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Eurovision 2024: volunteers drop out over “security concerns”

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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!

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Eurovision 2024: Demonstrations against Israel’s participation authorized!

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Eden Golan will perform in the Second Semifinal next May 9, in Malmö Arena.  At the same time, a demonstration against Israel’s participation in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Malmö.

The organization Stop Israel is planning this demonstration.  They have obtained permission from the police to organize two different protest demonstrations.  The first one will take place at Stortorget on May 9 at 3 p.m.   A second protest will take place on the day of the Grand Final on May 11 regardless of whether Israel makes it to the final or not.  The program includes a speech, followed by music before the march departs to Slottsparken.  According to organizer Pia Jacobsen, they are expecting at least between 10,000 and 20,000 people to show up to protest.

The demonstration ends with artists such as Mikael Wiehe, General Knas, Kofia, and others performing on a stage in Slottsparken.

“It is absurd and outrageous that Israel is singing while the bombs are falling. Russia was excluded from participating in the ESC following the
invasion of Ukraine. Excluding Israel is now self-evident” Stop Israel

Sweden Strengthens Security Measures Amid Eurovision 2024

Swedish police are strengthening security measures for Eurovision.  The measures will include establishing a no-fly zone during the event and technology to take down drones from the air.

Swedish police will get support from police officers from Denmark and Norway who will guard everything from the arena to surrounding events, hotels and demonstrations.  Furthermore, the Swedish Armed Forces are also involved and could assist with logistic issues if necessary.

Source: Sydsvenskan / SVT 

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

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Norway: Gåte confirms Eurovision participation!

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The winners of MGP 2024, Gåte confirmed their participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 regardless of the presence of Israel.  We must remind our readers that the Norwegian group opposed Israeli participation.  Furthermore, Gåte said that letting Israel participate could be a reason not to participate in the competition.

Gåte had mentioned before their victory at MGP 2024 that they would need some time to consider whether they would accept to represent their country in Malmö, due to the EBU’s decision to allow Israel to participate. Following their victory and after taking a time to reflect, Gåte announced their decision to participate in the Eurovision song contest, despite the participation of Israel.

When asked if it was a difficult decision, the band answered:

It’s not difficult now that it’s taken, but we spent a lot of time and thoroughly discussed how we can use our voices in this crisis that the world is experiencing, and with Eurovision as an arena now, said guitarist Magnus.

Gåte will use their participation in Eurovision to highlight everything that is happening in Gaza, while calling for an end to hostilities.

The group insists that it is against Israel’s participation in the competition, calling it problematic.

We have spoken about this in the past and we still stand by the fact that we find it problematic for Israel to participate as it is now and that we ask the EBU to make arrangements so that it is a safe, healthy and worthy event for all who will participate.

The Head of Norway’s delegation to Eurovision, Stig Karslen says he supports the band in their decision to express their views during the competition. Regarding the security issues raised, Norwegian Public Television will send questions to both the EBU and public broadcaster SVT.

Source: NRK

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

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400 Danish artists including Mø send petition to DR demanding to expel Israel from Eurovision!

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More than 400 professionals associated with the Danish music industry have signed a petition asking for Israel to be excluded from Eurovision 2024.

 

According to Kulturmonitor, the signing artists demand the expulsion of Israel from the upcoming Eurovision 2024.

The list of signing artists includes well-known names in the music industry such as  Tessa, Mø, Eee Gee, Pil, Marwan, Brimheim, Barbro, Erika de Casier, and many more.

“When Israel’s failure to comply with international law and order has no consequences, war crimes, occupation, and blockade are normalized. We believe that the EBU and all member states contribute to this normalization by allowing Israel to participate in this year’s Eurovision” says the open letter from the artists.

The petition finishes by stating that:

We cannot be passive and watch as a country that commits gross war crimes against an imprisoned people is invited to a joint celebration of music, diversity, and cohesion. We strongly urge DR to stand up for the exclusion of Israel in this year’s Eurovision.

You can read the entire petition in this link .  You can find the complete list of signing artists in this link.

Do you agree with this petition?  Do you think Israel should participate in Eurovision 2024?

Source: Kulturmonitor

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

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Spain: Left party demands Israel expulsion from Eurovision!

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Left party Podemos has registered a non-legal proposal that calls for the expulsion of Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest.

According to Podemos leader, Ione Belarra, “Israel should be prohibited from any international activity as a pressure tactic to stop the genocide against the Palestinian people”.  This would include not allowing Israel to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Moreover, Belarra has taken one step further and asked the Spanish Congress to debate the issue.   She has registered a non-legal proposal to request it.

If approved in Congress, it will urge the Government to “position itself clearly against Israel’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest”.  Accordingly, it asks the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares to “promote, together with other countries of the Union”, the aforementioned expulsion. If the proposition is passed, the Congress would ask RTVE as a member of the EBU and a member of the Reference Group to  “promote, together with other public broadcasters, the expulsion of Israel from the contest, in the same way that was done with Russia after the invasion of Ukraine.

In the explanatory statement, Podemos emphasizes that the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), “as the organizer of the event, establishes the guidelines and regulations that the participating countries must follow. Also, the values ​​that it promotes and that inspire it are universality, diversity, equality, and inclusion. Eurovision is based on principles of cooperation and aims to unite participating countries through music, regardless of their cultural or linguistic differences.”

According to Podemos leader Ione Belarra, “these values ​​and these objectives become incompatible with the participation of Israel”, which “has increased the systematic violation of international law and Human Rights both in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip”, with a “dimension of human and material damage” that “has reached levels of violence rarely seen before”.

Podemos argues that “it is worrying that a showcase like the one represented by Eurovision serves to whitewash the Zionist State of Israel in the eyes of millions of spectators. Especially when, in 2022, the EBU decided to expel Russia from the contest after the invasion of Ukraine”.

Source: Cadena Ser

Do you think this proposal will pass in Spanish Congress?  Should Spain join the boycott against Israel?

Stay tuned at EurovisionFun for more news about Israel’s and Spain’s participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024!

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European Parliament: Against the boycott of Israel in Eurovision 2024!

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In a statement, Sabine Verheyen, German MEP and President of the Committee on Cultural Affairs of the European Parliament, stood against the boycott of Israel in Eurovision 2024, which some are trying to impose on the public broadcasters, members of the EBU.

The largest democratic institution of the EU – the European Parliament, since its members are directly elected by the citizens of the member states, through the president of its Committee on Cultural Affairs Sabine Verheyen, stated earlier to euobserver that it is against any boycott attempted against Israel and its participation in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest.

In fact, the MEP made it clear that Israeli citizens have the right to live without the fear of the terrorist organization Hamas, somehow justifying the military operation currently being carried out in Gaza to dismantle the organization.

Israeli citizens have the right to live free from terror, fear and violence.

This is the first time that one of the EU’s top institutions has spoken openly about the thorny issue of Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2024, taking a clear stand in favor of its unfettered participation and against calls for a boycott.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: euobserver