Eurovision Song Contest 1998

File:NIA, Birmingham.jpg, Birmingham – host venue of the 1998 contest]]

{{Location map many|United Kingdom

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The 1998 contest took place in Birmingham, the United Kingdom, following the country's victory at the {{escyr|1997||1997 edition}} with the song "Love Shine a Light", performed by Katrina and the Waves. It was the eighth time that the United Kingdom had hosted the contest{{snd}}setting a new contest record{{snd}}with the nation having previously hosted the contest in London in {{Escyr|1960}}, {{Escyr|1963}}, {{Escyr|1968}} and {{Escyr|1977}}, in Edinburgh in {{Escyr|1972}}, in Brighton in {{Escyr|1974}} and in Harrogate in {{Escyr|1982}}.{{cite web |title=United Kingdom – Participation history |url=https://eurovision.tv/country/united-kingdom |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=23 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619211727/https://eurovision.tv/country/united-kingdom |archive-date=19 June 2022 |url-status=live}} The selected venue was the National Indoor Arena, a sporting venue and indoor arena opened in 1991 which prior to the contest had previously hosted the 1993 IBF Badminton World Championships and 1995 World Netball Championships, as well as being the principal venue for the recording of UK television programme Gladiators.{{cite web |title=Arena Birmingham |url=https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/directory_record/138082/arena_birmingham |publisher=Birmingham City Council |access-date=23 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611054910/https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/directory_record/138082/arena_birmingham |archive-date=11 June 2021 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Hinder |first1=Geoff |title=Yonex All-England Badminton Championships – Venues |url=https://www.nationalbadmintonmuseum.com/all-england-badminton-championships-venues/ |publisher=National Badminton Museum |access-date=23 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126030254/https://www.nationalbadmintonmuseum.com/all-england-badminton-championships-venues/ |archive-date=26 January 2021 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Birmingham 1995 |url=https://netball.sport/events-and-results-2/netball-world-cup/birmingham-1995 |publisher=World Netball |access-date=23 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307054056/https://netball.sport/events-and-results-2/netball-world-cup/birmingham-1995 |archive-date=7 March 2021 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Laws |first1=Roz |title=Remember ITV's Gladiators? See stars reunite in Birmingham after 15 years |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/film-news/remember-itvs-gladiators-see-stars-9853899 |access-date=23 June 2022 |work=Birmingham Mail |date=13 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150814153016/http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/film-news/remember-itvs-gladiators-see-stars-9853899 |archive-date=14 August 2015 |url-status=live}}

Many cities across the United Kingdom expressed interest in hosting the contest, the first to be held in the country in sixteen years, with venues in Aberdeen, Belfast, Bournemouth, Brighton, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Harrogate, Inverness, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield being considered.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=324–330}} Following visits by the production team to each city, Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, London and Manchester were shortlisted as potential host cities, and Birmingham's National Indoor Arena was subsequently announced as the host venue on 8 August 1997.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=324–330}}{{cite news |title=Birmingham to stage Eurovision |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/birmingham-to-stage-eurovision-1.95446 |access-date=23 June 2022 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=9 August 1997 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509203812/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/birmingham-to-stage-eurovision-1.95446?mode=sample&auth-failed=1&pw-origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Fnews%2Fbirmingham-to-stage-eurovision-1.95446 |archive-date=9 May 2021 |url-status=live}}

{{further|List of countries in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

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{{ESC 1998 participants}}

Per the rules of the contest twenty-five countries were allowed to participate in the event. {{Esccnty|North Macedonia|t=Macedonia}} participated in the contest for the first time, having previously applied to enter the {{escyr|1996||1996 contest}} but failing to progress from that edition's qualifying round; due to the then-ongoing Macedonia naming dispute with Greece, the nation participated under the provisional reference "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" or its shortened form "FYR Macedonia".{{cite web |title=North Macedonia – Participation history |url=https://eurovision.tv/country/fyr-macedonia |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=24 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621202230/https://eurovision.tv/country/fyr-macedonia |archive-date=21 June 2022 |url-status=live}} {{Esccnty|Belgium}}, {{Esccnty|Finland}}, {{Esccnty|Israel}}, {{Esccnty|Romania}}, and {{Esccnty|Slovakia}} made a return to the contest, replacing {{Esccnty|Austria}}, {{Esccnty|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}, {{Esccnty|Denmark}}, {{Esccnty|Iceland}}, and {{Esccnty|Russia}}, which were relegated following the previous year's contest, and {{Esccnty|Italy}} which decided against entering the event. Italy would not return to the contest again until 2011.

