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3w ago

Eurovision 2025 Opens in Basel with Festivities and Protests Over Israel’s Participation

The week-long event began with a record-breaking turquoise carpet parade, drawing 160 million viewers, while demonstrations highlighted geopolitical tensions.

Un tapis turquoise a été dressé aux pieds de l’hôtel de ville de Bâle pour la cérémonie d’ouverture du Concours Eurovision de la chanson 2025, le 11 mai.
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Overview

  • The 69th Eurovision Song Contest officially launched in Basel, Switzerland, with a 1.3-kilometer turquoise carpet parade, the longest in the contest's history.
  • Large-scale protests targeted Israel’s participation, with banners calling for Gaza border openings and aid access, reflecting ongoing geopolitical tensions.
  • A protester waving a Palestinian flag entered the parade route and was restrained by police, underscoring heightened security challenges at the event.
  • Israel’s representative, Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the October 2023 Hamas attack, aims to convey peace and solidarity through her song, 'New Day Will Rise.'
  • The contest, hosted in Switzerland for the first time since 1989, is being followed by nearly 160 million viewers worldwide, celebrating music and cultural unity.