Countries of 2016

[GRE]

I don't see any possibility about this one. EBU clearly said it was one time thing. Why would they do this?

 

[A-lister]

ewwww no new countries only Australia!

And why Australia?? Are they even close to the EBU broadcasting area? Why the special status? I will never understand why EBU should break their own rules for them and not others... atleast let's not be hypocrites...

 

[Romeo]

Sealand should be the 41st country lol

 

[realist]

The fact that everything is about money these days piss me off so much...
I do hope it is not Australia.. It's <<Eurovsion>> not Worldovsion...

 

[GermanBango]

I still don't get why people are bitchin' about Australia taking part. It's not like they steal the spot of someone else....

 

[Milos-BC]

^^ Perhaps because they are not a European country (nor are they even close to Europe) and because there is no reason for them to participate in a European song contest?

 

[A-lister]

I still don't get why people are bitchin' about Australia taking part. It's not like they steal the spot of someone else....

I have no problem with Australia (the country), but the way EBU handle this and bend over their own rules to make a special treatment for a country that is almost as far as possible from the EBU broadcasting area and the general hypocrisy and western/anglo-centrism surrounding this is what's disturbing to say the least, and also if they get a permanent spot it's another blatant lie coming from the EBU.

If we are to create Worldvision out of Eurovision, then let's open the doors to everyone that want to join, atleast it wouldn't be hypocricy.

 

[FilipFromSweden]

Jon Ola Sand says that currently 41 countries are so far confirmed! I suspect Australia is in

 

[FilipFromSweden]

And why Australia?? Are they even close to the EBU broadcasting area? Why the special status? I will never understand why EBU should break their own rules for them and not others... atleast let's not be hypocrites...

We've been over this, they showed big interest in Eurovision without ever expecting to participate

 

[A-lister]

We've been over this, they showed big interest in Eurovision without ever expecting to participate

This is a weak argument, there are countries that are within the EBU broadcasting area that also did but never were invited, there are countries that are in (or partly) in Europe that also did but never got an invite.

So now suddenly rules and promises mean nothing? Where's the credibility in that? Australia is NOT in Europe, not even by far. It's simple logic actually.

 

[A-lister]

Jon Ola Sand says that currently 41 countries are so far confirmed! I suspect Australia is in

Unfortunately I suspect that to, they (EBU) don't care about the "one-time anniversary" promise at all, and they will arrogantly be so proud to announce this not caring only showing their true colors and agenda for ESC. Sad day for ESC.

 

[MyHeartIsYours]

The anti-Aussies have still never explained to me why it is so bad that Australia participates, when in the past we have had A) an African EBU nation participate B) an Asian non-EBU nation participate C) a North American nation participate in a fellow Eurovision contest D) why somebody in Vladivostok should have the right to participate but not somebody in Sydney.

I expect you take down all four of those arguments before I admit that Aussies shouldn't be here

And this time last year it was said that the only reason I supported Aussie participation was because they were going to give the UK 12 points. How many points did they give us? Zero, and I'm still as big a champion of their cause

 

[EscGeek]

B) an Asian non-EBU nation participate

tell me more

 

[A-lister]

The anti-Aussies have still never explained to me why it is so bad that Australia participates, when in the past we have had A) an African EBU nation participate B) an Asian non-EBU nation participate C) a North American nation participate in a fellow Eurovision contest D) why somebody in Vladivostok should have the right to participate but not somebody in Sydney.

I expect you take down all four of those arguments before I admit that Aussies shouldn't be here

A) You answered your own question there: EBU nation, in other words according to the rules. Personally I don't agree with the current rules and think Eurovision should be European only, but atleast that is according to the current rules.

B) Huh?

C) Huh?

D) Because Russia is partly geographically European (bigger and more populated part than all other countries in ESC) and that part is within the EBU area, so you want to cut a country in two half then?

I know you would be happy to turn Eurovision into an English-only Commonwealth Contest, but some of us understand what Europe is and what it's not... and Australia is NOT a part of it, not even the EBU area (which controls the current rules).

 

[FilipFromSweden]

This is a weak argument, there are countries that are within the EBU broadcasting area that also did but never were invited, there are countries that are in (or partly) in Europe that also did but never got an invite.

So now suddenly rules and promises mean nothing? Where's the credibility in that? Australia is NOT in Europe, not even by far. It's simple logic actually.

Your opinion is your opinion and I can't change it.

Your Europe argument should be invalid since a country like Azerbaijan has both won and hosted the contest (Asia!) so the only logical thing that should be bugging you about this is the EBU broadcasting are which really is a rule that EBU made. Shouldn't it then be their right and no one else to decide if they want to break that rule? Also, I wouldn't really call it a rule, more of a requirement. A requirement that wasn't necessary for Australia to take part.

