Ebu announced last week that there was no vote on Israel’s participation in the competition.
Charlie McGettigan and Paul Harrington won Eurovision in 1994. PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo
Charlie McGettigan, who won Eurovision in 1994 representing Ireland, says he will give up his prize as soon as he finds it. McGettigan is handing back his trophy in protest of the European broadcaster Ebu allowing Israel to continue participating in the competition.
Tells about it Irish Independent.
McGettigan says Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign account By sharing a video on Instagram that he received a message from the 2024 winner Nemo. Nemo said he was giving up the prize in protest of Israel’s participation in the 2026 visas.
– He seemed like a sincere and very intelligent person and presented his case well. Therefore, to support Nemo, I would also like to return my award to Ebu, McGettigan says in the video.
– Unfortunately, our victory was in 1994, and I can’t find the award we received then, but if I find it, I will also return my award. Thank you for listening.
McGettigan won five in 1994 with Paul Harrington on the song Rock ‘n’ Roll Kids.
Switzerland’s five-a-side winner Nemo said yesterday that he will give up his award. Nemo said that he is grateful for everything that the wisdom experience has taught him, but does not feel that the award belongs on his shelf anymore.
– Eurovision says it stands behind everyone’s unity, inclusiveness and dignity. Those values made this competition meaningful to me, Nemo wrote
– But the fact that Israel continues to participate at the same time that the UN has stated that genocide is taking place shows a clear contradiction between these ideals and the decisions made by Ebu.
So Nemo sent his prize back to Ebu’s headquarters in Geneva.
Switzerland’s five-a-side winner Nemo announced on Thursday that he would give up his trophy. PDO
European broadcaster Ebu announced last week that it did not hold a vote on Israel’s participation in the visas. So Israel will participate in next spring’s competition.
So far, five countries have announced that they will boycott the Games next year. They include Iceland, Ireland, Slovenia, the Netherlands and Spain, which is one of the major funding countries.
Yle has announced that it is preparing to participate in visas next year. Yle’s management team has set conditions for Finland’s participation in visas. The terms do not mention Israel.
The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Vienna, Austria.