What it's like to go to Eurovision

By Natasha Rudra
Updated April 23 2018 - 11:32pm, first published May 24 2015 - 3:08pm

In a darkened football stadium in Oslo, preparations for the Eurovision Song Contest are well underfoot. For the past 90 minutes, performers in full tan and sequins have vamped and danced to a mostly empty arena, practicing for tonight's semifinal, which will broadcast to millions around the world. Host Nadia Hasnaoui, in a long ruby gown, tells the camera that fans have come to the contest from all over the world. "Are there any fans from Ireland?" she asks the imaginary crowd - there's no one here except for the production staff and an army of bloggers and national media. They manage a perfunctory cheer. Nadia smiles and sweeps her hand round. "We even have two fans from Australia here!" she announces.

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