Hundreds of photos from the Eurovision Song Contest made available for free on Wikipedia

ESC2014_-_Austria_02_conchita_wurst

The Eurovision Song Contest is one of the largest international TV events with an estimated 125 million viewers annually in 56 countries. In spite of this, there are very few photos from the contest available for free use on for example Wikipedia.

To show the Wikipedia community that it was possible to cover a major event and share quality images for common use, Swedish photographer Albin Olsson took advantage of the fact that last year’s final took place in his home country Sweden. He uploaded 870 images and videos from the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 with a Creative Commons license to Wikimedia.

This year as the Eurovision was hosted in Copenhagen, Denmark, Olsson continued and extended his project. He spent two weeks prior to the event covering press conferences and rehearsals. There are now more than 900 photos and video files uploaded to Wikimedia by Olsson, free for usage under a CC-BY-SA-3.0 license.

Find all photos taken by Albin Olsson during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 here.

Footnote: Image of winner Conchita Wurst above by Albin Olsson (Own work) CC-BY-SA-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Via @ernstpoulsen

Follow the Eurovision on social media

The first of two semi finals of the Eurovision Song Contest takes place tonight in Copenhagen, Denmark. New this year is the ambition to bring the participants closer to the audience via social media.

The Social Green Room
Social media has become increasingly important as the place to read and share opinions about the contest. So to make it even easier to find live reporting from the participating countries, the Danish public service television channel DR has created a Social Green Room that collects updates from the artists official Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts. You can either follow a stream of updates or select updates from one country.

Official Eurovision social media channels:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EurovisionSongContest

Instagram: http://instagram.com/eurovision

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Eurovision and https://twitter.com/eurovisionpress

Twitter hashtags: #eurovision #esc2014

eurovision-ticktock

Like in recent years, some artists are promoting hashtags of their own, like the Ukraine’s #ticktock. You can also use the country code for each country as a hashtag, like #SWE for Sweden and #DEN for Denmark. A list of country codes can be found here.

Follow the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in social media – semi final 1

Tonight is the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Malmö, Sweden. The contest is sure to spark an enormous amount of activity in social media and below you can find an extensive list of official Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, MySpace, Instagram accounts and more. Don’t forget to vote and tweet your support for your favourite songs.

Official Eurovision social media channels:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EurovisionSongContest

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Eurovision and https://twitter.com/eurovisionpress

Twitter hashtags: #eurovision #esc2013

Google+: https://plus.google.com/104761602082790242480

Instagram: https://instagram.com/eurovision

 

Participating countries, semi-final 1.

1. Austria

Artist: Natália Kelly

Song: Shine

hashtag #AUT #eurovision #esc2013

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/escaustriaat

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nkellymusic

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NKellyMusic

 

2. Estonia

Artist: Birgit

Song: Et Uus Saaks Alguse

hashtag #EST #eurovision #esc2013

Web: http://www.birgit.ee/

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/BirgitOfficial

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BirgitOigemeel

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/birgit.oigemeel.official

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/birgitoigemeel

 

3. Slovenia

Artist: Hannah

Song: Straight Into Love

hashtag #SLO #eurovision #esc2013

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/escslovenia

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HannahESC2013

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HannahEurovision

 

4. Croatia

Artist: Klapa s mora

Song: Mižerja

hashtag #CRO #eurovision #esc2013

Web: http://www.hrt.hr/eurosong/

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/HRTnovimediji

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZabavniHTV

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eurovision-Song-Contest-Croatia-HRT/102329896604210

 

 

5. Denmark

Artist: Emmelie de Forest

Song: Only Teardrops

hashtag #DEN #eurovision #esc2013 #voteteardrops

Web: http://deforest.dk/

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/drmelodigrandprix

Twitter: https://twitter.com/emmeliedeforest

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dkemmeliedeforest

Instagram: http://instagram.com/emmeliedeforest

 

6. Russia

Artist: Dina Garipova

Song: What If

hashtag #RUS #eurovision #esc2013

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/dinagaripova

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DinaGaripova

Facebook: https://facebook.com/DinaGaripova.Official

 

7. Ukraine

Artist: Zlata Ognevich

Song: Gravity

hashtag #UKR #eurovision #esc2013

Web: http://www.zlatao.com/

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/MrFantasticmaria

Twitter: https://twitter.com/zlata_ognevich

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Z.Ognevich

 

8. The Netherlands

Artist: Anouk

Song: Birds

hashtag #NED #eurovision #esc2013

Web: http://www.anouk.com/

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/anouktv

Twitter: https://twitter.com/anouk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anouk

Instagram: http://instagram.com/anouk_goldilox

 