Among the performers at this year's contest were five representatives who had previously competed as lead artists in past editions. Two artists returned as lead artists in the 1998 contest: Danijela had previously represented {{esccnty|Croatia|y=1995|t=Croatia in 1995}} as a member of the group Magazin;{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=330–341}}{{cite web |last1=Niazi |first1=Dan |title=Where Are You Now?... Eurovision 1998 |url=https://escxtra.com/2017/07/15/now-eurovision-1998/ |publisher=ESCXtra |access-date=25 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625100235/https://escxtra.com/2017/07/15/now-eurovision-1998/ |archive-date=25 June 2022 |date=9 August 2018 |url-status=dead}} and José Cid, a member of Alma Lusa, had represented {{esccnty|Portugal|y=1980|t=Portugal in 1980}}.{{cite web |title=Festival da Canção 2022 – José Cid |url=https://media.rtp.pt/festivaldacancao/autores/jose-cid/ |publisher=Rádio e Televisão de Portugal |access-date=25 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625102258/https://media.rtp.pt/festivaldacancao/autores/jose-cid/ |archive-date=25 June 2022 |language=pt |url-status=live}} Additionally, three artists who had previously competed as lead artists at Eurovision returned as backing performers for their respective countries at this year's event: José María Guzmán, who had represented {{esccnty|Spain|y=1986|t=Spain in 1986}} as a member of the group Cadillac, was a backing singer for Mikel Herzog;{{cite web |title=Cadillac |url=https://eurovision-spain.com/participante/cadillac-1986/ |publisher=EurovisionSpain |access-date=28 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230401145710/https://eurovision-spain.com/participante/cadillac-1986/ |archive-date=1 April 2023 |language=es |url-status=live}} Egon Egemann, who had represented {{Esccnty|Switzerland|y=1990|t=Switzerland in 1990}}, performed on stage as violinist for Gunvor;{{cite web |title=ESC 1998 – Birmingham |url=https://songfestival.be/geschiedenis/1998-birmingham/ |website=Songfestival.be |access-date=25 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128152134/https://songfestival.be/geschiedenis/1998-birmingham/ |archive-date=28 November 2021 |language=nl |url-status=live}} and Paul Harrington, who won the contest for {{Esccnty|Ireland|y=1994|t=Ireland in 1994}} with Charlie McGettigan, providing backing vocals for Dawn Martin.{{cite AV media |last=Harding |first=Peter |title=Dawn Martin, Ireland's representative in the 1998 Eurovision Song Contest |type=Photograph |url=https://stillslibrary.rte.ie/indexplus/image/2018/096.html |access-date=25 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625103551/https://stillslibrary.rte.ie/indexplus/image/2018/096.html |archive-date=25 June 2022 |date=9 May 1998 |url-status=live |via=RTÉ Libraries and Archives}}

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Due to the high number of countries wishing to enter the contest a relegation system was introduced in {{escyr|1993}} in order to reduce the number of countries which could compete in each year's contest. Any relegated countries would be able to return the following year, thus allowing all countries the opportunity to compete in at least one in every two editions.{{cite web |last1=Jordan |first1=Paul |title=Milestone Moments: 1993/4 – The Eurovision Family expands |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/milestone-moments-1993-4-the-eurovision-family-expands |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=24 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513105657/https://eurovision.tv/story/milestone-moments-1993-4-the-eurovision-family-expands |archive-date=13 May 2018 |date=18 September 2016 |url-status=live}} The relegation rules introduced for the 1997 contest were again utilised ahead of the 1998 contest, based on each country's average points total in previous contests.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=324–330}} The twenty-five participants were made up of the previous year's winning country and host nation, the eighteen countries which had the highest average points total over the preceding four contests, and any eligible countries which did not compete in the 1997 contest.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=324–330}} In cases where the average was identical between two or more countries the total number of points scored in the most recent contest determined the final order.

Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark, {{esccnty|Germany}}, Iceland and Russia were therefore excluded from participating in the 1998 contest; however, after Italy declined to participate Germany was subsequently provided a reprieve and allowed to enter.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=152–155}} The calculations used to determine the countries relegated for the 1998 contest are outlined in the table below.

Table key

{{legend|#FFDEAD|Qualifier}}

{{legend|#CEDFF2|Automatic qualifier|text=‡}}

{{legend|#E6F8D1|New/returning countries which did not compete in 1997|text=†}}

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The Eurovision Song Contest 1998 was produced by the British public broadcaster British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Kevin Bishop served as executive producer, Guy Freeman served as producer, Geoff Posner served as director, Andrew Howe-Davies served as designer, and Martin Koch served as musical director, leading the 60-piece BBC Concert Orchestra and arranging and orchestrating the music for the opening and closing sequences and the interval act.{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest 1998 – Technical Background |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/eurovision/info2.shtml |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) |access-date=23 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990502114528/http://www.bbc.co.uk/eurovision/info2.shtml |archive-date=2 May 1999 |url-status=dead}}{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=345–346}} On behalf of the contest organisers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the event was overseen by Christine Marchal-Ortiz as scrutineer.{{cite web |title=The Organisers behind the Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/organisers |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=31 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240925231140/https://eurovision.tv/about/organisers |archive-date=25 September 2024 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Jordan |first1=Paul |last2=Smulders |first2=Stijn |title=Christine Marchal-Ortiz: 'I feel so nostalgic about Eurovision' |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/behind-the-scene-with-christine-marshal-ortiz |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=31 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513201017/https://eurovision.tv/story/behind-the-scene-with-christine-marshal-ortiz |archive-date=13 May 2018 |date=10 October 2017 |url-status=live}}{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|p=210}}

