Spainish Entrant Reputedly Told Not To Win Eurovision Song Contest

Love it or hate it, the Eurovision Song Contest hits our screens in Europe tomorrow night.
In my oinion, the contest is outdated, strongly controversial in reference to "back scratching" points awarding, and a bit of an extravagance in the current financial times. However, my opinion is not important.

As the title of the thread says, the Spanish entrant, Pastora Soler, has been asked by a Spanish state run broadcaster, not to win, because Spain could not afford to stage the event next year, as is customary.

Source:www.dailymail.co.uk... wsxml

I am aware that there are also counter-claims out there, denying the story:

Source:www.bbc.co.uk...

So, in light of this, does anyone else think that given the obvious financial difficulties in many european countries at the moment, that this event is in bad taste? Maybe we should ask the people suffering most from austerity in these countries.

The cost this year, is estimated at a staggering $75.5 million. I am not sure though if that figure is on top of this one (within below source)

"The Eurovision venue, Baku Crystal Hall - a complete glass and steel concert hall to seat 23,000 and built exclusively for the contest cost local authorities an astonishing $134 million USD. According to a spending review published by Tol, part of the funds to build the venue spending review published by Tolwere already earmarked in the budget for renovating water and sanitation systems in Azerbaijan's region and for increasing salaries and pensions."

Source:www.scribd.com...

Comments welcome. PS No Jedward jokes with me living in Ireland and all!

reply to post by Mufcutcakeyumyum


I haven't watched Eurosong in more than 15 years, I think, but even I know that winning is not a decision to be made by any contestant. So that alone proves that it was indeed a joke, like the contestant said.

reply to post by Mufcutcakeyumyum


The whole the Eurovision Song Contest is nothing but a political joke, you know who won last year? azerbaijan! since when azerbaijan is a European country? i dont see that logic.

reply to post by Agent_USA_Supporter


I totally agree with you, and it seems the answer is yes and no. How daft is that:

wiki.answers.com...

More importantly, it seems the country has gone balls out to put on a show at the expense of other more significant issues. The cost has been mentioned, as well as where that funding is allegedly coming from, but human rights violations?

www.brisbanetimes.com.au...

In a case like this, surely it cannot be too difficult to see through the smoke screen and tell them to get their house in order as it were first?

The competition is over the top, a sham even, but it appeals because it is amusing, and a bit of fun. I'm not too sure people would be warming to it as much if they knew how many inadvertently suffer as a result of funds allocation.

Originally posted by Mufcutcakeyumyum
the Spanish entrant, Pastora Soler, has been asked by a Spanish state run broadcaster, not to win, because Spain could not afford to stage the event next year, as is customary.

I won't watch it, but I will certainly vote for the Spanish entry, and I encourage everyone else to do the same.

reply to post by AdAstra


Hi AdAstra, I think I know what you mean. What I was getting at was the fact that in harsh reality, there are several countries who would be in a similar situation, regardless of whether they did or didn't ask to throw their act.
Spain, Ireland, Potrugal, Italy to suggest 4.

In Ireland, in the early 90's after winning it three times in a row, the venue was changed from Dublin to Cork, and the rumours were that Ireland really didn't want to win it again as it was costing too much to stage! Can't find a link to back this claim up, but the evergreen Terry Wogan made a similar claim in a Eurovision TV programme recently.