MALMÖ, Sweden (CN) — The Swedish city of Malmö buzzed with energy Thursday as it prepared to host the second semifinal in the 68th Eurovision Song Contest — a music event that brings together participants and spectacular stage shows from some 37 different countries.
Locals and visitors flocked to the Eurovision Village in Malmö’s old folk park to enjoy concerts, food and drinks and later a big communal live show screening. However, some just stopped by before moving on to the big arena in suburban Hyllie, where the ticketed show takes place.
Eurovision fans and drag queens Aresty and Coco del Mar stood outside the entrance, where they flashed their traditional festive dresses from the Netherlands. Both are ready to cheer for their Dutch home country at the live show tonight at in Malmö Arena.
“We are very excited. It is such a big party. And our expectations are sky high that Holland can win this year,” they said.
Both were in Malmö 11 years ago in 2013, when the city hosted and Swedish artist Loreen had won with her smash hit “Euphoria” a year prior. Loreen secured another victory for Sweden in 2023 with the song "Tattoo."
The Dutch delegation noted, however, that the party mood seemed a bit more muted now.
Frida Hansson, one of the roughly 500 locals who signed up as volunteers in the Eurovision week, said it is not surprising that the celebrative vibe is somewhat more low-key this year.
“Security is up, and we have seen a lot of protests. People have probably been a bit worried, but it has nonetheless been very calm and respectful with police officers and guards creating a very safe environment,” she said.
Hansson referred to the ongoing pro-Palestinian protests on the situation in Gaza.
Demonstrations over the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza were expected to culminate Thursday ahead of Israeli singer Eden Golan's performance of the entry “Hurricane” in the second semifinals. The protests grew in Malmö’s big central square (Stortoget), where thousands of people from especially Sweden and Denmark gathered to demand a boycott of Israel in the Eurovision and an end to the casualties and attacks in Gaza.
While smoke in the Palestinian flag’s red, green, black and white colors spread over the crowd, someone shouted from the stage that “either Israel leaves the Eurovision, or the Eurovision leaves Malmö."
“I came to help open the eyes of world — both Sweden and the U.S.,” said Jenny Oberg, a Swede who came all the way from Stockholm on a bus for “Palestinian friends” to join the pre-Eurovision demonstrations.
"It is not OK for Israel to participate in a contest, when they have killed over 40,000 people, many of them children," Oberg said. When pressed on whether a cultural and musical competition should include all countries regardless of any ongoing conflicts or political clashes, she answered: “Russia was banned. And Israel has killed more people.”
Malmö has prepared for the Eurovision and arrival of 100,000 visitors for weeks, bringing in extra security and police staff from all over Sweden. They are visible almost everywhere on the streets, and there are no bags or belongings allowed in the Eurovision Village.
Large police vans surrounded the protests, though no violent clashes or known security issues have occurred despite the fact that protesters have come very close to the Eurovision party zone flanked by the slogan “United by music."
Meanwhile, supporters of Israel held a small counter-demonstration in central Malmö on Thursday, where they reportedly waved Israeli flags and played quiet music.
“Malmö has tried to balance protests and celebrations, so that everyone can speak their voice, while avoiding tension between groups," Hansson, the volunteer, said.
After Thursday’s semifinal, 26 contestants move on to the finals Saturday evening.
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