Participants ‘Songfestival’ are no longer allowed to wave with rainbow flags
At the Songfestival, spectators and artists often wave flags. – © Ebu
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), organizer of the Eurovision Song Contesthas revised its flag policy. It has been decided that artists are only allowed to wave national flags.
No more rainbow or other pride flag in the picture when candidates appear on stage of the Eurovision Song Contest. Or when they are filmed in the Green Room during the scoring.
That is stated in the new regulations, which will immediately go to the next edition of the Songfestival. That starts on Tuesday 13 May, in Basel, Switzerland. If participating artists still violate the rules, it can have consequences. However, what sanctions are concerned is not clear.
Nemo won in 2024 with ‘The Code’ – © AFP
However, there are looser rules outside the stage. Then people can wave with all possible flags, as long as they fall within Swiss legislation. Those who are in the room as a spectator can therefore use a pride flag.
The decision comes after a number of complaints about last year’s edition in Malmö in Sweden. Some spectators were angry at the time because they had to hand over European flags and Pride flags at the entrance. Nemo, who with the song The Code Last year the competition won, smuggled a non-binary Pride flag on stage.
(Tove)
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