Eurovision 2024 news: Odds, when is the final and which countries ...

11 May 2024

The Independent

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Eurovision 2024 news Odds when is the final and which countries

Dutch finalist was reportedly in the flag parade part of rehearsal before organisers announced that he would not be rehearsing ‘until further notice’, after a tense press conference involving Israel’s delegate Eden Golan

Israel's Eurovision entry Eden Golan responds to Palestine protests as she makes final

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Joost Klein, the Eurovision 2024 entrant for the Netherlands, will not perform in a second dress rehearsal for the grand final while an investigation into an unspecified “incident” continues.

It was announced on the eve of the final that organisers were investigating an “incident” involving Joost, who is representing the Netherlands with his song “Europapa”.

Instead of performing during dress rehearsal two of the competition, which is voted on by juries in the 37 participating countries, Joost’s performance from the second semi-final will be used instead.

The news comes after Joost was heard pushing for Israel’s contestant Eden Golan to answer a question about her participation, amid her country’s conflict with Hamas, during a press conference after the second semi-final on Thursday.

Further protests are expected to take place after Israel qualified as one of the 26 countries competing in this year’s final.

Ahead of the second semi-final on 9 May, thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators took to the streets in Malmö, Sweden, where this year’s contest is being held, to protest against Israel’s participation.

Follow live updates below:

Eurovision 2024 key points

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Eurovision boss responds to calls for Israel to be disqualified

Roisin O'Connor11 May 2024 01:00

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Bambie Thug ‘cried’ when Israel made it to the final

Ireland’s Bambie Thug wore a keffiyeh scarf, commonly used to suggest pro-Palestinian leanings, and carried Irish flags when they spoke to journalists on Friday (10 May).

Asked how they felt when Israel’s Eden Golan qualified, the singer, who has become the first Irish entry to make the final since 2018, said: “I cried with my team.”

Discussing Israel’s inclusion, they added: “It is a complete overshadow of everything, goes against everything that Eurovision is meant to be.

“It’s a big, big community together and their contestant was never allowed to even meet us.

“God forbid we have some conversation where minds might be changed.

“It’s definitely putting a cloud above it for everyone.”

Eurovision 2024 final running order and which countries are competing

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Roisin O'Connor10 May 2024 23:01

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The Israel-born Golan, who grew up in Russia, told ITV News this week that she could not have asked “for a better year to be representing my country”.

Protests over Israel’s participation are underway in Malmö, Sweden, which is hosting this year’s contest following Swedish contestant Loreen’s win with “Tattoo” in 2023.

Roisin O'Connor10 May 2024 22:01

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Here’s the latest we have on Dutch contestant Joost

A statement from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said: “The investigation into the incident with the Dutch artist in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest is still ongoing.

“Discussions are also taking place between the EBU and Avrotros, the Dutch participating broadcaster.

“While the investigation continues, the EBU has decided that Joost Klein will not perform during dress rehearsal two of the competition, which is voted on by juries in the 37 participating countries.

“His performance from semi-final two will be used instead.”

Roisin O'Connor10 May 2024 21:22

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How to vote in Eurovision 2024 and what’s changed

The 2024 grand final is taking place on Saturday (11 May), following the first round of semi-finals that saw Ireland’s contestant Bambie Thug sailing through to the final along with Croatia’s Baby Lasagna and Ukraine’s Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil.

Eurovision is widely known for its fiendishly complex voting system, with the European Broadcasting Union making some tweaks for the 2024 competition.

Roisin O'Connor10 May 2024 21:01

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