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Eurovision: Pop meets politics

By Peter Sorel-Cameron

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(CNN) -- Preparations are now in the final stage for a unique European event that combines pride and embarrassment in equal measures.

The Eurovision Song Contest takes place in Helsinki, Saturday, and will see 24 countries competing for the coveted Eurovision crown, as well as for the honor of hosting next year's event.

The entrants perform songs written especially for the event, followed by a series of telephone votes conducted in the countries taking part. Tension then builds as, one-by-one, local celebrities from the participating nations read out their results, fearing the dreaded zero rating, usually delivered in deadpan French: "Nul points."

One of Europe's biggest televisual events, attracting around 100 million viewers, it is a strange mix of camp and veiled political wranglings. No international competition can ever be straightforward.

Songs either are a celebration togetherness and love, or are so bizarre they couldn't possibly be given any political weight. Last year's winner "Hard Rock Hallelujah," by Finland's Lordi, performed in full monster costume, falls into the second category.

Previous notable entrants include ABBA, Britain's Peter Pan of pop Cliff Richard and Canadian singer Celine Dion, who won the competition for Switzerland. Most of the acts have failed to capitalize on any notoriety gained from the event, though.

The singing part of the competition, which sees countries represented by men dressed as vampires and women as air stewardesses, somehow seems to overlook any difficult historical and political relationships that exist between the participating nations.

Ex-Soviet states compete with Russia; Greece, Turkey and Cyprus are regular competitors; and of course Britain and the Republic of Ireland's relationship, which up until very recently was less than friendly, is put to one side for the singing contest.

However, once the glittery costumes are put away and the voting begins, the politics seems to creep back in.

Can it be anything but a coincidence that many countries give high votes to their neighbors and traditional enemies offer withering scores to their rivals? It is however, notable that some nations that share a history of animosity will vote favorably for each other, perhaps as a token of good will.

In recent years, during the war in Iraq, the UK has recorded a series of low scores, especially from the nations that spoke out against the invasion in which Britain took a key role.

The biases and grudges, however, tend to even themselves out in the end, with each country relying on at least one other for a big score. The competition normally ends with the best song winning, and it was clear that last year's winner deserved the accolade.

Behind the petty squabbling in Eurovision, it seems as though the emphasis of the show, as well as to give a vaguely entertaining performance, is on demonstrating a willingness to take part and support your fellow Europeans.

Obama hails passage of health care bill The Senate passed a $871 billion health care reform bill Thursday morning, handing President Obama a Christmas Eve victory on his top domestic priority.

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