- Title: "Big 5" nations look ahead to the Eurovision grand final
- Date: 12th May 2017
- Summary: KIEV, UKRAINE (MAY 12, 2017) (REUTERS) NEWS CONFERENCE BY FRANCE, GERMANY, ITALY, SPAIN AND GREAT BRITAIN ENTRANTS POSTER (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALY ENTRANT, FRANCESCO GABBANI, SAYING (ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL TRANSLATION): "Without any offence, but it has been the biggest pressure for me that I have been asked this question (about being favourite) zillions of times. But beside that, I want to be very honest about this - you embrace this experience of Eurovision with the aim of living a great adventure and not necessarily thinking of the first or second place." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) GERMANY ENTRANT, LEVI, SAYING (TOLD THAT SHE IS MOVING HIGHER IN LIST OF FAVOURITES): "I kind of didn't want to put pressure on myself. I wanted to focus just on my performance, but obviously, it makes me happy to hear that. I am not sure what exactly it is, but it seems to be something that people like. So obviously, it makes me very happy, but I am still trying to not stress because of this and just, you know, focus on the performance and do my best in the final." REPORTER ASKING QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) FRANCE ENTRANT, ALMA, SAYING: "Sunday is going to be a whole new world for us, I think, because we've been preparing for this - I don't know for you guys - but for now three months every day and we eat Eurovision, we sleep Eurovision. So what's coming next - I know I have an album to come out." CAMERAMAN (SOUNDBITE) (English) SPAIN ENTRANT, MANEL NAVARRO, SAYING: "I was in the first semi-final in the green room watching my friends, enjoying the show and I was able to see their faces and I was feeling lucky not to be there because, you know, they were really nervous." REPORTERS AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) GREAT BRITAIN ENTRANT, LUCIE JONES, SAYING: "I would have freaked out. I think I would have been very, very nervous. It's amazing how when you do these things and all of the acts that were through the semi-finals, we've made friends with those guys and it's really tough to watch them, you know, feel, like, down and go home." REPORTERS APPLAUDING
- Embargoed: 26th May 2017 19:39
- Keywords: Germany France United Kingdom Spain Italy big five countries finalists Eurovision Song Contest
- Location: KIEV, UKRAINE
- City: KIEV, UKRAINE
- Country: Ukraine
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Music
- Reuters ID: LVA0016GJB5MH
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The "Big 5" nations consisting of Germany, Spain, France, Italy and Great Britain were hopeful on Friday (May 12) ahead of the glitzy Eurovision final in Kiev.
Following a dress rehearsal earlier in the day, the contestants held a joint news conference, voicing their excitement for the grand finale where they will compete for the jewel in the crown of European pop.
The so-called Big 5 countries and hosts Ukraine qualified for the final automatically and did not compete in the semi-finals.
Bookies have predicted Italy to come at the top of the victory list, with an 11/8 odds.
Italian artist Francesco Gabbani said he was feeling the pressure from ongoing speculation about where he would come in the final.
"It has been the biggest pressure for me that I have been asked this question (about being favourite) zillions of times. But beside that, I want to be very honest about this - you embrace this experience of Eurovision with the aim of living a great adventure and not necessarily thinking of the first or second place."
Germany's Levi said she was pleased to hear that she was moving up in the list of favourites.
"Obviously, it makes me happy to hear that," she said. "But I am still trying to not stress because of this and just, you know, focus on the performance and do my best in the final," Levi added.
British contestant Lucie Jones said it was hard to see her friends competing from other countries fail to make it through to the grand final.
"All of the acts that were through the semi-finals, we've made friends with those guys and it's really tough to watch them, you know, feel, like, down and go home."
Eurovision organisers expect more than 204 million viewers to tune in on Saturday (May 13) night when the final is broadcast live. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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