9. Montenegro

Artist: Who See

Song: Igranka

hashtag #MNE #eurovision #esc2013

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Who-See/60576829852

 

10. Lithuania

Artist: Andrius Pojavis

Song: Something

hashtag #LTU #eurovision #esc2013

Web: http://www.andriuspojavis.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/kontaktopiloto

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndriusPojavis

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lrt.lt

 

11. Belarus

Artist: Alyona Lanskaya

Song: Solayoh

hashtag #BLR #eurovision #esc2013

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/LanskayaOfficial

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlyonaLanskaya

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alyona-Lanskaya/129439653869784

 

12. Moldova

Artist: Aliona Moon

Song: O Mie

hashtag #MDA #eurovision #esc2013

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PashaParfeny

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlionaMoon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moonaliona

 

 

13. Ireland

Artist: Ryan Dolan

Song: Only Love Survives

hashtag #IRL #eurovision #esc2012

Web: http://ryandolanofficial.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ryandolanmusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ryandolansmusic

Instagram: http://instagram.com/ryandolanmusic

 

14. Cyprus

Artist: Despina Olympiou

Song: An Me Thimasai

hashtag #CYP #eurovision #esc2013

Web: http://www.despinaolympiou.com/

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/DespinaOlympiouEsc

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DespinaOlympiou

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DespinaOlympiouESC2013

 

15. Belgium

Artist: Roberto Bellarosa

Song: Love Kills

hashtag #BEL #eurovision #esc2013

Web: http://www.robertobellarosa.be/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Robertobella01

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RobertoBellarosaOfficiel

 

16. Serbia

Artist: Moje 3

Song: Ljubav Je Svuda

hashtag #SRB #eurovision #esc2013

Web: http://www.despinaolympiou.com/

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/RDURTS

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RDURTS

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/BEOSONG-2013-Serbia/291432997643729

 

The social media guide to Eurovision Song Contest 2012 – semi-final 2

Tonight is the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan. To follow the different entries and their updates in social networks, see the list below. It is an extensive list of official Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, MySpace accounts and more. This list is even more complete than the links on the official Eurovison site. Have fun and may the best songs win.

Social media guide to Eurovision Song Contest 2012 Semi-Final (1)

Official Eurovision social media channels:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EurovisionSongContest

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Eurovision and https://twitter.com/#!/eurovisionpress
Twitter hashtags: #eurovision #esc2012

Advert: Get your £20 Free Bet today! Place a bet on Eurovision 2012 at Unibet.


 

Participating countries, semi-final 2.

1. Serbia

Artist: Željko Joksimović

Song: Nije Ljubav Stvar

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/ZZeljko

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rts.zeljkojoksimovic

Web: http://www.zeljkojoksimovic.com/

 

2. F.Y.R. Macedonia

Artist: Kaliopi

Song: Crno I Belo

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/KMPKaliopi

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kaliopi/11489283394

Web: http://www.kaliopi.com.mk/

 

3. The Netherlands

Artist: Joan Franka

Song: You And Me

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/JoanFranka

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoanFrankaOfficial

Web: http://www.joanfranka.com

 

4. Malta

Artist: Kurt Calleja

Song: This Is The Night

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Kurtcalleja

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kurtcallejaofficial

Web: http://kurtcalleja.com/

 

5. Belarus

Artist: Litesound

Song: We Are The Heroes

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/litesoundband

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/litesoundband

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/litesoundmusic

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/litesound

 

6. Portugal

Artist: Filipa Sousa

Song: Vida Minha

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FilipaSousaCantora

Web: http://filipasousa.com/en

 

7. Ukraine

Artist: Gaitana

Song: Be My Guest

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/lavinamusic

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/gaitana

Facebook: http://kull.in/JxK82y

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/gaitana

Web: http://gaitana.com/

 

8. Bulgaria

Artist: Sofi Marinova

Song: Love Unlimited

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Sofi_Marinova

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/SofiMarinovaTV

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sofi.Marinova.Official

Web: http://www.sofi-marinova.com/

 

9. Slovenia

Artist: Eva Boto

Song: Verjamem

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EvaBotoSlovenia

 

10. Croatia

Artist: Nina Badrić

Song: Nebo

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/ninabadric7

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/OfficialNinaBadric

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NinaBadricOfficial

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/ninabadricofficial

Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ninabadric/

Web: http://www.ninabadric.com/

 

11. Sweden

Artist: Loreen

Song: Euphoria

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/LOREEN_TALHAOUI

Twitter hashtag: #loreen12p

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoreenTalhaoui

Instagram: @loreenofficial: http://statigr.am/viewer.php#/user/50776176/

Web: http://www.loreen.se/

 

