be thoroughly searched using bomb-detection dogs as part of the comprehensive security efforts. Jimmy Modin, the press spokesperson for Skåne Police, clarified:

“It’s not a question of any threat or the like, but we will do this continuously throughout the period that the event is ongoing, starting today.”

Additionally, guests at Malmö Arena Hotel and Malmö Live will have their bags scanned using systems similar to those found at airport security checkpoints. However, the police declined to provide further details about this aspect of their security operations.

“We don’t comment on the details of our work on security for Eurovision!”

TV4 News previously highlighted the rigorous security protocols surrounding Eurovision in Malmö. These measures include the use of reinforcement weapons (equivalent to submachine guns), a ban on bags at the events, and the installation of alarm bars at various entrances.

In conjunction with these efforts, the police are also employing camera surveillance to prevent criminal activity during Eurovision. Jimmy Lindin, head of the camera section in Skåne Police, emphasized the benefits of this technology:

“Through the cameras, we can quickly get a picture of the situation and interrupt criminal acts. What the cameras register is also of great benefit to us when we investigate and hold people accountable for crimes that have been committed.”

The increased camera surveillance is concentrated in key areas, including Malmö Live, Malmö Arena, and Folkets Park. Temporary camera installations on building facades and the use of police drones equipped with cameras further enhance security. Mobile camera trailers are strategically positioned to supplement permanent surveillance efforts.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding this year’s Eurovision Song Contest to be held this May in Malmö, Sweden!

Source: TV4
Photo: Gustav Röriksson/TV4

Follow us in all our social media, so that you wont miss a thing of what’s happening in Malmö:

 

 

 

Eurovision 2024: Technical fun facts about the stage in Malmö Arena!

/0 Comments/in , , /by

In a few days, it will be Sweden‘s 7th time to host the Eurovision Song Contest. It was held in Stockholm in 1975, 2000 and 2016, in Gothenburg in 1985, and in Malmö in 1992, 2013 and 2024.

Here are some technical fun facts about this year’s Eurovision stage, as provided by the SVT Communications Team:

Cameras & Broadcast

  • 26 cameras used for the Broadcast

Of those 26 cameras:

  • 4 are mounted on a Rail
  • 2 are used on Telescopic Cranes
  • 7 Wireless Cameras (5 Stedicam, 2 Handheld)
  • 2 Aerial systems, 1 is a 2D camera system and 1 is a Drop camera system (top shot).
  • 2 identical OB-vans + a container village with all broadcast related built in.
  • LiveEdit is used as ACS system (Automated Camera Scripting). It is a system that is programmed to operate the vision mixer automatically, runned by time code from the music track. It also cues each camera operator before their shot.

Communication

  • We are using over 400 radios to communicate on site.
  • Over 60 radio channels (both analogue and digital) are used.
  • On top of that we also use over 200 intercom panels, both stationary and wireless.
  • The IT set up contain 110 WiFi access points and 82 network switches. And only the IT use over 8,2 km off signal cables

Rigging

  • 196 variable speed hoist is used to position and move most of the lighting and LED element in the design.
  • 204 tons of technical gear is suspended from the arena ceiling.
  • 3,5 km of truss

Lighting

  • 2168 Lighting fixtures. All lighting fixtures have a LED or laser source.
  • 4 weeks of pre-programming is needed.

Video

  • There’s about 1 000 square meters of LED screen in and over the set.
  • Stage floor LED is 186m2
  • 5 LED video cubes are 460m2
  • 340m2 LED screen
  • 10 Media servers runs video content on all LED screens.

Sound

  • 68 speakers
  • 56 microphones
  • 9 sound desks
  • 3 different sound mixes are done IEM (in ear monitor) for the artists, PA for the audience onsite and the broadcast mix (for the TV-audience).

Stage management team

  • There is a six person stage management team. To assist them there is an additional stage crew of 36 people. They will have 55 SECONDS to move each prop into perfect position on stage while at the same time, rolling another prop off the stage. These movements are carefully choreographed and rehearsed, just like everything else in this show.

General

  • It requires in total about 230 people to operate the Eurovision broadcast, among them there are:
    • 3 Multicamera Directors
    • 40 camera operators including crane swingers, focus pullers, 2D cam pilot etc.
    • 6 operators for lighting & 2 for video
    • There are 8-9000 tickets for each show, sold to ticketholders from more than 80 countries.
    • The production team is on site 46 days in total, including the set up and dismantle.
    • We have about 350 people working on site right now and this number will grow to about 1500 in total during the broadcast week.
    • 1100 accredited media are expected from about 60 countries around the World.

