Swiss rapper Nemo wins 2024 Eurovision Song Contest
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Swiss singer Nemo on Sunday called for tolerance and peace after winning the 68th Eurovision Song Contest with The Code.
The entry – a drum-and-bass, opera, rap and rock tune – received 591 votes and propelled the 24-year into Eurovision legend as the first non-binary winner of the title.
"Performing a song where I speak about my story, having touched so many people and maybe inspired people to stay true to themselves, is the most insane thing that has ever happened to me," said Nemo.
“We need to talk with each other and I hope tonight can be a way of remembering that.”
They are the country's third winner after Céline Dion in 1988 and Lys Assia who won the first competition in 1956.
Second place went to Croatia, with Baby Lasagna and his song Rim Tim Tagi Dim scoring 547 points. Ukraine's entry – Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil singing Teresa & Maria – harversted 453 points. The French singer Slimane came fourth.
Controversy
Less than 12 hours before the start of the event at the Malmo Arena, the European Broadcast Union – which organises the competition – ejected the Dutch entrant Joost Klein after Swedish police launched an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour following rehearsals on Thursday night.
After Klein's exclusion, the Dutch broadcaster Avrotros, denounced the decision.
"We stand for good manners, let there be no misunderstanding about that," said an Avrotros statement.
"But in our view an exclusion measure is disproportionate to this incident.
The broadcaster said later it would not hand out points to the other contestants.
Read more on RFI English
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