Final stretch of the candidates for Eurovision 2024 After months of international campaign and two semi-finals, the 37 candidates are now only 26 and they will compete against each other this Saturday, May 11 in Malmö, Sweden, to try to take first place. this 68th edition.
France has Slimane, chosen this year to carry the colors of the tricolor flag with the song My love. And the 34-year-old singer is emerging as one of the favorites of this 2024 vintage: a few hours before the final, the betting houses predict him a very good fifth place.
Where and when to see the party?
In order not to miss anything of this last evening, fans of the competition can meet at 8:58 p.m. in France 2 to follow this final phase live. Laurence Boccolini and Stéphane Bern, regulars of this annual teleconference, will comment.
It will also be possible to follow this final without comments, live on the Eurovision account on YouTube, through the following video.
Unlike the semifinals, a jury of experts from each of the 37 countries distributes points during the final. The result of the contest is determined 50% by the public vote and 50% by the points distributed by the professionals.
Citizens of the 37 countries participating in this 68th edition of Eurovision will be able to participate in the voting, which will open shortly before the first performance of the final and will close between 25 and 40 minutes after the last one. The fans will be able to vote through the official Eurovision application, or by SMS or by phone through a number that will be shown on the screen.
Since last year, non-participating countries can also vote. Their votes are grouped into the same category, “the rest of the world,” which has the weight of an additional country.
The tension at its peak
This 68th edition takes place in a climate of tension such as the competition has perhaps never known, due to the war between Israel and Hamas.
Despite calls for a boycott and exclusion of the Jewish State from the contest, which have been increasing for months, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), in charge of the contest, has decided to maintain its participation. The anger crystallized around Eden Golan, a 20-year-old Israeli singer, who represents her country with the song. Hurricane.
On Thursday, May 9, as the young woman was preparing to perform in the second semifinal, thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in Malmö to protest against the participation of the Jewish State.
An expected move, to the point that a special security system was put in place with police officers from all over Sweden, but also from Denmark and Norway, to reinforce the local workforce. Additionally, Eden Golan was advised to remain confined to her hotel room outside of performances.
However, the singer had the support of the spectators of the contest: on Thursday afternoon she qualified for the final and the bookmakers predicted an excellent result for her. The one who two days ago was at the bottom of the 10 best forecasters has jumped to second place.
Source: BFM TV
