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

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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

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Eurovision 2024: Massive Nordic police operation ensures security for Eurovision in Malmö!

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The final week in early May will, if not the biggest, be one of the biggest police operations in Malmö‘s history. For a whole week, Eurovision enthusiasts from around 80 countries gather to party, rejoice, and follow the competition live at Malmö Arena.

At the same time, protests against Israel‘s participation in the competition are becoming increasingly loud. Many demand that the country be prevented from participating. For the police, this situation means that security around the event must be strengthened. Nils Norling, press spokesperson for the Malmö Police says:

“For the police, Eurovision is a very big operation. Large parts of the personnel of the Malmö police are involved in this command. We also have a lot of people from other parts of Region South, and we will receive reinforcements from other parts of the Swedish Police Force throughout the week.”

Positive about the cooperation

The assessment is that it is not enough. The Swedish police are now seeking assistance from Danish and Norwegian police to reinforce the operation. Nils adds:

“We view their arrival very positively. It not only gives us relief but also the opportunity to train and work together, strengthening Nordic police cooperation. All foreign police officers will be supervised by Swedish officers.”

Collaboration between Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish police has occurred before. Swedish police have supported Danish colleagues in Denmark, and Norwegian police have assisted at football matches in Stockholm.

“It is part of Nordic police cooperation that we can support each other. The way Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian police work is very similar.”

says Nils Norling.

Previous collaborations

Danish and Norwegian police officers come with their own equipment, which may include police vehicles.

“We have previously received help from Danish police and borrowed firefighting vehicles, for example, during the Rosengård riots.”

Nils Norling does not want to disclose how many police officers – Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish – are involved in the command during Eurovision.

“We should not expose ourselves to being identified.”

Focus on the public festival

The police have been preparing for six months for Eurovision week. As the competition approaches, more and more employees have been involved.

“For every week, more people are engaged.”

Nils Norling says that residents and visitors to Malmö will notice a significant police presence in the city during the week of the competition. Throughout the city, there are activities related to Eurovision. In Malmö Arena, there are events almost daily, with finals and semi-finals and double rehearsals before them.

“We can assure everyone in Malmö that there will be a lot of police officers. People living in and visiting Malmö should be able to focus on the public festival. The police will handle security work.”

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

Source: Skånska Dagbladet
Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT

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Eurovision 2024: Ensuring thousands of fans and 600 volunteers are safe is a top priority!

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The organisers behind Eurovision Song Contest are currently looking for around 600 volunteers to welcome artists and Eurovision fans to Malmö next year, while applications for the various roles open on Friday. Johan Rönning, who is the event’s volunteer coordinator, was interviewed by Sara Assarsson and Sveriges Radio on the volume of people visiting Malmö, the volunteers as well as the security in place:

“It’s been a big interest from volunteers, from 2013 and from other events that have been in between, not only from Eurovision, And also a lot of Eurovision fans that want to be part of it, but the application is open this Friday. So it will be interesting to see how many application we get the first few days.”

As well as welcoming delegations from all the participating countries volunteers are needed for the Eurovision Village and to work as ambassadors for the city of Malmö. Others are needed backstage or to help with accreditations and other types of admin. Malmö hosted Eurovision back in 2013 and has also hosted, several international sports events such as the World Handball Championships, and the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. Johan Rönning says the experience from running these events will come in handy when the city welcomes more than a hundred thousand Eurovision fans in May. Having been asked if Johan is worried that Malmö won’t find enough people he responds:

“Not at this moment. We know there is big interest and we have we have a good volunteer experience in Malmö as well and know that we have a lot of people that’s used to work in these kinds of events.”

Volunteer Requirements

All volunteers must be at least 19 years old, or turning 19 next year. They also need a good grasp of Swedish and English, as well as having access to Swedish digital ID, such as Bank ID or Freya eID, speaking an additional language is favourable, says Johan Rönning:

“We will welcome 37 delegations from the whole Europe and Australia but also fans from the whole world. So if you know an additional language, it will be a big plus.”

Fan and Volunteer Safety

Ensuring the fans and volunteers are safe at all times, is a top priority, he says. All applicants must register by using digital ID and will also be subject to digital security check:

“With many people getting in one place during Eurovision, security measures are important for us to ensure the safety for the visitors and volunteers.”

On December 15 at 10 a.m., the opportunity to apply will open at malmo.se, and recruitment will continue until January 7.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 is organized in collaboration with the city of Malmö and will be broadcast from Malmö Arena on Tuesday 7 May (semi-final 1), Thursday 9 May (semi-final 2) and Saturday 11 May (final) after Loreen won for a second time in Liverpool with the song “Tattoo“.

Stay tuned at EurovisionFun for all the latest news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest!

Source: Sara Assarsson/Sveriges Radio

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Eurovision 2024: Mass calls for boycott of Eurovision!

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The final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 is just under six months away. After Loreen‘s victory with the song “Tattoo” last May, the competition will take place in Malmö.

Israel as part of Eurovision Song Contest

Israel has been a part of Eurovision since 1973 and has won the contest four times. They are not the only non-European country participating. Australia and Armenia are examples of recurring non-European participants. Countries such as Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan also have the opportunity to compete but have chosen not to do so. Non-European countries have the opportunity to participate due to their membership of the EBU.

Despite the fact that Belarus and Russia are located in Europe, they cannot participate in Eurovision today as they are excluded from the EBU.

Activists call for a boycott of Eurovision

Now, several campaigns are underway on social media calling for a boycott of Eurovision, due to the participation of Israel. Ida Helene Benonisen is a Norwegian activist who fights for the rights of the Sámi and LGBTQ people.

“I think there is a double standard in excluding Russia while allowing Israel to continue to participate in the competition, despite the fact that they are violating international law – something even the UN has pointed out. Europe should show that we do not support their actions.”

In a post that has received a quarter of a million views on Tiktok, she explains how member states can be urged to refrain from sending entries to the competition if Israel participates:

“During my time at the Norwegian MGP in the before Eurovision 2022, I realised that the member states’ threat not to participate if Russia was involved, played a crucial role in the decision to exclude Russia from the competition”

Controversies surrounding Israel’s participation in Eurovision

The last time Malmö hosted the music competition, in 2013, the chairman of the Left Party in Malmö wanted to ban Israel from participating. At the same time, the Israeli embassy appealed to the city of Malmö to increase security after the violent riots that occurred in 2009 in reaction to the tennis match between Israel and Sweden in Malmö. After the music competition, the Israeli delegates reported that they were subjected to anti-Semitic threats. In 2016, the Palestinian flag was banned from the music competition. In 2019, the Icelandic entry was fined after displaying a Palestinian banner during the competition in Tel Aviv, Israel.

What will happen in Malmö next May?

The EBU has still not given a final decision on which countries will participate in Malmö next year, but the plan right now is for Israel to participate as usual.

Karin Karlsson is the City of Malmö‘s overall project manager for the Eurovision Song Contest. She had the same role in 2013.

“In 2013, we took safety into account. But in 2024, it’s a much more complex security situation. It’s an issue we work on every day.”

Karin Karlsson emphasizes that it is not the City of Malmö that decides who can compete, but that all countries that compete are welcome to Malmö. At the same time, there should be room for democratic protests, if desired.

“There are many forces that want to create a nice folk festival here in Malmö. At the same time, we are a democracy and it is important to show that.”

The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 is organized in collaboration with the city of Malmö and will be broadcast from Malmö Arena on Tuesday 7 May (semi-final 1), Thursday 9 May (semi-final 2) and Saturday 11 May (final).

Source: Helsingborgs Dagblad

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