CNN
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Switzerland’s Nemo won the chaotic and politically charged Eurovision Song Contest, as well as a contest in Sweden that was marked by controversy and booing over Israel’s existence.
The typically convivial event, one of the most high-profile on the world’s cultural calendar, has descended into chaos in recent days as organizers unsuccessfully tried to contain anger against the Israeli delegation.
But Nemo, who was a favorite throughout the show, won over the crowd with his masterful rendition of “The Code,” a genre-bending anthem about his journey to accepting his non-binary identity.
“I hope this contest fulfills its promise and continues to protect peace and dignity for all people,” Nemo said after receiving the trophy.
Their win was the first for non-binary people at Eurovision, and the first for Switzerland since Celine Dion won in 1988.
Malmö hosted the competition to commemorate the 50th anniversary of ABBA’s Eurovision break, but the competition quickly found itself dancing around an uncomfortable political spotlight, with tensions reaching a fever pitch in the hours leading up to the final. did.
Protesters said the incident was an “artistic wash” of Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the insurgents’ attack on Israel began on October 7.
However, although the organizer EBU (European Broadcasting Union) fiercely defended Israel’s presence and claimed the contest was apolitical, artists, broadcasters and fans clash over the presence of Israeli singer Eden Golan. Over time, this policy became increasingly untenable.
Golan was booed by some in the audience during his performance, with some turning away or leaving the arena, but more attendees cheered on Israel’s performance.
And outside the arena, police surrounded a small group of pro-Palestinian protesters, separating them from the crowd that had arrived at the event chanting “Free, Free Palestine!” and “Boycott Eurovision.”
But the EBU will be relieved that the final, one of the most tense events in Eurovision history, went off largely without incident.
Nemo told CNN before the final that Eurovision was “even bigger and crazier than I expected.” There’s a lot of depth to Eurovision that I didn’t know about before. ”
“If I win, I’m going to have a big party at the lake in my hometown of Beer,” they told CNN.
A competitor was disqualified hours before the event. Dutch contestant Joost Klein was kicked out of the final due to an “incident” backstage. EBU revealed few details about the incident, but furious fans made their anger clear over the decision by booing EBU representatives who appeared on screen during the final.
Meanwhile, Ireland’s Bumby Thug told CNN in preparation for the event that it was a “wrong decision” not to exclude Israel like Russia two years ago.
Saturday night’s showpiece event featured a celebration of ABBA and other Swedish musical stars, with performances by 26 finalists spanning genres, languages and styles.
Next year’s competition will be held in Switzerland following Nemo’s victory. The contest date and host city will be announced in the coming months.
