The Dutch artist Joost Klein will not be competing in the Grand Final of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

According to a statement released today by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), organisers of the annual event in partnership with around 40 participating broadcasters, the Swedish police have investigated a complaint made by a female member of the production crew after an incident following his performance in Thursday night’s Semi Final in Malmö, the third-largest city in Sweden.

“While the legal process takes its course, it would not be appropriate for him to continue in the contest. We would like to make it clear that, contrary to some media reports and social media speculation, this incident did not involve any other performer or delegation member,” reads the statement.

Klein, a the 26-year-old rapper, had failed to perform at two dress rehearsals on Friday, May 10^th. The Dutch artist was one of the favourite acts to win the Eurovision song contest this year with his track Europapa, a happy-hardcore inspired song.

“We maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards inappropriate behaviour at our event and are committed to providing a safe and secure working environment for all staff at the Contest. In light of this, Joost Klein’s behaviour towards a team member is deemed in breach of Contest rules,” a statement from EBU informed on Saturday, May 11^th, just a few hours ahead of the Eurovision live event.

A popular event in Europe since the 50s, Eurovision had over 162 million people tuned in to watch the three live finals in 2023.

The Grand Final of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest will now proceed with 25 participating songs.

As I’ve watched hashtags multiply on social media in the days leading up to the final of Eurovision 2024 tonight, I can’t help but wonder about the chances of 20-year-old Eden Golan, the singer representing Israel this year, actually winning the song contest. Despite all the boycotts surrounding the country’s entry, could she still emerge victorious and take home the iconic glass microphone?.

Following Loreen‘s victory in Liverpool with the song Tattoo in 2023, this year the 68th edition of Eurovision is taking place in Sweden, with the Grand Final broadcast live from Malmö Arena this Saturday, May 11^th.

However this edition of the Eurovision hasn’t been plain sailing.

There have been several campaigns to block Israel from taking part in this year’s contest following the outbreak of war in the Middle East. In January, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which hosts the event, issued a statement affirming that “the Eurovision Song Contest is a non-political music event and a competition between public service broadcasters who are members of the EBU. It is not a contest between governments”. The official Eurovision website also has a dedicated FAQ section answering frequently asked questions such as “Why is the Israeli entry eligible to compete?”, “Why is Israel still a Member of the EBU when Russia was suspended?,” and “Will there be more security than usual this year, because of the fact the Israel is competing?

On social media, the public has been divided over the past few months on whether Israel should remain a contestant at the Eurovision. But an online campaign on Twitter/X and Instagram to have the country removed from the competition seemed to have attracted more support from accounts with zero followers or in private mode, which could be an indication of bots – automated accounts that are programmed to perfoem certain activities such re-tweeting, liking, following, or replying to content using AI.

Some of those reacting to the presence of Israel at the Eurovision song contest are real citizens, though.

Furkan Gözükara, a PhD Computer Engineer, has shared a footage of the Israel Eurovision entrant, Eden Golan, who was born in Israel to Russian parents, being booed during a dress rehearsal on May 9th.

“This is how Israel is protested inside Eurovision 2024 rightfully and justly If you don’t see booing on TV that is because they remove it with AI,” claims Gözükara.

Los Angeles-based American singer-songwriter and pianist John Ondrasik, shared footage of his interview on Fox Tonight where he asked singers such as Bruce Springsteen and Barbra Streisand to join him in “standing with our fellow artist Eden Golan, a 20 year old Jewish singer, who has to be escorted in armoured caravans, due to the hate and antisemitism of tens of millions”.

It has been reported that Eden Golan was confined to her hotel room, while in Malmo, Sweden’s third largest city, to rehearse and perform at Eurovision,  after a series of threats against the Israeli delegation.

Twenty-six of the 37 entrants will compete in Saturday’s final of the Eurovision.

Why is Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest?

According to the organisers of the Eurovision contest, through their website, the song contest “is open to all members of the European Broadcasting Union which represents broadcasters from right across Europe and the Middle East.

The Israeli public service broadcaster has been a member of the EBU since 1957 and has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest for 50 years”.

Israel was allowed to compete this year after it agreed to modify the lyrics of its entry, a song ballad understood to be a reference the Hamas massacre on 7 October.

How to watch the Eurovision 2024 Grand Final

The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 Grand Final will be broadcast live on Saturday 11 May 2024 at 8pm (BST) on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds.

Swedish comedian Petra Mede will be hosting Eurovision for the third time, alongside Swedish-American actress Malin Åkerman who is making her Eurovision hosting debut in Malmö.

Multi-award winning actor, Joanna Lumley, will be joining the BBC Eurovision family as the United Kingdom’s Eurovision spokesperson, where she will deliver the results of the UK’s National Jury live during the Grand Final on Saturday 11 May.

What is the running order of the 2024 Eurovision Grand Final?

