Over 160,000 visitors, 1,500 police officers, road closures and security checks, protests against Israel, and a different atmosphere than usual. What happened to Malmö’s famous Eurovision atmosphere in 2024?
Every year, Eurovision manages to infuse host countries with a vibrant and colorful atmosphere, as fans from around the world flood the streets and fill venues with contagious energy. However, in the past year, something changed in Malmö. Although the Swedish city was previously known for its warm and welcoming atmosphere, Eurovision 2024 provided a different experience – less friendly, less relaxed, and much more tense.
As part of the preparations for Eurovision, no less than 1,500 police officers were deployed in Malmö, arriving from all over Sweden and even neighboring countries like Norway and Denmark. Central areas of the city, such as the Malmö Arena complex and Malmö Live, were covered with security fences, and police greeted visitors with strict security checks. Additionally, visitors were required to undergo three security checks upon entering the hall, which affected the experience and left visitors with the impression that they were at an overly secured event.
In June, we reported that at least 2 million euroswere invested in Eurovision security. It has now been revealed that the Eurovision production in Malmö required an initial budget of 30 million Swedish kronor, but due to the exceptional security measures, the municipality had to add an additional 12.8 million kronor. These expenses were intended to provide security measures to prevent any attempt at disruption, but the price was not only financial: “Usually we get great reviews about the atmosphere in the city,” said Karin Karlsson, project manager on behalf of the city of Malmö, “but this year it was different”.
Concerns and Threats Towards Eurovision Workers
It seems that Eurovision in Malmö ran relatively smoothly from a security perspective, despite the harassment and threats towards the Israeli delegation. However, behind the scenes, staff members and service providers also dealt with a challenging environment. Food vendors, for example, experienced threats and even received threatening comments on social media, mainly due to their presence in the protected Eurovision complex. Karin Mårtensson, CEO of Malmö Arena, described the situation: “I’ve worked on many events, but I’ve never encountered such a charged atmosphere and such palpable hatred.”
Protests Against Israel and the Economic Cost
Near Malmö Arena, numerous protests were held against Israel’s participation in the competition. Some visitors reported encountering protesters who tried to persuade them not to enter the complex and even join the protest or express protest inside the hall itself. These sights, combined with the heavy security level, made the Eurovision experience different from anything visitors had been accustomed to until now. Sources in Swedish television even admitted that choosing the city of Malmö was a mistake.
In the end, it seems that the city managed to meet the heavy security challenges and successfully execute a Eurovision without security incidents, albeit at a cost of 42.8 million kronor for event security.
Sweden in Eurovision 2024
“Unforgettable” is the name of the song performed by the duo Marcus & Martinus in the grand final of Eurovision 2024. The duo was chosen to represent Sweden at Eurovision after winning the Swedish national finals, Melodifestivalen. Sweden finished ninth in the final with 174 points.
Source: svt.se
Eurovision 2025: This will be Sweden’s 63rd participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Sweden joined the competition in 1958 and has won it seven times over the years. Sweden’s most recent victory was at Eurovision 2023 with the song “Tattoo,” performed by the singer Loreen.
