Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I'm Steve Myersco.
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And I'm Liz Waid. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
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Today's Spotlight is on Eurovision. This international song contest is mainly for fun. But it also has another important purpose. It is a way for the countries in the EBU to celebrate and learn about each other.
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It was the 1950s. Countries around the world were recovering and rebuilding after World War II. The fighting in this long war had left many places in Europe in ruins.
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The European Broadcasting Union was a new group for broadcasting organizations. Broadcasters from countries around Europe and the Mediterranean were a part of it. The EBU's goal was to help national broadcasters work together more closely. At an EBU meeting in 1955, a French worker, Marcel Benzen?on, suggested an idea. His idea would bring the people of the countries in the EBU together in a very interesting way.
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Mr. Benzen?on suggested a song competition. Any country that was part of the European Broadcasting Union could enter the competition. The EBU would broadcast the competition to every country in the EBU at the same time. People from each represented country would vote for a winner.
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Today this competition is one of the most watched non-sports events in the world. Between one hundred million [100,000,000] and six hundred million [600,000,000] people watch it every year. It is one of the longest running television programs. Many people know it by the name "Eurovision."
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The very first Eurovision contest took place in Lugano, Switzerland on May twenty-four [24], 1956. Only seven countries entered songs in the contest. Each of them entered two songs to be judged. This is the only time that countries were permitted to enter two songs into the contest. Beginning in 1957, countries could only enter one song in Eurovision. The winner of this very first Eurovision was Switzerland.
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Today, fifty-one [51] countries in the EBU have entered Eurovision at least one time. The EBU has broadcast the contest every year since 1956. And since the year 2000, people have been able to also watch Eurovision through the internet! Every country that has entered the contest has won the contest at least one time. That is, except the country of Portugal. Who has the most Eurovision wins? It is Ireland with seven wins!
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Any member country of the EBU can enter a song in this huge event. The country chooses a song and singer to represent it. Then, the singer performs the song on live television - it is not recorded before. So, everyone watching the contest sees the song performed at the same time. After all the songs have been performed, then voting begins.
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Many people take part in Eurovision - by watching and performing! It is very popular. So there are many rules that govern what people can and cannot do in the competition. Some rules are very basic. For example, each country can only enter one song in the competition. The song must also be a newer song - it cannot already be popular in many places.
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Rules govern performances too. For example, since 1971 only six performers can be on the performing stage at one time. And since 1990, all people on the stage must be sixteen [16] years old or older. All singing in Eurovision must be live. Performers cannot sing with recorded voices. And each country cannot vote for its own performer. For example, people in France cannot vote for the French song entry.
Voice 1
But the rules have changed many times over the years! That is because the world is also changing. The rules have changed to reflect new situations, and new needs. One rule governed the language people could sing in. When the competition began, performers could sing their song in any language. But in 1966, that rule changed. Officials ruled that performers had to sing in one of the official languages of their country. In 1973 that rule changed again! Performers could again sing in any language they wanted. But in 1977, the rule changed again.
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Since 1999, performers can sing in any language they want to - even if it is an imaginary or false language! In 2003, the country of Belgium entered a song called Sanomi. The whole song was sung in a false language! Other countries have also performed in false languages since that time.
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Voting is another Eurovision process that is continually changing. There are many votes to count in Eurovision. The system is very complex. Currently, each country gives a set of points to other songs in the competition. The highest amount of points is twelve. This goes to the country's favourite performance. The country with the most points wins! The winning country does not earn an amount of money. Only rarely does it earn a statue or trophy. Instead, this country hosts the Eurovision contest the next year. It is a great honor.
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Eurovision is an important event for the people who take part in it. Many times, voting causes big debates or disagreements. Countries may disagree with the winner. But it is a great way for countries to show others the gifted performers in their country. It is also a way to encourage people to visit their country.
Voice 1
Eurovision is about more than just rules to follow and complex voting systems. It is about fun! Many of the performers create huge and beautiful performance areas. Performers wear colorful and fun clothes. Their music is full of passion and feeling. As they perform they dance or perform other physical acts - like ice skating. It is fun for all the people to watch and listen to. Everyone can find something fun to see in Eurovision.
Voice 2
It is also a way for the member countries to come together. Even through disagreements, the people come together to compete and have fun. They come to represent their countries and enjoy each other. Today, through the internet, people all over the world can take part in this event. So, will you watch Eurovision this year?
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