 |
 |
|
 Overview |
|
|
Where did the Eurovision Song Contest come from?
Where has it been? And who's won it most often? You'll find the answers to these
questions, and a whole lot more right here. First we'll give you a few facts to
set the scene and then once you're hooked we suggest you take a nostalgic peek
at the rest of the history section.
Eurovision is
actually the name given to the Europe-wide TV distribution network run by the
European Broadcasting Union. It was set up in the mid-1950s, and continues to
supply news and sports material across the continent and beyond.
The
Eurovision Song Contest was first staged in Switzerland in 1956. It grew out of
the Italian San Remo Song Festival, the pet project of Frenchman Marcel
Baison. He saw the event as a way of uniting the nations of post-war
Europe. The San Remo Festival is still running.
The competition
is restricted to members of the EBU - hence the presence of Israel and other
countries not generally found on a map of Europe. And because there are more
countries than slots available at the song contest, there's an elimination
procedure, based around how well you've done over the last few years. Unless you
happen to be one of the EBU's big four contributors - the UK, Germany, France,
and Spain - in which case, you qualify automatically.
We say the UK is
the most successful Eurovision nation. Ireland have won more often with seven
victories to our five. But we've finished second an astonishing 15 times.
There's no restriction on the nationality of performers, as
American-born Katrina Leskanich proved with The (Cambridge-based) Waves
in 1997. Another recent UK foreigner was Aussie Gina G. and Greek icon
Nana Mouskouri represented Luxembourg in 1963.
Countries are only
allowed six performers on stage in the Final. A phalanx of backing singers meant
Katrina & The Waves songwriter Kimberley Rew didn't actually get to
appear on stage in 1997 even though he's one of Britain's finest guitarists!
Belgium's Sandra Kim was only 13 when she won the 1986 Contest
with "J'aime La Vie".
|
|
|
|
Today's weather for Riga International |
|
|
|
 |
|
History
