EU jumps on the (bleached and sequined) Eurovision bandwagon
Crack out the fake tan and plug in the crimping iron, the Eurovision Song Contest is on again, this time coming to you
from the glitzy Ukrainian capital, Kiev. Yet half a world away in Australia, hordes of Eurovision devotees will also be
cheering on their favourite acts at a host of public and private party screenings.
With Aussie fans of Europe’s kitsch night of nights cracking out the champers (French of course) and crowding around the
TV come this Sunday night, the European Union’s representation to Australia is giving away a pile of ‘Eurovision Party
Packs’ via a competition on SBS’ official Eurovision website.
Chock full of all sorts of kitschaphrenalia, from soccer balls, fake tattoos, plastic watches and blue and yellow
balloons, the packs even have a set of swanky EU beer coasters, perfect for that mid-screening glass of $5 Lambrusco.
The party packs, donated by the Delegation of the European Commission to Australia and New Zealand, will also be given
out as prizes at public Eurovision parties in Brisbane, Melbourne and Canberra.
The Eurovision Song Contest grand finale, which screens on SBS at 7.30pm on Sunday 22 May, will be beamed onto big
screens at Brisbane’s Palace Centro Cinema, Melbourne’s Bar Open in Brunswick and at the Belconnen Labor Club in
Canberra – which will also feature a special performance by a local ABBA choir (the Swedish songsters are Eurovision
alumni)
The pan-European feast of sequins and song has achieved cult status in Australia, with huge audiences around the country
tuning in to SBS’ delayed coverage each year.
To enter the SBS-European Commission Delegation ‘Eurovision Party Pack’ competition, go to –http://www.sbs.com.au/eurovision/index.php3?a=play