You can watch the Eurovision stage in all its glory at the video down below:

Special thanks to Madeleine Sinding-Larsen, Head of Communications of Eurovision Song Contest 2024 and SVT for the invite!

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding this year’s Eurovision Song Contest to be held this May in Malmö, Sweden!

Source: SVT
Photo: Andreas Papayiannakis/Eurovisionfun

Follow us in all our social media, so that you wont miss a thing of what’s happening in Malmö:

 

 

 

 

OGAE Poll 2024: The results from Germany, Serbia and Sweden!

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

Every year since 2007, OGAE International conducts the OGAE Poll, which includes the votes of its members from 42 different countries. After thirty-two countries have voted, it is now turn for Germany, Serbia and Sweden to cast their votes.

In detail, the 353 members of OGAE Germany voted as following:

  • 12 points to Croatia
  • 10 points to Italy
  • 8 points to Switzerland
  • 7 points to Austria
  • 6 points to Sweden
  • 5 points to France
  • 4 points to Belgium
  • 3 points to Lithuania
  • 2 points to the United Kingdom
  • 1 point to Spain

The 40 members of OGAE Serbia voted as following:

  • 12 points to Croatia
  • 10 points to Italy
  • 8 points to Austria
  • 7 points to Greece
  • 6 points to Belgium
  • 5 points to France
  • 4 points to Ukraine
  • 3 points to Spain
  • 2 points to Slovenia
  • 1 point to Lithuania

Last, the 163 members of OGAE Sweden voted as following:

  • 12 points to Croatia
  • 10 points to Italy
  • 8 points to France
  • 7 points to the United Kingdom
  • 6 points to Switzeland
  • 5 points to Austria
  • 4 points to the Netherlands
  • 3 points to Spain
  • 2 points to Belgium
  • 1 point to Poland

The results following the votes of thirty-five member clubs are the following:

Italy is in the lead with one point margin, followed by Croatia and Switzerland.

Follow us on all social media, so you do not miss a moment of what will be happening in Malmö:

 

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news! 

Eurovision 2024: The Malmö Arena stage just got revealed!

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Andreas Papayiannakis and EurovisionFun are reporting live from Malmö, got invited at the Stage Reveal event that took place earlier today at 14:00 CET and got the chance to have a first glimpse of the stage in full operation.

Today, the stage for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 is unveiled, and it is a well-qualified gang that is behind this year’s sparkling stage experience in Eurovision this year. It’s about the stage, lighting design and specially written music that will lift the competition and the entire TV show into a feast for eyes and ears – both for the audience on site and for TV viewers around the world.

 

Δείτε αυτή τη δημοσίευση στο Instagram.

 

Η δημοσίευση κοινοποιήθηκε από το χρήστη Eurovisionfun (@eurovisionfn)

Florian Wieder – Production Designer
Florian Wieder is based in Los Angeles and Munich. Over the past 30 years, he has developed the creative and visual concepts for several large-scale shows, concerts, tours, ceremonies, music and television productions worldwide. Florian has worked with artists such as Beyonce, Adele, Jennifer Lopez, Robbie Williams, U2, Lady Gaga, Rammstein. He was a designer and creative producer for seven MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), 12 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) and has developed the Eurovision Song Contest seven times since 2011. In 2022, he designed the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. For the MTV VMAs, he was awarded a Primetime Emmy/Best Production Design.

Fredrik Stormby – Light and Screen Content Designer
With almost 25 years of experience, Fredrik Stormby has worked with concerts, theatre, corporate events and television productions. His latest engagements span several roles in projects such as ABBA Voyage, Melodifestivalen, Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour and Eurovision Song Contest 2013, 2016 and with Loreen 2023. Fredrik is one of the founders of Green Wall Designs, a creative studio specializing in lighting, stage and screen content, based in Stockholm. He takes a holistic approach to production design, seamlessly integrating light, video, and scenographic elements.

Eirik Røland and Johan Nilsson – composers for this year’s musical identity
As a duo, Eirik Røland and Johan Nilsson have collaborated since 2016 to produce music for games, television and other media. Previous notable work includes RAGE 2 (gerAAA games) and American Song Contest (NBC). When asked what their specialties are, they answer that it is about exploring and finding the soul and identity in something and touching and conveying a message to the listener. They specialize in composing adaptive music with the technology that this entails. The adaptive music leads to seamless transitions and in the Eurovision Song Contest it provides opportunities to create a soundscape that contributes to a more exciting voting. The duo expresses:

“The music for Eurovision is a mix of energetic dance music, modern film music with big EDM sounds and a touch of Nordic melodies and timbres. Extra fun is that parts of the music will be adaptive, which is the first time ever for Eurovision.

Special thanks to Madeleine Sinding-Larsen, Head of Communications of Eurovision Song Contest 2024 and SVT for the invite!