 

[A-lister]

Your opinion is your opinion and I can't change it.

Your Europe argument should be invalid since a country like Azerbaijan has both won and hosted the contest (Asia!) so the only logical thing that should be bugging you about this is the EBU broadcasting are which really is a rule that EBU made. Shouldn't it then be their right and no one else to decide if they want to break that rule? Also, I wouldn't really call it a rule, more of a requirement. A requirement that wasn't necessary for Australia to take part.

Geography lesson: Azerbaijan has a European part and the rest is a direct neighbor to continental Europe.

I don't like the EBU broadcasting rule (or requirement) but it exists for a reason I guess, and I don't see why Australia should have a special treatment here? Then what's even a point to have rules/requirements in the first place if EBU can do as they wish in the end of the day and treat some countries as more worthy (western, English speakers) than others?

 

[MyHeartIsYours]

tell me more

Armenia began participation in 2006, it didn't join the EBU until 2007.

A) You answered your own question there: EBU nation, in other words according to the rules. Personally I don't agree with the current rules and think Eurovision should be European only, but atleast that is according to the current rules.

B) Huh?

C) Huh?

D) Because Russia is partly geographically European (bigger and more populated part than all other countries in ESC) and that part is within the EBU area, so you want to cut a country in two half then?

I know you would be happy to turn Eurovision into an English-only Commonwealth Contest, but some of us understand what Europe is and what it's not... and Australia is NOT a part of it, not even the EBU area (which controls the current rules).

A) was to point out that Eurovision participation is nothing to do with being located in Europe, and Australia is far more European than many regular Eurovision participants.

B) Armenia

C) Canada participated in a Eurovision contest back in the 1980's.

D) I agree that part of Russia is European, but the point is if people living in a city just over the sea from Japan can vote and participate in Eurovision, why shouldn't people in Sydney?

I do not want Eurovision to be an English only Commonwealth Contest lol - I would dearly love for us to create a separate contest for that. But I am open to expanding Eurovision, and like it or not, Australia is European in all but geographical location. I said last year that non-European nations which are culturally European should be able to join a European contest, and that is still my view. It just so happens that the four countries which fit this category are English-speaking, but if for instance Quebec ever became independent, that would be a fifth, and French-speaking, country. For me it's nothing to do with English or whatever, it's all about culture.

 

[A-lister]

Armenia began participation in 2006, it didn't join the EBU until 2007.


A) was to point out that Eurovision participation is nothing to do with being located in Europe, and Australia is far more European than many regular Eurovision participants.

B) Armenia

C) Canada participated in a Eurovision contest back in the 1980's.

D) I agree that part of Russia is European, but the point is if people living in a city just over the sea from Japan can vote and participate in Eurovision, why shouldn't people in Sydney?

I do not want Eurovision to be an English only Commonwealth Contest lol - I would dearly love for us to create a separate contest for that. But I am open to expanding Eurovision, and like it or not, Australia is European in all but geographical location. I said last year that non-European nations which are culturally European should be able to join a European contest, and that is still my view. It just so happens that the four countries which fit this category are English-speaking, but if for instance Quebec ever became independent, that would be a fifth, and French-speaking, country. For me it's nothing to do with English or whatever, it's all about culture.

A) Western/Anglo-Saxic culture is NOT the only part of Europe, this comment is just ignorant.

B) Ok, let's say Armenia (atleast it's next to Europe unlike Australia). If we argue culture etc, Armenia is Europe though (since this seem to be your measurement for participation).

C) Canada never participated in Eurovision Song Contest and we are discussing this contest (not some flop contests no one really care about).

D) Duh, Australia is not in Europe what-so-ever, not even close, and not even close to the EBU area, so I don't really get your Russian argument since Russia is a European country and Australia is not (we can't really divide a country just for the sake of Eurovision can we?).

And you are to decide what is European and not? With your logic all former colonies of every European should take part, atleast the ones that are still "European" enough but then again does European in your opinion mean only "Western/Anglo-Saxic"? Because as far as Hispanic culture goes (= European) then we should allow whole Latin America aswell... in the end we would have a difficult task because someone should have to measure and "define" how "European" a country can be considered, and again Europe is not just Western Europe or the Anglo-Saxic culture (as you seem to think).

 

[EscGeek]

Armenia began participation in 2006, it didn't join the EBU until 2007.

Armenia joined in 2005...you were thinking about Azerbaijan

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Broadcasting_Union

 

[Yazy]

This is what I had in mind.

I woudn´t mind a non european country each year, as long as they are classified somehow (you know, like "The rest of the world" in OGAE competitions).

So, for example, each year we could have another non european country entering as "Rest of the world". This year we had Australia, next year some other country goes instead of Australia and so on...

But it can never be more than one per year! That would be the main rule!