Eurovision 2024: Switzerland’s Nemo wins the most controversial edition of the song contest

The most controversial edition of Eurovision has come to an end and Switzerland has been crowned the 2024 winner. Here’s what you need to know.

Transcript

00:00Switzerland has won this year's Eurovision Song Contest.

00:08Nemo took the coveted glass microphone with the song The Code, an ode to the singer's

00:13journey towards embracing a non-binary identity.

00:16I want to say thank you so much, I hope this contest can live up to its promise and continue

00:27to stand for peace and dignity for every person in the world.

00:35This year's event was arguably one of the most controversial in the programme's 68-year

00:40history.

00:41Joost Klein, representing the Netherlands, was disqualified on Saturday, accused of making

00:48unlawful threats to a member of the production crew.

00:53Organisers excluded him, citing their zero-tolerance policy towards inappropriate behaviour.

01:00But the decision was not well-received by both fans and the Dutch national broadcaster.

01:05I always had escapism, I was always strapped in.

01:09We find this decision to be out of proportion and we have come up with other solutions to

01:15solve this problem.

01:17We are very disappointed that Joost can't perform there tonight and that millions of

01:24fans in the Netherlands and Europe are disappointed.

01:28There was also opposition to Israel's participation because of the ongoing war in Gaza.

01:34The country's entrant Eden Golan was met with boos and cheers when she performed.

01:39She said it was an honour to represent Israel.

01:43The contest was also marked by mass protests in support of Palestine, with as many as 10,000

01:50said to have taken part, with some demanding Israel be excluded from the show.

01:58It's important to reclaim my humanity and for all of us who are being here to say no

02:05for slaughtering human beings as easily as Netanyahu.

02:11It was all smiles and some tears on stage as Nemo picked up the trophy, Switzerland's

02:17third win overall and first since 1988.