12. Georgia

Artist: Anri Jokhadze

Song: I’m A Joker

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/geoblogi

 

13. Turkey

Artist: Can Bonomo

Song: Love Me Back

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/canbonomo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/canbonomo

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/canbonomo

Tumblr: http://canbonomo.tumblr.com/

Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/canbonomo

Web: http://www.canbonomo.com/

 

14. Estonia

Artist: Ott Lepland

Song: Kuula

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Ottlepland

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ottlepland

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/ottlepland

Web: http://www.lepland.ee/

 

15. Slovakia

Artist: Max Jason Mai

Song: Don’t Close Your Eyes

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/MaxJasonMai

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/maxjasonmai

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maxjasonmai

Web: http://www.maxjasonmai.com/

 

16. Norway

Artist: Tooji

Song: Stay

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Tooji_

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialTooji

 

17. Bosnia & Herzegovina

Artist: Maya Sar

Song: Korake Ti Znam

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/mayasarofficial

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/MayaSarOfficial

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mayasarofficial

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/mayasar

Google+: https://plus.google.com/102371423251611121007

Web: http://www.mayasar.com/

 

18. Lithuania

Artist: Donny Montell

Song: Love Is Blind

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/DonnyMontell

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/donnymontell

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Donatas-Montvydas/27243344154

 

 

 

Predicting Eurovision based on Facebook likes – the results

I made a little experiment yesterday by trying to predict the outcome of the first Eurovision Song Contest semi-final. I used the number of Facebook likes to the country pages at Eurovision.tv and the number of views of the official videos. I was aware that it might not be the most accurate of predictions, since people can like and view a video but not vote for it due to the fact that you can’t vote for your own country and only countries competing in the semi-final could vote for the others.

Nevertheless, the overall rank I got was accurate to some degree. The countries I ranked 1-7 all got selected to the final. Then I failed with the others. The bottom three in my list, as expected, did not qualify. The tough part was the ones in the middle where the differences weren’t that big in the number of likes and views. Hungary, Moldova and Denmark eventually qualified.

The ranking based on Facebook likes was more accurate. The ten that qualified were all in my top 12 and I got all the top 7 in my list correct.

Rank: Facebook likes.

  1. Russia Q
  2. Cyprus Q
  3. Greece Q
  4. Romania Q
  5. Ireland Q
  6. Albania Q
  7. Iceland Q
  8. Finland
  9. Moldova Q
  10. Austria
  11. Hungary Q
  12. Denmark Q
  13. Latvia
  14. Israel
  15. Montenegro
  16. Switzerland
  17. San Marino
  18. Belgium

Let’s see if I can get even better results tomorrow, for semi-final 2 of the Eurovision Song Contest in Baku.

Predicting the Eurovision Song Contest with Facebook likes

On the Eurovision.tv page, each of the participants in the Eurovision Song Contest is presented with videos, images and more. Readers can share each participant’s page on social networks such as Facebook. In an attempt to predict the outcome of the first semi-final I have looked at how many times each country page has been shared on Facebook and how many times each official video has been viewed.

russia eurovison song contest photo: Thomas Hanses (EBU)

The overall score shows that Russia and Cyprus are huge favourites, while Switzerland and Belgium may not make it to the final. Late tonight, we will see how accurate these predictions are (I am aware that it is not fool proof, since you are not allowed to vote for your own country for example).

Facebook likes.

Russia: 3300
Cyprus: 2700
Greece: 2400
Romania: 2400
Ireland: 1500
Albania: 1400
Iceland: 1300
Finland: 1200
Moldova: 1000
Austria: 984
Hungary: 942
Denmark: 884
Latvia: 871
Israel: 827
Montenegro: 773
Switzerland: 629
San Marino: 553
Belgium: 275

YouTube views:

Russia: 2189000
Cyprus: 1673000
Greece: 629000
Romania: 603000
Montenegro: 598000
Albania: 464000
Austria: 454000
Iceland: 449000
Ireland: 405000
Israel: 306000
Finland: 302000
Latvia: 269000
San Marino: 258000
Hungary: 254000
Belgium: 247000
Denmark: 236000
Moldova: 183000
Switzerland: 161000

Overall rank, Facebook and YouTube:

Russia: 1
Cyprus: 2
Greece: 3
Romania: 4
Albania: 5
Ireland: 6
Iceland: 7
Austria: 8
Finland: 9
Montenegro: 10

Israel: 11
Latvia: 12
Hungary: 13
Moldova: 14
Denmark: 15
San Marino: 16
Belgium: 17
Switzerland: 18

Countries placed 1-10 will make it to the final, 11-18 are out of the competition.