Construction within the National Indoor Arena began on 19 April 1998 to build out the stage and orchestral area for the contest, as well as creating space for the green room, the dressing rooms, the press centre and accreditation area, and small rooms for use by each country's individual commentators.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=324–330}} Although the arena could hold up to 13,000 people, the assembled audience during the contest was limited to around 4,500, with tickets for the dress rehearsal and live show awarded by ballot.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=324–330}}{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest 1998 – Information |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/eurovision/info.shtml |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) |access-date=23 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19981203043619/http://www.bbc.co.uk/eurovision/info.shtml |archive-date=3 December 1998 |url-status=dead}} The contest organisers also engaged with fan groups, and tickets in the front rows of the arena were distributed among these groups for the first time.{{sfn|Pajala|2007}}{{cite news |title=How Eurovision became a gay-friendly contest |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20150522-eurovision-gay-friendly-song-contest-lgbt-conchita-wurst |access-date=25 June 2022 |work=France 24 |date=22 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614054915/https://www.france24.com/en/20150522-eurovision-gay-friendly-song-contest-lgbt-conchita-wurst |archive-date=14 June 2022 |language=en |url-status=live}}

The green room was situated behind the stage, and was designed to resemble a nightclub. The arena featured three large video screens to enable the audience to follow the voting, and video walls were also constructed for use on stage, in the press centre and the green room. A 400-seat auditorium for press conferences and 38 booths for journalists equipped with phone lines were installed within the press centre, and 40 commentary boxes were constructed in the arena to accommodate the teams from the various broadcasters, with 28 built for television and 12 for radio.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=324–330}}{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=345–346}} Much of the press centre facilities constructed for the contest were subsequently retained and augmented for use during the 24th G8 summit held in Birmingham the following week.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=345–346}}{{cite news |last1=Wright |first1=Lisa |title=Dana, Imaani and Ulrika: When Eurovision last came to Britain |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-44038666 |access-date=23 June 2022 |work=BBC News |date=11 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511150015/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-44038666 |archive-date=11 May 2018 |url-status=live}}

Orchestral rehearsals and rehearsals of the main elements of the interval act took place on 2 and 3 May, with rehearsals for the competing countries beginning on 4 May. The first rehearsals for each country, lasting 40 minutes in total followed by a 20 minute press conference, took place on 4 and 5 May, with second rehearsals for each country taking place on 6 and 7 May and lasting 30 minutes.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=324–330}} Three dress rehearsals were held on 8 and 9 May, with an audience in attendance during the evening dress rehearsal on 8 May, which was also recorded for use in case of problems during the live contest that resulted in the broadcast being suspended.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=324–330}} Stand-in studios were also prepared in Studio 4 of BBC Television Centre, London and in the Pebble Mill Studios in Birmingham in case of an emergency at the National Indoor Arena that resulted in evacuation.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=324–330}}

File:Terry Wogan at Cheltenham Literature Festival.jpg (pictured in 2015), co-presenter of the 1998 contest]]

The Swedish-British television presenter and model Ulrika Jonsson and the Irish television and radio presenter Terry Wogan were the presenters of the 1998 contest. Wogan had previously provided television and radio commentary on the BBC since 1971, and performed this role once again for the contest's broadcast on BBC One from a separate commentary booth erected behind the stage in addition to his role as the contest presenter.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=324–330}}{{cite web |title=Graham Norton reveals his Eurovision tradition in honour of Terry Wogan |url=https://virginradio.co.uk/entertainment/60781/graham-norton-reveals-his-eurovision-tradition-in-honour-of-terry-wogan |publisher=Virgin Radio UK |access-date=23 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510093212/https://virginradio.co.uk/entertainment/60781/graham-norton-reveals-his-eurovision-tradition-in-honour-of-terry-wogan |archive-date=10 May 2022 |date=10 May 2022 |url-status=live}}

