- Title: Fans ready to party at Eurovision Song Contest final
- Date: 14th May 2016
- Summary: STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN (MAY 14, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EUROVISION FLAGS HUNG ABOVE STREETS OF CITY CENTRE VARIOUS OF EUROVISION COUNTDOWN CLOCK IN CITY CENTRE SQUARE FANS POSING IN FRONT OF COUNTDOWN CLOCK EUROVISION FAN HOLDING SPANISH FLAG JUMPING UP AND DOWN / EUROVISION FAN FROM AUSTRALIA, LARRY LEE, COMING INTO SHOT HOLDING AUSTRALIAN FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROVISION FAN FROM AUSTRALIA, LARRY LEE, SAYING: "First Eurovision, came all the way from Sydney, Australia to support Australia obviously. We're not always in Eurovision, so yes. Stockholm is great, good atmosphere, lots of people, everyone's so friendly. Everyone is just in the party mode." LEE HOLDING FOLDED AUSTRALIAN FLAG SO IT LOOKS LIKE A UNITED KINGDOM FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROVISION FAN FROM AUSTRALIA, LARRY LEE, SAYING: "Australia has been such a big supporter of Eurovision for so long and I think, you know, and also it's great for Eurovision expanding outside of Europe. And I think there's lots of countries who's currently in Eurovision that's not really in Europe anyway so it's just extending it a little bit further." EUROVISION COUNTDOWN CLOCK (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROVISION FAN FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM, MARK FROGGATT, SAYING: "Well, we're from the UK so we're obviously supporting Great Britain. Joe and Jake obviously and yeah, I'm supporting Ukraine as well being part Ukrainian, very excited, we like our chances." (EUROVISION FAN FROM THE UK, DARYN CARTER, SAYING): "And I'm going for Australia and my top tip really is Serbia. They're going to do really well tonight, I think." EUROVISION FANS WITH AUSTRALIAN FLAGS WALKING THROUGH SQUARE (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROVISION FAN FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM, MARK FROGGATT, SAYING: "Obviously our referendum's held a month after Eurovision. I'm concerned that if we don't do that well everyone will decide to vote to leave. But no, that's what I love about Eurovision, is that everyone is coming together and, yeah, I think it's a really positive message." (EUROVISION FAN FROM THE UK, DARYN CARTER, SAYING): "I think that's what it is isn't? The whole reason Eurovision started was to bring countries together, unite them through music and I think, you know, that's still stands and holds today and I think it's really important still." VARIOUS OF EUROVISION FLAGS HUNG ABOVE STREETS OF CITY CENTRE
- Embargoed: 28th May 2016 13:49
- Keywords: fans final Eurovision Song Contest
- Location: STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
- City: STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
- Country: Sweden
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Music
- Reuters ID: LVA0014HS3EIV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Fans of the Eurovision Song Contest gathered in Stockholm were looking forward to the final in the Swedish capital later on Saturday (May 14).
Many stopped to take photographs next to a a Eurovision countdown clock in the city centre ahead of the event to be held at the Ericsson Globe later in the evening.
Australia, who competed for the first time last year after accepting an invitation to participate from organisers, could steal the show with bookies making Dami Im's power ballad "Sound of Silence" second favourite behind the Russian entry.
Larry Lee, who has come all the way from Sydney, said he did not think there was a problem with Australia taking part in a European competition.
"Australia has been such a big supporter of Eurovision for so long and I think, you know, and also it's great for Eurovision expanding outside of Europe. And I think there's lots of countries who's currently in Eurovision that's not really in Europe anyway so it's just extending it a little bit further," he said.
Mark Froggatt from the United Kingdom said he would support his country's offering - Joe and Jake with the song "You're not alone" - but also Ukraine, while his friend Daryn Carter tipped Australian or Serbian to win.
Froggatt said the result could have an impact on the country's European Union referendum in June.
"Obviously our referendum's held a month after Eurovision. I'm concerned that if we don't do that well everyone will decide to vote to leave. But no, that's what I love about Eurovision, is that everyone is coming together and, yeah, I think it's a really positive message," he said.
Eurovision, which was started in the 1950s with the aim of uniting Europe after World War Two, has expanded ever further outside the continent in recent years due to its popularity.
Organisers expect more than 200 million viewers to tune in from Australia and New Zealand to China and the United States, where the final is being broadcast live for the first time in both countries.
The internationalisation of the contest is underlined by the performance of U.S. singer Justin Timberlake who is set to premiere a new song during the final.
Russia, Australia, Ukraine, France and Sweden top the bookmaker's lists.
The final starts at 1900 GMT. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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