After a year in which Russia continued to be fiercely condemned for annexing the Crimea and its separatists' seizure of eastern Ukraine, the country remains a pariah through most of Europe.
Now, amid fears Russia's Eurovision singer Polina Gagarina will bear the brunt of the ill-will, contest organisers have installed drastic 'anti-booing' technology for the final in Vienna.
Special sound reducers have been installed in a bid to stop the acrimony towards Russia being broadcast - an issue that was last year labelled 'embarrassing' by organisers.
The 60th Eurovision Song Contest is being held on Saturday night, with an estimated 200 million people expected to watch it.
The UK, which has won the competition five times, with only the Republic of Ireland winning it more, will be represented by electro swing duo Electro Velvet. They'll be hoping they can claim the UK's first victory in the competition for 18 years with their song "Still In Love With You."
The "Big 5" countries when it comes to Eurovision funding - United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain and Italy - enter each year's Eurovision Song Contest automatically, whereas all other countries have to go through qualifiers, like a European Championships qualifier in the football. This week has seen the first semi-final being held with countries like Armenia, Belgium, Greece, Serbia, Russia and Albania making it through to Saturday's final. The second semi-final will be held before Saturday. The countries participating in the second semi-final include Ireland, San Marino, Montenegro, Israel and Poland.
Australia will also be in this year's contest. It has been allowed in to the final automatically without having to qualify and will be taking part in it for the first time.
Russia are actually the second-favourites to win this year's competition, with Sweden being the favourites. If Sweden do win, they'll overtake the UK on number of wins and will move into second place, behind Republic of Ireland, with six.
Eurovision song contest installs 'anti-booing' technology for the first time to hide jeers aimed towards Russia's singer over the country's military aggression in Ukraine
Eurovision organisers have taken drastic new measures to hide booing
Sound reducers have been installed to stop the jeers from being broadcast
There are fears Russia's contestant may be targeted due to the Ukraine crisis
By Corey Charlton for MailOnline
20 May 2015
Daily Mail
Vienna is hosting the 60th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night, with 200 million people expected to watch, after Austria's "bearded lady" Conchita Wurst won last year's competition in Copenhagen
After a year in which Russia continued to be fiercely condemned for annexing the Crimea and its separatists' seizure of eastern Ukraine, the country remains a pariah through most of Europe.
Now, amid fears Russia's Eurovision singer Polina Gagarina will bear the brunt of the ill-will, contest organisers have installed drastic 'anti-booing' technology for the final in Vienna.
Special sound reducers have been installed in a bid to stop the acrimony towards Russia being broadcast - an issue that was last year labelled 'embarrassing' by organisers.
Special sound reducers have been installed at the venue for this year's Eurovision final in the event Russian contestant Polina Gagarina (pictured during the semi-final) is booed because of her country's politics. Gagarina is the second-favourite to win, behind Sweden's Måns Zelmerlöw
Jarmo Siim, communications co-ordinator for Eurovision, told The Moscow Times the sound reducers were installed as a 'Plan B', and he hoped they would not be required.
He said: 'It was very embarrassing for us last year when this happened, as it is not in the spirit of the contest. We are here to build bridges, as the [Eurovision] motto says.
'It is the first time we have prepared in this way, we want to be ready in all scenarios [but] we have high expectations that nothing like this will happen.'
He added that after seeing Russian contestant Polina Gagarina during rehearsals, they had 'no reason' to be concerned.
Despite a strong performance, last year Russia's Tolmachevy Sisters were subjected to jeers from the crowd which stemmed from anger at their country's involvement in the Ukraine crisis.
The organisers' intervention also comes after Russia's anti-gay laws continue to be condemned by the international community, while Vienna - this year's host city - has installed gay-themed traffic lights.
Last year Russia's Tolmachevy Sisters (pictured) were subjected to jeers in Copenhagen, which was believed to have been linked to their homeland's involvement in the Ukraine crisis
The Austrian capital launched the revamped lights a fortnight ago at 120 zebra crossings as a symbol of tolerance.
Instead of the traditional single figure, they now show either a gay or heterosexual couple holding hands, along with a heart symbol.
The city confirmed on Wednesday it had even ordered 2,000 t-shirts featuring the small figures in red and green on a black background.
A total of 27 countries will take part in the Eurovision final held at Vienna's Stadthalle arena on Saturday night. The event is expected to attract up to 200 million viewers.
Vienna's new gay-themed traffic lights, installed for the upcoming Eurovision contest
Disabled rockers Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät were hoping to represent Finland in Saturday's final, but were knocked out in the first semi-final earlier this week
Listen to Electro Velvet perform the song they'll be performing for the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night:
http://youtu.be/s6r1tUhl1cQ?list=RDs6r1tUhl1cQ
Now, amid fears Russia's Eurovision singer Polina Gagarina will bear the brunt of the ill-will, contest organisers have installed drastic 'anti-booing' technology for the final in Vienna.
