- Title: Fans praise Sweden for hosting Eurovision contest
- Date: 15th May 2016
- Summary: STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN (MAY 15, 2016) (REUTERS) UKRAINIAN FANS COMING OUT OF ARENA WITH UKRAINIAN FLAGS, CHANTING "UKRAINA" UKRAINIAN FANS OUTSIDE ARENA WAVING FLAGS, HUMMING WINNING SONG "1944" (SOUNDBITE) (English) FAN, ANDRII GAVRYLIUK, FROM LVIV IN UKRAINE, SAYING: "What can I say? It was really fantastic and it was amazing and I'm really anxious and really happy now. It was unexpected I would say because we had the second place until the very end of the first part of the points but after the second part, well, we managed to take the first one and it's really fantastic." UKRAINIAN FANS OUTSIDE ARENA WAVING UKRAINIAN FLAGS AND CHANTING "UKRAINA" (SOUNDBITE) (English) RUSSIAN FAN, MAKSIM BEREZINSKY, SAYING: "I think the show was really amazing. Swedish people did a good show. Thank you Sweden. Thank you Stockholm, really thank you. It was an amazing show." FANS LEAVING ARENA (SOUNDBITE) (English) SWEDISH FAN, CARL HEDBERG, SAYING: "I think they made an amazing job - SVT (Swedish public broadcaster) and the city of Stockholm." SWEDISH FAN KAROLINE OJBRO, SAYING: "12 points" SWEDISH FAN, CARL HEDBERG, SAYING: "Yes, 12 points because they have ordered (arranged) many things for the fans which is important." BRITISH FANS WAVING FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH FAN, AUSTIN RUIZ, SAYING: "The show was great, begin in the stadium, other than watching television was an incredible experience. I've always wanted to do that ever since I saw Bucks Fizz win." POLICE PATROLLING (SOUNDBITE) (English) FINNISH FANS MUSTI LEHTONEN (LEFT) AND AMIS LEHTONEN (RIGHT) SAYING: AMIS LEHTONEN: "Incredible" MUSTI LEHTONEN: "It's amazing" AMIS LEHTONEN: "I mean Mans (Zelmerlow) is so professional and Petra (Mede). I think it's the best Eurovision show ever. I think every time Eurovision is in Sweden, it just gets better and better." FAN WITH VIKING HELMET POLICE OFFICERS FANS WALKING TOWARDS TRAIN STATION
- Embargoed: 30th May 2016 02:12
- Keywords: Sweden Ukraine Eurovision winner
- Location: STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
- City: STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
- Country: Sweden
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA0014HS4EVB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Victorious Ukrainian Eurovision Song Contest fans left the Globe arena after a thrilling final in the early hours of Sunday (May 15). Many said they were impressed with Stockholm, which hosted the show.
Ukraine's Jamala struck a surprise gold with her "1944" song featuring lyrics about deportations by the Soviet Union.
Russia came in number three with Australia, which attended the competition for the second time after an invitation from organisers, taking the number two spot.
Bookies had tipped Russia as winner followed by Australia and Ukraine tipped number three.
"What can I say? It was really fantastic and it was amazing and I'm really anxious and really happy now. It was unexpected I would say because we had the second place until the very end of the first part of the points but after the second part, well, we managed to take the first one and it's really fantastic," said Andrii Gavryliuk from Lviv in Ukraine.
Many fans praised the show which was hosted by last year's winner Mans Zelmerlow and comedian Petra Mede.
"The show was great, begin in the stadium, other than watching television was an incredible experience. I've always wanted to do that ever since I saw Bucks Fizz win," said British fan Austin Ruiz.
The organisers expected more than 200 million to tune in - more viewers than the Super Bowl.
And the competition is reaching ever wider outside Europe with this year's final being live broadcast for the first time in the United States and China. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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