The draw to the determine the running order, held on 13 November 1997 in the National Indoor Arena, was compered by Wogan and Katrina Leskanich, lead vocalist of the 1997 contest winners Katrina and the Waves.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=324–330}}{{cite AV media |people=Jones, David |date=13 November 1997 |title=Eurovision Song Contest winner Katrina and compere Terry Wogan[...] |url=https://www.alamy.com/eurovision-song-contest-winner-katrina-and-compere-terry-wogan-during-todays-thursday-draw-for-next-years-contest-at-the-nia-birmingham-great-britain-was-drawn-to-perform-16th-of-the-25-competing-countries-in-the-contest-which-is-to-be-held-at-the-nia-on-the-9th-of-may-picture-david-jonespa-image380457023.html |access-date=24 June 2022 |location=Birmingham, United Kingdom |via=Alamy |archive-date=28 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928131321/https://www.alamy.com/eurovision-song-contest-winner-katrina-and-compere-terry-wogan-during-todays-thursday-draw-for-next-years-contest-at-the-nia-birmingham-great-britain-was-drawn-to-perform-16th-of-the-25-competing-countries-in-the-contest-which-is-to-be-held-at-the-nia-on-the-9th-of-may-picture-david-jonespa-image380457023.html |url-status=live }}

For those countries which opted to utilise the orchestra during their performance a separate musical director could be nominated to lead the orchestra during their performance, with the host musical director, Martin Koch, also conducting for those countries which did not nominate their own conductor.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|p=217}}

The entries from Belgium, Greece, Germany, Israel, Malta, Slovenia and Switzerland were performed entirely without orchestration; however, in the case of Germany and Slovenia, conductors for those countries were present during the contest.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=330–341}} Stefan Raab, the writer of the German entry under the pseudonym "Alf Igel", had no intention of conducting the orchestra but insisted on taking the customary conductor's bow before the entry, while the Slovenian entry had been due to be performed with the orchestra before a change of mind by the songwriters during the rehearsals led to the full backing track being used and their conductor Mojmir Sepe instead signalling to start the track.{{cite web |title=Stefan Raab |url=https://www.andtheconductoris.eu/index.htm?https://www.eurovisionartists.nl/conductor/dir020.asp?ID=134 |publisher=And the conductor is... |access-date=24 June 2022}}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |fix-attempted=yes |url=}}{{cite web |title=Mojmir Sepe |url=https://www.andtheconductoris.eu/index.htm?https://www.eurovisionartists.nl/conductor/dir020.asp?ID=292 |publisher=And the conductor is... |access-date=24 June 2022}}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |fix-attempted=yes |url=}} The French entry had been planned to be performed completely with the backing track, but during rehearsals a decision was reached to incorporate additional live string accompaniment from the orchestra directed by Martin Koch.{{cite web |title=Martin Koch |url=https://www.andtheconductoris.eu/index.htm?https://www.eurovisionartists.nl/conductor/dir020.asp?ID=160 |publisher=And the conductor is... |access-date=24 June 2022}}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |fix-attempted=yes |url=}}

During rehearsals conflict occurred between the contest organisers and the Greek delegation, with the Greeks unhappy with the way that their entry was being presented on screen. Aggressive behaviour by the Greek composer, Yiannis Valvis, during the dress rehearsals led to his accreditation being rescinded, and on the day of the contest the Greek broadcaster Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT) withdrew from the contest, a decision which was ultimately reversed minutes later.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=330–341}}{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=152–155}}{{cite AV media |date=31 December 1998 |title=Naked Eurovision |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/4964d0ba997543038f5a766c08da23a2 |access-date=25 June 2022 |location=Birmingham, United Kingdom |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) |archive-date=25 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625165146/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/4964d0ba997543038f5a766c08da23a2 |url-status=live }} Issues also arose during the rehearsals for the Turkish entry, when their conductor Ümit Eroğlu was found to be leading the orchestra at too slow a tempo, resulting in the performance running over the three minute limit and thus breaking the rules of the contest. Ultimately the final performance lasted two minutes and fifty-nine seconds, ensuring that Turkey could not be disqualified for exceeding the time limit during the final and would remain in the competition.{{cite news |last1=Fair |first1=Thomas |title=Eurovision could be heading back to the UK – here's what happened last time |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/nostalgia/eurovision-could-heading-back-uk-24254582 |access-date=25 June 2022 |work=Birmingham Mail |date=17 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220617164122/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/nostalgia/eurovision-could-heading-back-uk-24254582 |archive-date=17 June 2022 |url-status=live}}

The trophy awarded to the writers of the winning song was designed by Anongkarat Unyawong, a student at the Birmingham School of Jewellery, who had won a competition conducted at the school for the occasion.{{cite news |last1=Bentley |first1=David |title=The day Eurovision came to Birmingham in 1998 |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/gallery/day-eurovision-came-birmingham-1998-7086014 |access-date=23 June 2022 |work=Birmingham Mail |date=8 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125093152/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/gallery/day-eurovision-came-birmingham-1998-7086014 |archive-date=25 November 2021 |url-status=live}}{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=341–345}} The winning performers received a glass bowl designed by Susan Nickson bearing the Eurovision Song Contest 1998 logo.{{cite AV media |date=9 May 1998 |title=Eurovision Song Contest 1998 |type=Television programme |language=en, fr |location=Birmingham, United Kingdom |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)}} The winners were heralded by the trumpeters of the Life Guards as they entered the stage, and the awards were presented by Katrina Leskanich.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=341–345}}{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|p=216}}

