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The
68th version of the song contest, which is always billed as
non-political, is taking place against the backdrop of the
devastating Israeli military campaign in Gaza, triggered by
Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
Much focus is expected to be on Israeli contestant Eden Golan,
when she performs her song "Hurricane" in the second semi-final
on Thursday, with bookmakers placing the entry among the top 10
to win the competition.
The Israeli delegation did not attend the carpet on Sunday due
to Holocaust Memorial Day in Israel, said Swedish broadcaster
SVT, which co-organises the contest with the European
Broadcasting Union (EBU).
Israel agreed to modify the lyrics of its original song "October
Rain", which the EBU said made reference to the Oct. 7 Hamas
onslaught.
The contest comprises three live shows, with half a dozen
countries having a shot at the title this year, according to
fans and bookmakers.
Sweden's Loreen won the 2023 competition in Liverpool, northern
England, with her song "Tattoo", granting the Nordic country an
automatic entry into next Saturday's grand final.
The "Big Five" of the EBU - the UK, France, Germany, Spain and
Italy - are also automatically given a spot in the final, while
the other contenders will compete in semi-finals for the
remaining places.
It will be the seventh time Sweden is hosting the song contest
after last doing so in 2016, and the third time Malmo will stage
the competition.
Sweden's participants for this year, twins Marcus & Martinus,
were drawn in March to open the final with their dance pop song
"Unforgettable".
(Reporting by Ilze Filks and Tom Little in Malmo, Louise Breusch
Rasmussen in Copenhagen,; Writing by Louise Breusch Rasmussen,;
Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
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