The Austrian ambassador, Dr Brigitta Blaha, hosted a large-screen TV-viewing in connection with the spectacular Eurovision Song Contest taking place in Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna on Friday night.

The embassy had prepared itself well for the occasion, making it possible for the guests to watch the event live on a large screen in the garden, applauding their favourite melodies in the friendly competition. It was a festive and fun event.

Eurovision is a unique event, including 40 participating countries, mostly part of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), competing for the gold medal in popular music every year since 1956. This year, the 60th time, Australia has also been invited as a guest country.

The progamme is one of the longest running radio and TV programmes in the world, attracting several hundred million viewers worldwide for the semi-finals and the final.

The event is hosted by the country that won the previous year, notably in 2014, when Conchita Wurst, took home the gold medal, and this year being one of the presenters.

“The official slogan selected for the event is ‘building bridges’. That is important in our time and I believe that cultural exchange and cooperation should be expanded,” says Ambassador Blaha.

“And regarding the viewing at the embassy, yes, it is not only for sports events that we can have such gatherings, when football or cricket teams play. We can also do it when the finals in song and music contests take place,” smiles the ambassador.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2015

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