- Glamorgan approach Hollywood's Reynolds and McElhenney over Hundred investment
- League Cup still 'significant' for Man Utd boss Ten Hag
- Brazil's farmers fret over fires and drought
- Top Biden aide says US economy at 'turning point'
- US military says withdrawal from Niger is complete
- Bayern set sights on dream home Champions League final
- Toll hits 17 as Storm Boris lashes central Europe
- Hamas chief says ready for 'long war' in Gaza
- Suspect in Trump assassination attempt charged with gun crimes
- Iran's new president vows to ensure morality police don't 'bother' women
- Australia put teenage quick Beardman on standby for England ODIs
- Americans, Swiss snatch lifeline in Louis Vuitton Cup
- Trump blames Biden and Harris 'rhetoric' for assassination bids
- Ex-BBC anchor avoids jail over 'repugnant' images of children
- Brentford forward Wissa out for 'a couple of months'
- Titanic shipbuilder sinks back into trouble
- Where in the world is closest to becoming a '15-minute city'?
- Russia evacuates border villages in Kursk region
- US election in newly volatile territory after Trump alleged assassination bid
- France probes online threats against Afghan taekwondo fighter
- Sinner hires Djokovic's ex-fitness coach after dope test row
- Swifties raise $40k in wake of Trump post hating on star
- Fear and tears as Storm Boris wrecks Czech town
- Penpix of candidates to succeed Bach as IOC President
- Azerbaijan Grand Prix - three things we learned
- AC Milan midfielder Bennacer out for four months
- British politics and fashion collide at London Fashion Week
- French YouTuber hits peak with Everest documentary
- Athletics legend Coe vies with six rivals for IOC presidency
- Bellingham, Tchouameni back for Madrid's Champions League opener
- Stock markets diverge before Fed as China woes weigh
- French jihadist linked to Charlie Hebdo attackers goes on trial
- Bombshell as France's Breton slams door on EU commission
- African players in Europe: Wissa 22-second goal in vain
- Storm Boris unleashes central Europe flooding, toll hits 11
- Man City fight to avoid severe sanctions as 'trial of the century' begins
- UK PM Starmer meets Italy's Meloni for illegal immigration talks
- Van Dijk urges Liverpool to hit back after 'unacceptable' Forest loss
- Ex-BBC anchor Huw Edwards to be sentenced over indecent child images
- France's Breton quits EU Commission in reappointment row
- Violence, threats hang over Trump-Harris race after turbulent weekend
- Sho-what? Japan celebrates little heard-of Emmys winner
- Tito Jackson, member of the Jackson 5, dies at 70
- Hong Kong man faces jail over 'seditious' T-shirt
- EU to name new defence tsar - but is the job a dud?
- Vietnam puts typhoon losses at $1.6 billion
- Europe's EV troubles bubble up at Brussels Audi factory
- Germany expands border controls to curb migrant arrivals
- 'Disappeared completely': melting glaciers worry Central Asia
- Villa return to Champions League primed to ruffle feathers again
RBGPF | 8.3% | 62.16 | $ | |
RYCEF | 0.46% | 6.59 | $ | |
CMSC | -0.32% | 25.03 | $ | |
NGG | 0.93% | 70.25 | $ | |
BCC | -0.56% | 135.1 | $ | |
SCS | 1.78% | 14.04 | $ | |
RIO | 1.03% | 63.2 | $ | |
VOD | 1.6% | 10.335 | $ | |
AZN | 0.94% | 79.015 | $ | |
RELX | 0.8% | 48.095 | $ | |
GSK | 1.18% | 43.525 | $ | |
CMSD | -0.16% | 25.06 | $ | |
BCE | -0.55% | 34.475 | $ | |
JRI | 0.69% | 13.282 | $ | |
BTI | 0.52% | 39.375 | $ | |
BP | 1.32% | 32.265 | $ |
Swiss city of Basel to host Eurovision 2025
Basel will host the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest after the Swiss border city was chosen Friday to stage the 69th edition of the glitzy annual TV extravaganza.
Swiss singer Nemo's 2024 Eurovision victory gave Switzerland the right to host next year's event, with a huge global audience guaranteed.
Right on the borders with France and Germany, Switzerland's third-biggest city was given the nod ahead of Geneva.
The contest will be staged at the St. Jakobshalle indoor arena, with semi-finals set for May 13 and 15, while the final is to take place on May 17.
"Basel's strategic location at the crossroads of Europe makes it the ideal setting for an event that celebrates the power of music to connect people across borders," Eurovision executive supervisor Martin Osterdahl said in a statement.
From its earnest black-and-white 1950s beginnings, Eurovision has ballooned into a colourful giant kitsch celebration that never takes itself too seriously.
The contest puts host cities in the spotlight, with 163 million viewers worldwide watching this year's event in Malmo, Sweden, where Nemo triumphed in May with the highly personal song "The Code".
Hosting also has a knock-on boost for the hotel and tourism industries as Eurovision fanatics, artists and country delegations flock in.
- Football stadium party zone -
Opened in 1976, St. Jakobshalle styles itself as Switzerland's top multi-purpose arena. The venue can hold more than 12,000 spectators.
Fans without golden tickets for the arena will be able to flock to the 40,000-capacity St. Jakob-Park football stadium across the street to watch the final on a giant screen, and see performances by former Eurovision stars.
Meanwhile the Steinenvorstadt district, known for its bars and cinemas, will be transformed into "Eurovision Street".
"It is a great honour for Basel to be able to host the world's biggest live music event!" said Conradin Cramer, president of the Basel city authority.
On the River Rhine, Basel is an international hub for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, hosting the headquarters of Novartis and Roche.
But it also has its cultural side, with several internationally-renowned museums, and the annual Art Basel event, the world's top contemporary art fair.
- Four down to one -
The decision was made by the host broadcaster SRG, and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) public service media alliance which owns Eurovision.
The venue, public transport links, sustainability, hotel accommodation, security, investment, event experience and the support from the city were key factors in the decision.
Following a surge of early enthusiasm from Swiss cities after Nemo's victory, only four formal bids emerged by the end of June deadline.
Zurich, plus Bern in conjunction with Nemo's hometown Biel, were eliminated in mid-July, leaving just Geneva and Basel in play.
The financial demands of hosting Eurovision -- and, from a minor Christian fundamentalist party, fear of the occult -- sparked threats of local referendums that could throw a spanner in the works.
Swiss voters are used to having a direct say on how their taxes are spent, and some were bristling at the potential costs and hassle of bringing the Eurovision circus to town.
Eurovision is a non-profit event, mostly financed by weighted contributions from participating EBU broadcasters.
Eurovision says that "given the benefits that will flow" to host cities, they must make also make a contribution.
The Basel-City authority is looking at putting in 34.9 million Swiss francs ($41.5 million), subject to a vote in the city assembly on September 11.
- Shadow of Celine Dion -
Nemo's victory was only the third time Switzerland had won Eurovision.
Lys Assia won the first-ever contest in 1956 with "Refrain".
Canadian then-starlet Celine Dion triumphed for Switzerland in 1988 singing "Ne partez pas sans moi", launching her career internationally.
Switzerland staged the 1956 contest at the Teatro Kursaal in Lugano and declined to host again in 1957, while the 1989 event was held in the Palais de Beaulieu in Lausanne.
After being staged in the Italian- and then French-speaking regions, Basel will therefore bring Eurovision to the main German-speaking part of Switzerland for the first time.
X.Brito--PC