Eurovision Song Contest week kicks off with sunny parade

AFP | Basel

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The Eurovision Song Contest burst into Basel on Sunday with a sun-drenched parade -- mixed with protests over Israel’s participation -- kicking off a week of revelry building up to the grand final.

The Swiss city is putting on the glitter as it hosts the 69th edition of the world’s biggest annual live televised music event, reaching around 160 million viewers.

While Europop beats, dramatic staging and earworm choruses dominate on stage, the geopolitical backdrop always looms large, with a demonstration taking place against Israel’s participation as it ramps up its war in Gaza.

As the parade began outside Basel’s iconic 500-year-old city hall, around a dozen Palestinian flags were being waved in the crowd, one affixed above a Pride flag, alongside a banner reading: “Israel: open Gaza’s borders. Let aid in”.

‘Heart of Europe’

Eurovision celebrates kitsch and plenty of dazzling outfits were on show as the 37 competing countries’ entrants took their place in the parade.

Switzerland hosted the inaugural Eurovision Song Contest in 1956, then staged it for a second time in 1989.

Basel is located right on the border with France and Germany.

“The moment we have eagerly awaited is finally here. The stage is ready. Excitement fills the air and the entire city is buzzing with a unique and vibrant energy,” said Conradin Cramer, president of the Basel City canton.

“The ESC is the most groundbreaking Swiss invention, after the pocket knife, the zipper and bircher muesli.”