The rules of the Eurovision Song Contest 1998 were published in November 1997. The document set out the overall aim of the contest and provided detail on the organisation of the event, the qualification process, the criteria for the competing songs and performers, the voting system to be used to determine the results of the contest, as well as the rights and responsibilities conferred by the EBU onto the participating broadcasters.{{cite web |title=Rules of the 43rd Eurovision Song Contest, 1998 |url=http://www.myledbury.co.uk/eurovision/pdf/esc1998.pdf |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=24 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131041040/http://www.myledbury.co.uk/eurovision/pdf/esc1998.pdf |archive-date=31 January 2019 |url-status=live}}

Each participating broadcaster submitted one song to the contest, which was required to be no longer than three minutes in duration and performed in the language, or one of the languages, of the participating country. Short quotations from another language, no more than a single phrase repeated a maximum of three times, were permitted. Each entry was able to utilise all or part of the live orchestra and could use instrumental-only backing tracks. This was the second edition of the contest in which the entire song could be performed with a backing track, following the 1997 contest; previously any backing tracks which were used could only include the sound of instruments which featured on stage being mimed by the performers.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=296–297}} A maximum of six performers were allowed on stage during each country's performance, and all performers must have reached the age of 16 in the year of the contest.

Selected entries were not permitted to be released commercially before 1 January 1998; entries were only permitted to be released after being selected for the contest, and were then only allowed to be released in the country they represented until after the contest was held. Entries were required to be selected by each country's participating broadcaster by 15 March, and the final submission date for all selected entries to be received by the contest organisers was set for 23 March. This submission was required to include the score of the song for use by the orchestra, a sound recording of the entry and backing track for use during the contest, and the text of the song lyrics in its original language and translations in French and English for distribution to the participating broadcasters, their commentators and juries.

For the first time a watermark was included on screen during each entry with the name of the country being performed, an innovation which has become a standard feature in each contest.{{cite web |title=Birmingham 1998 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/birmingham-1998 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=24 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621202345/https://eurovision.tv/event/birmingham-1998 |archive-date=21 June 2022 |url-status=live}} This edition of the contest would conversely be the last in which countries would be obliged to perform in their own language and the last to feature an orchestra accompanying the competing entries; from the following year's contest participating countries were able to send entries in any language and the organising broadcaster was no longer obliged to provide an orchestra.{{cite web |title=Jerusalem 1999 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/jerusalem-1999 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621202249/https://eurovision.tv/event/jerusalem-1999 |archive-date=21 June 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Rules of the 44th Eurovision Song Contest, 1999 |url=http://www.myledbury.co.uk/eurovision/pdf/esc1999.pdf |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=24 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223111039/http://www.myledbury.co.uk/eurovision/pdf/esc1999.pdf |archive-date=23 February 2022 |url-status=live}} In subsequent years the rules would be modified again to remove the option for entries to be accompanied by live music entirely.{{cite web |title=The Rules of the Contest |date=31 October 2018 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/rules |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=2 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004011300/https://eurovision.tv/about/rules |archive-date=4 October 2022 |url-status=live}}

{{further|Voting at the Eurovision Song Contest}}

The results of the 1998 contest were determined through the same scoring system as had first been introduced in {{escyr|1975}}: each country awarded twelve points to its favourite entry, followed by ten points to its second favourite, and then awarded points in decreasing value from eight to one for the remaining songs which featured in the country's top ten, with countries unable to vote for their own entry.{{cite web |title=In a Nutshell |url=https://eurovision.tv/history/in-a-nutshell |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=29 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626052301/https://eurovision.tv/history/in-a-nutshell |archive-date=26 June 2022 |date=31 March 2017 |url-status=dead}} For the first time each participating country was required to use televoting to determine their points, with countries with weak telephone networks that prevented them from holding a large-scale televote being granted an exception.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=341–345}} This followed a trial held in the 1997 contest where televoting was used to determine the points from five of the twenty-five competing countries. Viewers had a total of five minutes to register their vote by calling one of twenty-four different telephone numbers to represent the twenty-five competing entries except that which represented their own country, with voting lines opening following the performance of the last competing entry. Once phone lines were opened a video recap containing short clips of each competing entry with the accompanying phone number for voting was shown in order to aid viewers during the voting window. Systems were also put in place to prevent lobby groups from one country voting for their song by travelling to other countries.