1. Sweden – Marcus & Martinus – Unforgettable

2. Ukraine – alyona alyona & Jerry Heil – Teresa & Maria

3. Germany – ISAAK – Always On The Run

4. Luxembourg – TALI – Fighter

5. Netherlands – Joost Klein – Europapa

6. Israel – Eden Golan – Hurricane

7. Lithuania – Silvester Belt – Luktelk

8. Spain – Nebulossa – ZORRA

9. Estonia – 5MIINUST x Puuluup – (nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi

10. Ireland – Bambie Thug – Doomsday Blue

11. Latvia – Dons – Hollow

12. Greece – Marina Satti – ZARI

13. United Kingdom – Olly Alexander – Dizzy

14. Norway – Gåte – Ulveham

15. Italy – Angelina Mango – La Noia

16. Serbia – TEYA DORA – RAMONDA

17. Finland – Windows95man – No Rules!

18. Portugal – iolanda – Grito

19. Armenia – LADANIVA – Jako

20. Cyprus – Silia Kapsis – Liar

21. Switzerland – Nemo – The Code

22. Slovenia – Raiven – Veronika

23. Croatia – Baby Lasagna – Rim Tim Tagi Dim

24. Georgia – Nutsa Buzaladze – Firefighter

25. France – Slimane – Mon Amour

26. Austria – Kaleen – We Will Rave

Olympic Champions Tom Daley and Jack Laugher are among the first eight divers today confirmed to represent Team GB at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as part of the synchronised diving pairing selections.

Following their World Championship silver medal together in Doha in February, Daley and Noah Williams are selected for the Men’s 10m Synchro. Sixteen years on from his Olympic debut in Beijing, Daley, who will be competing at his fifth Olympic Games, will be looking to defend the Men’s 10m Synchro title he won with Matty Lee back in Tokyo, having previously claimed bronze alongside Daniel Goodfellow at the Rio Games.

In the Women’s 10m Synchro, Lois Toulson, who is heading to her third Olympics, and Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix will combine off the back of historic podium finishes at the last two World Championships, a statistic matched by Women’s 3m Synchro pairing Yasmin Harper, who will be making her Olympic debut and Scarlett Mew-Jensen.

Anthony Harding, who will also be making his Olympic debut in Paris, will partner Rio 2016 Champion Jack Laugher in the Men’s 3m Synchro, the duo having won two World Championship silvers and European and Commonwealth titles over the last two years. Laugher, whose Olympic debut came at London 2012, won this event in Rio with Chris Mears, and like Daley, has also won two individual medals at previous Games.

Team GB Chef de Mission Mark England commented: “Congratulations to the first eight divers selected to Team GB for Paris 2024. All four pairs have proven that they can challenge for podium places on the world stage, and it is fantastic to see the calibre of diving athletes getting stronger and stronger with each Games.

“There is also a fantastic mix of youth and experience within the squad, and I am delighted to welcome Olympic Champions Jack and Tom back to Team GB for a fourth and fifth Games respectively. Congratulations to Tom in particular who becomes the first British diver to compete at five Olympic Games, a remarkable achievement.”

Speaking on the first eight divers selected to this Team GB diving team, Aquatics GB Associate Performance Director Tim Jones said: “We are very pleased to be able to confirm this group of athletes on to the team as we build towards Paris, where we are looking to capitalise on the strong foundations we have created in this Olympic cycle.

“Thanks to the fantastic work of each of these eight athletes, their coaches and the world-class support staff working with them on a daily basis, we put in performances at last year’s World Championships in Fukuoka and this year’s event in Doha that ensured GB will have a full cohort of synchro pairings involved across the programme in Paris – and we know that, on the back of those performances, plus more recent results at top-level international competitions and the work that we see going in day in and day out in training, that each pair will be pushing for podium contention in the summer.

“It is also testament to this programme, and the ongoing support of key stakeholders Team GB, UK Sport and The National Lottery, that this team includes Tom Daley heading to his fifth Olympics, Jack Laugher preparing for his fourth and Lois Toulson gearing up for her third Games – this is impressive longevity in any sport, but particularly one as demanding as diving. Equally, it is always exciting to see athletes building up to their Olympic debut, and we are looking forward to seeing Yasmin Harper and Anthony Harding make those hard-earned bows in Paris.”

Reflecting on the ongoing successes of this group of athletes, Aquatics GB Diving Head Coach Alexei Evangulov added: “At two consecutive World Championships, we have seen our pairs confidently take places on the podium. As well as that, for the first time in our history, our female synchro pairs won World Championship medals in 2023 – and they did so again at the Worlds earlier this year. This success across the pairings has continued at the World Aquatics Diving World Cup series, taking place over the past two months.”

Team GB Synchronised Diving Athletes:

Women’s 3m Synchro
Yasmin Harper (Sheffield Diving Club) & Scarlett Mew Jensen (British Diving Performance Centre London) 

Men’s 3m Synchro
Anthony Harding (British Diving Performance Centre Leeds) and Jack Laugher (British Diving Performance Centre Leeds) 

Women’s 10m Synchro
Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix (British Diving Performance Centre London) & Lois Toulson (British Diving Performance Centre Leeds) 

Men’s 10m Synchro
Tom Daley (British Diving Performance Centre London / UCLA) & Noah Williams (British Diving Performance Centre London)