Welcome to the latest edition of the ESC Insight Newsletter. Read the latest version on this link for all the updates from the Eurovision world.
As well as reviewing the latest parties, news and interesting features that we have found around the Press Centre the Newsletter as always features the views of Newsletter Editor Ben Robertson in his Robertson’s Reflection. Today he’s allowing himself to chill a little bit away from the acts on stage to appreciate the warmth of the 800-strong volunteer community here at the Song Contest.
It’s not the most easy stretch to become one of the Eurovision volunteers in the first place. Only 800 of them get chosen from the thousands who apply, but the culture they have created is one of a family of their own, even referring to their head of volunteers as their ‘Mummy’. As ORF report themselves much has been done to generate a sense of community within the team to give them value. Their kick-off training days were as much drumming workshop as learning your roles and responsibilities. They also get the free bags and goodies we did, but also the edition of a new mobile phone thanks to Eurovision’s new sponsors Microsoft.
Most volunteers dream of being one of the coveted Delegation Hosts, the volunteers who have the responsibility to be the contact for the visiting artists coming to the city. Unless circumstances mean otherwise however, these positions are awarded to native speakers from each country. I made friends with the host from Iceland last year who I know has kept touch with the team who visited from Copenhagen last year. You can clearly see why they are popular, and why many of the people with us in the Press Room would not have us as their first preference.
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