The points from countries which were unable to use televoting were determined by an assembled jury of sixteen individuals, which was required to be split evenly between members of the public and music professionals, comprised additionally of an equal number of men and women, and below and above 30 years of age. In addition countries using televoting were required to appoint a back-up jury of eight members which would be called into action upon technical failure preventing the televote results from being used, with the same equal split of gender, age and occupation.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=341–345}} Each jury member voted in secret and awarded between one and ten votes to each participating song, excluding that from their own country and with no abstentions permitted. The votes of each member were collected following the country's performance and then tallied by the non-voting jury chairperson to determine the points to be awarded. In any cases where two or more songs in the top ten received the same number of votes, a show of hands by all jury members was used to determine the final placing; if a tie still remained, the youngest jury member would have the deciding vote.

Each entry was preceded by a video postcard which served as an introduction to the competing artists from each country, as well as providing an opportunity to showcase the running artistic theme of the event and creating a transition between entries to allow stage crew to make changes on stage.{{cite web |last1=Egan |first1=John |title=All Kinds of Everything: a history of Eurovision Postcards |url=https://escinsight.com/2015/05/22/all-kinds-of-everything-a-history-of-eurovision-postcards/ |publisher=ESC Insight |access-date=24 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524073150/http://www.escinsight.com/2015/05/22/all-kinds-of-everything-a-history-of-eurovision-postcards/ |archive-date=24 May 2015 |date=22 May 2015 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Kurris |first1=Denis |title=Eurovision 2022: The theme of this year's Eurovision postcards |url=https://www.esc-plus.com/eurovision-2022-the-theme-of-this-years-eurovision-postcards/ |publisher=ESC Plus |access-date=24 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220501103821/https://www.esc-plus.com/eurovision-2022-the-theme-of-this-years-eurovision-postcards/ |archive-date=1 May 2022 |date=1 May 2022 |url-status=live}} The postcards for the 1998 contest continued the theme of the opening segment, with each clip focussing on a particular theme{{snd}}either an object, place or concept{{snd}}and creating a juxtaposition between its older and newer versions. Each postcard was accompanied by extracts of Britpop or classical music, with a pattern featured in the final moments of the footage forming into the flag of the country which was about to perform.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=330–341}} The various themes for each postcard, and the musical accompaniment which featured, are listed below by order of performance:{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=330–341}}

{{Div col}}

1. {{flagu|Croatia}}{{snd}}Football; "Sight for Sore Eyes" (M People)
2. {{flagu|Greece}}{{snd}}Beaches; "Alright" (Supergrass)
3. {{flagu|France}}{{snd}}Aircraft; "Ordinary World" (Duran Duran)
4. {{flagu|Spain}}{{snd}}Leisure; The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra (performed by the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra)
5. {{flagu|Switzerland}}{{snd}}Loch Ness; "Enchanted Highland" (APM Celtic Players)
6. {{flagu|Slovakia}}{{snd}}Jewellery; "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Dub" (Apollo 440)
7. {{flagu|Poland}}{{snd}}Glasgow, Scotland; "Slight Return" (The Bluetones)
8. {{flagu|Israel}}{{snd}}Art; "Common People" (Pulp)
9. {{flagu|Germany}}{{snd}}Ironworks; "Always on My Mind" (Pet Shop Boys)
10. {{flagu|Malta}}{{snd}}Fashion; "Mulder and Scully" (Catatonia)
11. {{flagu|Hungary}}{{snd}}Wales; "A Design for Life" (Manic Street Preachers)
12. {{flagu|Slovenia}}{{snd}}Pubs; "Ocean Drive" (Lighthouse Family)
13. {{flagu|Ireland}}{{snd}}London, England; "Bitter Sweet Symphony" (The Verve)
14. {{flagu|Portugal}}{{snd}}Education; "Beautiful Ones" (Suede)
15. {{flagu|Romania}}{{snd}}Sailing; "Sailing" (Rod Stewart)
16. {{flagu|United Kingdom}}{{snd}}Cars; "Hush" (Kula Shaker)
17. {{flagu|Cyprus|1960}}{{snd}}Food; "Born Slippy" (Underworld)
18. {{flagu|Netherlands}}{{snd}}Broadcasting; "Polo Mint City" (Texas)
19. {{flagu|Sweden}}{{snd}}Retail; "Don't Marry Her" (The Beautiful South)
20. {{flagu|Belgium}}{{snd}}Theatres; "She's a Star" (James)
21. {{flagu|Finland}}{{snd}}Films; "The Chad Who Loved Me" (Mansun)
22. {{flagu|Norway}}{{snd}}Medieval; "Hail to the King" (performed by the Kneller Hall State Trumpeters)
23. {{flagu|Estonia}}{{snd}}Belfast, Northern Ireland; "Bright Side of the Road" (Van Morrison)
24. {{flagu|Turkey}}{{snd}}National landmarks; Symphony No. 5, III: Romanza (Ralph Vaughan Williams)
25. {{flagu|Macedonia}}{{snd}}Weather; "Sugar Coated Iceberg" (The Lightning Seeds)

{{Div col end}}

File:Vanessa-Mae 2014.jpg performed as part of the interval act.]]