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding this year’s Eurovision Song Contest to be held this May in Malmö, Sweden!

Source: media.melodifestivalen.se/SVT
Photo: Andreas Papayiannakis/Eurovisionfun

Follow us in all our social media, so that you wont miss a thing of what’s happening in Malmö:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bets: The latest odds before the rehearsals!

/1 Comment/in , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , /by

We are two days away from the start of the rehearsals in Malmö and that’s why one of Eurovisionfun‘s most loved and talked about columns is back, with the Eurovision 2024 betting analysis back again.

As you prepare for the pivotal days ahead with the climax of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest celebrations, the bookers are already getting down to business, with the Eurovision 2024 winner section already on offer across all bookmakers. So, we’re taking the opportunity to bring you the so far for the next contest.

The five that became four

A battle for four seems to be shaping up in this year’s contest, with Switzerland, Croatia, the Netherlands and Italy having a distinct lead over their pursuers and Ukraine ‘losing ground’ recently after the parties.

More specifically, at the top, now having a clear lead over its competitors, is Switzerland. With two 24 hours to go until the start of rehearsals in the Swedish south, Nemo‘s “The Code” starts from pole-position to win Switzerland‘s coveted third victory in its almost 70-year presence in the Eurovision Song Contest. Switzerland‘s victory is now being bet at odds of between 2.63 and 3.1, becoming the first to break the triple barrier this year.

In second place remains Croatia, who have been firmly established in the top two of the betting tables for the past two months, with their odds remaining largely stable after this year’s pre-parties. Baby Lasagna and “Rim Tim Tagi Dim” will go all the way for a maiden Croatian victory, with bookers offering odds of between 3.25 and 4.6.

The absolute hit on Western and Central European radios, the Netherlands, continues its rally up the betting tables. Joost Klein‘s “Europapa” has made an impression and is sweeping the charts and streams across much of the Old Continent, now bringing the Netherlands into fourth place. We told you long ago through this column about the dynamics of this entry, which was one of the dark horses of this year’s contest. Now in third place and offered at odds of between 4.25 and 5.5, it is anything but a dark horse, with betting companies recognising its potential and moving it up two places.

Fourth, with a slightly downward trend, but within a fairly close distance of the three leading countries, is Italy. Angelina Mango with “La Noia” may have lost one place compared to our last analysis, nevertheless the chances of a second Italian victory in this decade are highly respected. Between 5.75 and 7.5 is offered for Italian victory for those who believe in Angelina Mango‘s potential.

The top five is now completed by Ukraine, who have lost the momentum they had at the beginning of this year’s Eurovision season when they were considered the early favourites to win in Malmö. With the gap between the four leading countries having widened, bookers are offering Alyona Alyona & Jerry Heil’s victory at the highest odds we have seen offered during this year’s Eurovision season. Ukraine‘s fourth win in the Eurovision Song Contest is currently being bet at odds of between 8.5 and 17.

Top 10

With the countries in the Top 5 having stood out in comparison to those below them in the betting tables, let’s take a look at the rest of the top ten. In sixth place, France has quietly risen to sixth, and has consistently remained in or on the fringes of the top ten for most of this Eurovision season. Up to 21 times the stakes are returned by “Mon Amour” and Slimane, with France gaining one place in the last few days.

Among the gainers in recent weeks is Israel, which has moved up to seventh place. Eden Golan and “Hurricane” have gained four places in the last period, steadily gaining momentum as evidenced by the reactions she is garnering on social media on the official Eurovision account. Israel’s victory is offered at odds between 21 and 36.

Greece is still in eighth place. The “tailwind” after the release of Marina Satti‘s “ZARI” brought our country inside the Top 10, with Greece now stabilizing within it and having a safety margin over its pursuers.

Marina Satti‘s win is currently being played at odds between 21 and 41, slightly higher compared to our last analysis, with bookers, however, giving a vote of confidence to the Greek entry.

The big winner in recent weeks has clearly been Ireland, who have now moved up to ninth place, being five places higher compared to our last analysis. Up to 51 times the stake is returned on Ireland’s win with Bambie Thug‘s “Doomsday Blue“.

Rounding out the top ten is Belgium, who have been the disappointment so far this Eurovision season. Mustii‘s pre-party performances with his mildly unacceptable rendition of “Before the Party’s Over” has brought Belgium into tenth place, showing a drop of four places compared to our last analysis. Belgium’s victory is currently being bet on odds between 26 and 67.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiGDvM14Kwg

Will Switzerland achieve its third victory in the Eurovision Song Contest with Nemo’s “The Code”? Tell us in the comments!

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the developments!