Bookmakers have been slashing the odds to win for Israel’s entry in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. On May 9, Eden Golan, 20, was ordered to stay in her hotel room by Shin Bet – Israel‘s national security agency – as a mob of pro-Palestine demonstrators protested her involvement in the competition.
Greta Thunberg was among the approximately 5000 activists in Malmo, Sweden’s third largest city, that took to the streets yesterday.
Despite the furore surrounding her entry, the young Israeli is now second favourite to take the historic title. What’s more, her odds have been shortening throughout the day.
According to Oddschecker.com, which compares prices from most major betting brands, Ms Golan’s chances of glory have shortened with 19 out of 25 bookies.
Bookmakers reduced their odds on her anthem Hurricane to win at around 11:45am earlier today. Only Croatia is at a shorter price than Israel as it stands.
The odds on the UK winning its first Eurovision since 1997 look slim. Olly Alexander, the front man of Years & Years, is between 66/1 and 250/1 to take the prize, according to Oddschecker.
Amid the controversy, Graham Norton has said viewers will see “the Eurovision they know and love” when they tune into the grand final on Saturday night.
Irish presenter Norton, 61, will host coverage of the event live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, while Scott Mills and Rylan Clark will lead commentary on BBC Radio 2.
Ahead of the showpiece, Number 10 condemned the protests. A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “The Prime Minister thinks that these protests are wrong and some of the scenes we’ve seen have been outrageous.”
She said: “Just as we share the deep concern of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and we raise this regularly, when it comes to this debate around Eurovision in these protests, we are incredibly mindful of the Israelis and also Jewish people around the world who love Eurovision and their feelings at seeing this, in the aftermath of what was an atrocious terror attack – and while hostages are still being held by Hamas.
“And he would urge people to consider this when repeating these unfair calls for a boycott.”