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Iceland becomes fifth country to boycott Eurovision

https://lemmy.cafe/post/28222610

Iceland becomes fifth country to boycott Eurovision - Lemmy Cafe

>Iceland has joined Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands in saying it will boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest. > >All five countries have withdrawn after Israel’s participation in the competition was officially confirmed last week. > >“The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RÚV) has decided not to participate in the Eurovision song contest in Vienna, Austria, next year,” a statement said after an RÚV board meeting on Wednesday. > >“Participation of Israeli national broadcaster, KAN, in the contest has created disunity among both members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the general public.”

Dec 10 at 6:50pmWeb
Show threadGoodlucksilDec 10
I didn’t realize we (Spain) withdrew. Either that was a while ago or they glossed it over on the news.
Show threadWorldieBoiDec 10
they announced it a few days ago
Show threadkhannieDec 10
It was fairly big news so you just missed it somehow. The original four did it on the same day.
Show threadGingaNingaDec 10
Canada just got in, it would be a gigachad move to immediately boycott
Show threadjolDec 10
Canada was invited to join this year?
Show threadOtterDec 10

Unless something changed very recently, it’s still in early talks

EBU has confirmed early talks are underway, but no decision has been made

However, don’t expect a confirmed new inclusion any time soon, as Eurovision is currently wrestling to keep the contest from tearing itself apart.

euronews.com/…/canadas-european-pivot-could-an-in…

Explained: Why is Canada pushing to join Eurovision?

Canada is exploring the possibility of joining Eurovision, something officials say reflects the country's effort to assert its cultural independence and deepen ties with Europe. The EBU has confirmed early talks are underway, but no decision has been made.

euronews
Show threadSunshineDec 11
Canada must take Israel’s place.
Show threadBurgerBaronDec 11
That’d be so fucking funny, so we won’t :(
Show threadAqariusDec 11
Grandpa_Simpson_enters_and_leaves.gif
Show threadthefluffiestDec 10
Devastating news for Icelandic twink lovers everywhere. Great news for civilization
Show threadbarooboodooDec 10
I’m not super familiar with Eurovision but is there a world where enough countries boycott that someone actually takes action or am I being naive?
Show threadharrys_balzacDec 11
Germany and France will stick with Israel in this. One of Macrons ministers was bragging about how he helped keep Israel in it. I don’t have the link but I saw the article sometime in the 48 hours.
Show threadbarooboodooDec 11
Hmm so as long as they’re in it the show goes on right?
Show threadqevlarrDec 11
Good job keeping politics out of it. They just want to ignore genocide. Hope Israel wins and it falls apart completely
Show threadbstixDec 11

Forget about politics.

The Eurovision is great for showing that humans can actually do something together across borders and dispite of politics. We should invite everyone regardless of politics.

But when one participants is doing a fucking genocide, I think it’s perfectly fair for the rest not wanting to do anything with them, let alone doing a sing along.

A genocide is way way beyond politics. It’s a crime against humanity.

Show threadJankatarchDec 11
Also Eurovision organizers are actively trying to suppoet Israel with everything from propoganda speeches to having security snatch Palestine flags from live audience.
Show threaddjdarrenDec 11

Off the top of my head, 20 countries make it to the final. The Big Five (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK) are all guaranteed a spot, the remaining 15 spots are decided by semi finals.

So in theory, if enough countries boycotted that there were fewer than 20 countries left for the final, they might start to panic. But I suspect the show would just go on.

Show threadbarooboodooDec 11
Damn that’s a bummer, thanks for the info tho.
Show threadLogiDec 11
I’m just listening to an interview with the head of the Icelandic National Broadcaster and their line is that this was “not a political decision” on their part, but because this programme item would no longer be the “joyful unifying event” that it has been and is supposed to be, so they’re not taking part. There is a big of hand-washing going on, but they’re not really wrong either.
Show threadskisnowDec 11

[Israeli public broadcaster] “A boycott may begin today with Israel, but no one knows where it will end or who else it may harm.”

If that’s what they’re leading with, it shows how weak the rest of their defence is.

Show threadJankatarchDec 11
Is eurovision even that big of an event as like 2010s?