The fans of Eurovision Contest celebrate it again in England
May 23, 2021, 9:37 am

Contest celebrate

Fans watch the Eurovision song contest in the Royal Vauxhall Tavern in London, Britain May 22, 2021.

REUTERS/MARISSA DAVISON

British fans of the Eurovision song contest made the most of relaxed COVID-19 restrictions to gather inside a London pub on Saturday and watch the competition in a party atmosphere.

Clad in the colours of their adopted favourite countries, dozens of fans who had pre-booked tables descended on the Royal Vauxhall Tavern to celebrate music and finally be reunited in person.

"We've waited so long. You know, a two year gap. And I think everybody just feels as though this is exactly what we need at this time," Eurovision enthusiast Monty Moncrieff told Reuters.

Ninety guests were welcomed to watch the event at the pub, which since 2015 has been listed as a historic building because of its significance to the LGBTQ+ community. Organisers Eurofest said the tickets sold out in four minutes.

The tavern's chief executive, James Lindsay, said the reopening of pubs in England for indoor food and drinks on May 17 could not have come too soon.

"It's been a brutal pandemic in terms for the hospitality industry," Lindsay said ahead of the party. "We're back at half capacity here and this is the first step in I think a number of baby steps to get us back onto an even keel again."

Fans enjoyed reuniting with old friends and old musical favourites before the contest began.

"We're back home, in fact, in our spiritual home. So we love it here," said Eurovision enthusiast Jo Powell.

"And it's the first time we've seen each other in 16 months as well, so it's amazing!" said a friend, Stewart Wilders.

Due to travel restrictions, most Eurovision fans outside the Netherlands had to watch from home. Many reached out to friends and online communities to celebrate the event, known for its flamboyant costumes and theatrics.

The Netherlands is hosting the 65th edition of the event, which draws a television audience of about 200 million, after Dutch singer-songwriter Duncan Laurence won the 2019 contest in Tel Aviv with the song "Arcade."

Reporting by Marissa Davison and Tara Oakes; Editing by Daniel Wallis

Reuters, SAT MAY 22, 2021 / 7:01 PM

The fans of Eurovision Contest celebrate it again in England

Photograph Ownership Reuters

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Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”