Special sound reducers have been installed in a bid to stop the acrimony towards Russia being broadcast - an issue that was last year labelled 'embarrassing' by organisers.
The 60th Eurovision Song Contest is being held on Saturday night, with an estimated 200 million people expected to watch it.
The UK, which has won the competition five times, with only the Republic of Ireland winning it more, will be represented by electro swing duo Electro Velvet. They'll be hoping they can claim the UK's first victory in the competition for 18 years with their song "Still In Love With You."
The "Big 5" countries when it comes to Eurovision funding - United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain and Italy - enter each year's Eurovision Song Contest automatically, whereas all other countries have to go through qualifiers, like a European Championships qualifier in the football. This week has seen the first semi-final being held with countries like Armenia, Belgium, Greece, Serbia, Russia and Albania making it through to Saturday's final. The second semi-final will be held before Saturday. The countries participating in the second semi-final include Ireland, San Marino, Montenegro, Israel and Poland.
Australia will also be in this year's contest. It has been allowed in to the final automatically without having to qualify and will be taking part in it for the first time.
Russia are actually the second-favourites to win this year's competition, with Sweden being the favourites. If Sweden do win, they'll overtake the UK on number of wins and will move into second place, behind Republic of Ireland, with six.
Eurovision song contest installs 'anti-booing' technology for the first time to hide jeers aimed towards Russia's singer over the country's military aggression in Ukraine
Eurovision organisers have taken drastic new measures to hide booing
Sound reducers have been installed to stop the jeers from being broadcast
There are fears Russia's contestant may be targeted due to the Ukraine crisis
By Corey Charlton for MailOnline
20 May 2015
Daily Mail
Vienna is hosting the 60th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night, with 200 million people expected to watch, after Austria's "bearded lady" Conchita Wurst won last year's competition in Copenhagen
After a year in which Russia continued to be fiercely condemned for annexing the Crimea and its separatists' seizure of eastern Ukraine, the country remains a pariah through most of Europe.
Now, amid fears Russia's Eurovision singer Polina Gagarina will bear the brunt of the ill-will, contest organisers have installed drastic 'anti-booing' technology for the final in Vienna.
Special sound reducers have been installed in a bid to stop the acrimony towards Russia being broadcast - an issue that was last year labelled 'embarrassing' by organisers.
Special sound reducers have been installed at the venue for this year's Eurovision final in the event Russian contestant Polina Gagarina (pictured during the semi-final) is booed because of her country's politics. Gagarina is the second-favourite to win, behind Sweden's Måns Zelmerlöw
Jarmo Siim, communications co-ordinator for Eurovision, told The Moscow Times the sound reducers were installed as a 'Plan B', and he hoped they would not be required.
He said: 'It was very embarrassing for us last year when this happened, as it is not in the spirit of the contest. We are here to build bridges, as the [Eurovision] motto says.
'It is the first time we have prepared in this way, we want to be ready in all scenarios [but] we have high expectations that nothing like this will happen.'
He added that after seeing Russian contestant Polina Gagarina during rehearsals, they had 'no reason' to be concerned.
Despite a strong performance, last year Russia's Tolmachevy Sisters were subjected to jeers from the crowd which stemmed from anger at their country's involvement in the Ukraine crisis.
The organisers' intervention also comes after Russia's anti-gay laws continue to be condemned by the international community, while Vienna - this year's host city - has installed gay-themed traffic lights.
Last year Russia's Tolmachevy Sisters (pictured) were subjected to jeers in Copenhagen, which was believed to have been linked to their homeland's involvement in the Ukraine crisis
The Austrian capital launched the revamped lights a fortnight ago at 120 zebra crossings as a symbol of tolerance.
Instead of the traditional single figure, they now show either a gay or heterosexual couple holding hands, along with a heart symbol.
The city confirmed on Wednesday it had even ordered 2,000 t-shirts featuring the small figures in red and green on a black background.
A total of 27 countries will take part in the Eurovision final held at Vienna's Stadthalle arena on Saturday night. The event is expected to attract up to 200 million viewers.
Vienna's new gay-themed traffic lights, installed for the upcoming Eurovision contest
Disabled rockers Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät were hoping to represent Finland in Saturday's final, but were knocked out in the first semi-final earlier this week
Listen to Electro Velvet perform the song they'll be performing for the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night:
http://youtu.be/s6r1tUhl1cQ?list=RDs6r1tUhl1cQ
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