The contest took place on 9 May 1998 at 20:00 (BST) and lasted 3 hours.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=330–341}} The table below outlines the participating countries, the order in which they performed, the competing artists and songs, and the results of the voting.

The contest began with a video entitled "Birmingham, Old and New", which presented overlapping images of Birmingham in 1998 with archive footage of the city, including shots of Brindleyplace and boats on the city's canal network, to music from the BBC Concert Orchestra.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=324–330}} A fanfare from the trumpeters of the Life Guards greeted the contest's presenters as they entered the stage. Also featured during the opening section of the broadcast was a summary video of the 1960 contest, the first to be held in the United Kingdom, with that year's presenter Katie Boyle{{snd}}the only individual to host four contests{{snd}}in attendance as a special guest.{{cite web |last1=Zwart |first1=Josianne |title=Katie Boyle, iconic Eurovision Song Contest host, dies at 91 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/katie-boyle-eurovision-song-contest-host-passed-away-at-91 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=24 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322212543/https://eurovision.tv/story/katie-boyle-eurovision-song-contest-host-passed-away-at-91 |archive-date=22 March 2018 |date=21 March 2018 |url-status=live}} Special appearances were also featured from Katrina Leskanich and Carrie Crowley, the co-presenter of the {{escyr|1997||1997 contest}}, who appeared via video link from Dublin.

The interval performance was entitled "Jupiter, The Bringer of Jollity", based on music from the movement of the same name from the orchestral suite The Planets by English composer Gustav Holst.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|p=216}} A medley of vocal and instrumental pieces inspired by English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Indian and Zulu cultures, the segment included over 200 performers and featured music from the BBC Concert Orchestra and performances by soprano Lesley Garrett, violinist Vanessa-Mae, the Sutherland Pipe Band, Andrew Findon on tin whistle, Carys Hughes on harp, the bhangra dance group Nachda Sansaar, the Canoldir Male Voice Choir, the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, trumpeters from the Band of the Blues and Royals and an excerpt of Patti Boulaye's Sun Dance.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|p=341}}{{cite news |title=Vanessa may be just right for a classic Eurovision. |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Vanessa+may+be+just+right+for+a+classic+Eurovision.-a060778234 |access-date=24 June 2022 |work=Birmingham Post |date=9 May 1998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624084845/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Vanessa%2Bmay%2Bbe%2Bjust%2Bright%2Bfor%2Ba%2Bclassic%2BEurovision.-a060778234 |archive-date=24 June 2022 |page=49 |via=The Free Library |url-status=live}}

The winner was {{esccnty|Israel|y=1998}} represented by the song "Diva", composed by Svika Pick, written by {{ill|Yoav Ginai|he|יואב גינאי}} and performed by Dana International.{{cite web |title=Birmingham 1998 – Dana International |url=https://eurovision.tv/participant/dana-international |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=25 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220617121523/https://eurovision.tv/participant/dana-international |archive-date=17 June 2022 |url-status=live}} This marked Israel's third contest win, following the country's back-to-back victories in {{escyr|1978}} and {{escyr|1979}}.{{cite web |title=Israel – Participation history |url=https://eurovision.tv/country/israel |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=25 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605123901/https://eurovision.tv/country/israel |archive-date=5 June 2022 |url-status=live}} Dana International, the contest's first openly transgender participant, also became the first openly LGBTQ+ and first openly transgender artist to win the event.{{cite news |last1=Barlow |first1=Eve |title=Viva la diva! How Eurovision's Dana International made trans identity mainstream |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/may/10/viva-la-diva-how-eurovisions-dana-international-made-trans-identity-mainstream |work=The Guardian |access-date=25 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510130914/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/may/10/viva-la-diva-how-eurovisions-dana-international-made-trans-identity-mainstream |archive-date=10 May 2018 |date=10 May 2018 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Adams |first1=Oliver |title=Pride Month: How Eurovision queered the continent |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2022/06/01/pride-month-eurovision-lgbtq-queered-the-continent/270128/ |publisher=Wiwibloggs |access-date=25 June 2022 |date=1 June 2022 }} The United Kingdom earned a record-extending fifteenth second place finish, Malta's third place finish equalled its previous best contest performance, and the Netherlands obtained its best placing since its most recent victory in {{escyr|1975}} by finishing in fourth place.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=341–345}}

Following her victory Dana International also caused a delay in the production when, following the conclusion of the voting, she changed outfits into one specially designed for the contest by Jean Paul Gaultier but which was ultimately not used for the original performance.{{cite news |last1=Spiro |first1=Amy |title=Jean Paul Gaultier to dress Madonna, Dana International for Eurovision |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/jean-paul-gaultier-to-dress-madonna-dana-international-for-eurovision-588154 |access-date=25 June 2022 |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=29 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429200619/https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Jean-Paul-Gaultier-to-dress-Madonna-Dana-International-for-Eurovision-588154 |archive-date=29 April 2019 |url-status=live}} This led to scenes towards the end of the broadcast of hosts Terry Wogan and Ulrika Jonsson, and last year's winning vocalist Katrina Leskanich, looking perturbed and confused as to the delay and location of Dana International.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=152–155}}

