- Title: Countdown to a Eurovision like no other
- Date: 21st May 2021
- Summary: ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS (MAY 19, 2021) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) WIWI BLOGGS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, WILLIAM LEE ADAMS, SAYING: "Malta, Destiny Chukunyere. This is a beautiful story of celebrating diversity. Her father's from Nigeria. Her mother's from Malta. She's a Maltese star. She sings about empowering women and saying, No, I don't want you to buy me a drink and no, I don't want your money. Please leave me alone. She calls on ladies to have body confidence. She's actually faced a lot of harassment this week on social media, in regular media, with people questioning her outfit, saying it's not appropriate for her shape. And last night at the press conference, she stood up and said, this song is my story. It's about being who you are, celebrating what you are. And I'm going to keep doing that no matter what people say."
- Embargoed: 4th June 2021 19:02
- Keywords: ESC 2021 Eurovision song contest fans music show
- Location: VARIOUS LOCATIONS
- City: VARIOUS LOCATIONS
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Europe,Music
- Reuters ID: LVA00EEE1L36H
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Fans all over the world were counting down the hours on Saturday (May 22) ahead of the Eurovision song contest grand final.
The Netherlands is hosting the 65th edition after Dutch singer-songwriter Duncan Laurence won the 2019 contest in Tel Aviv. Last year's event was cancelled due to the pandemic.
All 39 participating countries and their delegations are tested before they entering the venue. Some 3,000 fans can attend through the Dutch trial scheme for events during the pandemic. They have to show a negative coronavirus test.
Iceland's Eurovision entry, band Dadi og Gagnamagnid, has pulled out of the live event this weekend after a member of the group tested positive for COVID-19, although their song remains in the competition.
The band was one of the top five favourites to win this year's contest held in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam according to bookmakers.
Italy, France and Malta now top the bookmakers' odds as most likely to win the 2021 crown - but the ultimate winner will be decided by international votes and an expert jury.
(Production: Tara Oakes, Johnny Cotton, Bart Biesemans) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
