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Eurovision Song Contest starts in the Netherlands

Eurovision Song Contest

Contestants from Europe, Australia and Israel will perform 39 songs at the popular Eurovision Song Contest starting Tuesday night. Last year, the event was canceled due to COVID-19, but this year almost all of the contestants will perform in person on location in the Netherlands. The Associated Press has the story:

The Roop performs ‘Discoteque’ for opening night of the Eurovision Song Contest

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) — Lithuanian pop-rock band The Roop gets the Eurovision Song Contest party started Tuesday night with the fittingly titled song “Discoteque” and its opening lines: “OK, I feel the rhythm. Something’s going on here.”

Musical group The Roop from Lithuania perform during rehearsals at the Eurovision Song Contest at Ahoy arena in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Monday, May 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

After missing a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the immensely popular contest opens in the Netherlands with the first semifinal, featuring 16 acts vying for 10 places up for grabs in Saturday’s grand final.

The competition, which this year will spotlight contestants performing 39 national songs from nations across Europe as well as Australia and Israel, is one of the largest events staged in Europe since the pandemic began. It is taking place as the continent begins to tentatively emerge from lockdowns and infection-control restrictions.

Related: US Rapper Flo Rida excels at Eurovision Song Contest

A crowd of 3,500 — tested for the virus ahead of time — was allowed into Rotterdam’s Ahoy arena to watch the performances live. The number represents a fraction of arena’s capacity.

Musical group The Roop from Lithuania pose for photographers upon arrival at the Turquoise Carpet event of the Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, May 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Some fans waiting to get in waved Dutch national flags. Others dressed up for the show known for its popularity among the LGBTQ community.

Geert van den Berg was attending in a purple dress and white wig accessorized with a red feather. His partner, Roberto, wore a short skirt made up of the flags of the participating nations.

“Eurovision is very important for me. We, my partner and me,…this is the 10th time we are going to Eurovision,” he said. “We like it so much because all countries are together. It’s always a party, it’s always fun.”

For Saturday’s final, a total of 20 winners from the semifinals on Tuesday and Thursday will join contestants from the so-called big five of Italy, France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom, along with the representative of host nation the Netherlands.

A woman wearing a garment with a TV test card pattern shows her electronic ticket to to hostess as she queues for admission to the first semifinal of the Eurovision Song Contest at Ahoy arena in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Tuesday, May 18, 2021.The competition featuring 39 national songs from nations across Europe as well as Australia and Israel is one of the largest events staged in Europe since the global pandemic began and comes as the continent begins to tentatively ease coronavirus lockdown measures. A crowd of 3,500, tested ahead of time, will be allowed into the Ahoy arena. The number represents a fraction of its capacity to watch the performances live. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Australia’s act is the only performer unable to appear in person due to COVID-19 restrictions

Australia’s act, Montaigne, is the only performer not attending the event in Rotterdam because of coronavirus restrictions. Instead, she is participating in the semifinal with a recorded live performance.

Last on stage Tuesday is one of the bookmakers’ favorites for the title, 18-year-old Maltese singer Destiny. Other acts showing strongly in the bookies’ odds were Italian rock band Maneskin and French singer Barbara Pravi. They enter the musical fray in Saturday night’s final.

At the other end of the age scale from Destiny is veteran Belgian band Hooverphonic, featuring the oldest performer at this year’s event, 61-year-old Raymond Geerts.

A man wearing the Australian flag talks to police officers ahead of the first semifinal of the Eurovision Song Contest at Ahoy arena in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Tuesday, May 18, 2021.The competition featuring 39 national songs from nations across Europe as well as Australia and Israel is one of the largest events staged in Europe since the global pandemic began and comes as the continent begins to tentatively ease coronavirus lockdown measures. A crowd of 3,500, tested ahead of time, will be allowed into the Ahoy arena. The number represents a fraction of its capacity to watch the performances live. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Despite a tight regime of testing, hygiene and social distancing, organizers didn’t manage to completely keep COVID-19 out. A member of Poland’s delegation and one from the Iceland team tested positive in recent days.

Delegations from Malta and Romania were staying in the same hotel, and all underwent precautionary testing that came back negative, allowing them to take part in Tuesday’s semifinal.

Geert van den Berg, right, queues to attend the show in a purple dress and white wig accessorized with a red feather with his partner Roberto, left, ahead of the first semifinal of the Eurovision Song Contest at Ahoy arena in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Tuesday, May 18, 2021. The competition featuring 39 national songs from nations across Europe as well as Australia and Israel is one of the largest events staged in Europe since the global pandemic began and comes as the continent begins to tentatively ease coronavirus lockdown measures. A crowd of 3,500, tested ahead of time, will be allowed into the Ahoy arena. The number represents a fraction of its capacity to watch the performances live. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

By MIKE CORDER
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