Following the contest it was announced the results of the Spanish vote had been incorrectly tabulated, resulting in Germany, which should have been awarded twelve points, receiving no points at all; this subsequently had an impact on the remaining countries which were awarded points by Spain.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=341–345}}{{cite news |last1=Ambrose |first1=Tom |title='It's coming home': a trip back to 1998, and Britain's last Eurovision |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/jun/17/eurovision-song-contest-1998-britain-last-host |access-date=25 June 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=17 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624101828/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/jun/17/eurovision-song-contest-1998-britain-last-host |archive-date=24 June 2022 |url-status=live}} The tables in this article present the corrected results as published by the EBU.

Each participating broadcaster appointed a spokesperson who was responsible for announcing, in English or French, the votes for its respective country.{{cite web |title=How it works |date=18 May 2019 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/how-it-works |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=4 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531032850/https://eurovision.tv/about/how-it-works |archive-date=31 May 2022 |language=en-gb |url-status=live}} As had been the case since the {{escyr|1994||1994 contest}}, the spokespersons were connected via satellite and appeared in vision during the broadcast.{{cite web |title=Dublin 1994 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/dublin-1994 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=24 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530101326/https://eurovision.tv/event/dublin-1994 |archive-date=30 May 2022 |url-status=live}} Spokespersons at the 1998 contest are listed below.

During the voting procedure Ulrika Jonsson had an unplanned comical moment with the Dutch spokesperson Conny Vandenbos; after Vandenbos had expressed her sympathy with the performers in the contest{{snd}}having previously represented the Netherlands in {{escyr|1965}}{{snd}}she added that "it's long ago". This comment was not heard by the audience in the arena due to noise, but Jonsson's reply, "a long time ago, was it?" was, leading to a reaction from the crowd due to the perceived rudeness of the remark out of context.{{cite web |last1=Jordan |first1=Paul |title=When Eurovision gets awkward... |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/when-eurovision-gets-awkward |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=25 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825225440/https://eurovision.tv/story/when-eurovision-gets-awkward |archive-date=25 August 2017 |date=25 August 2017 |url-status=live}}

{{Div col}}

1. {{flagu|Croatia}}{{snd}}{{ill|Davor Meštrović|hr}}
2. {{flagu|Greece}}{{snd}}{{ill|Alexis Kostalas|el|Αλέξης Κωστάλας}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gossip-tv.gr/g-specials/gossip-cam/gallery/579385/alexis-kostalas-deite-poy-ton-entopisame-meta-apo-kairo|title=Αλέξης Κωστάλας: Δείτε πού τον εντοπίσαμε μετά από καιρό!|trans-title=Alexis Kostalas: Look where we found him after a while!|language=el|website=gossip-tv.gr|date=19 February 2010|access-date=30 August 2022|archive-date=30 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220830135344/https://www.gossip-tv.gr/g-specials/gossip-cam/gallery/579385/alexis-kostalas-deite-poy-ton-entopisame-meta-apo-kairo|url-status=live}}
3. {{flagu|France}}{{snd}}Marie Myriam
4. {{flagu|Spain}}{{snd}}Belén Fernández de Henestrosa
5. {{flagu|Switzerland}}{{snd}}Regula Elsener
6. {{flagu|Slovakia}}{{snd}}{{ill|Alena Heribanová|sk}}
7. {{flagu|Poland}}{{snd}}{{ill|Jan Chojnacki (journalist)|pl|Jan Chojnacki (dziennikarz)|lt=Jan Chojnacki}}
8. {{flagu|Israel}}{{snd}}Yigal Ravid
9. {{flagu|Germany}}{{snd}}Nena
10. {{flagu|Malta}}{{snd}}Stephanie Spiteri
11. {{flagu|Hungary}}{{snd}}{{ill|Barna Héder|hu|Héder Barna}}
12. {{flagu|Slovenia}}{{snd}}{{ill|Mojca Mavec|sl}}
13. {{flagu|Ireland}}{{snd}}Eileen Dunne{{cite web |last1=O'Loughlin |first1=Mikie |title=RTE Eileen Dunne's marriage to soap star Macdara O'Fatharta, their wedding day and grown up son Cormac |url=https://www.rsvplive.ie/news/celebs/rte-eileen-dunnes-marriage-soap-24277308 |work=RSVP Live |access-date=25 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608223329/https://www.rsvplive.ie/news/celebs/rte-eileen-dunnes-marriage-soap-24277308 |archive-date=8 June 2021 |date=8 June 2021 |url-status=live}}
14. {{flagu|Portugal}}{{snd}}Lúcia Moniz
15. {{flagu|Romania}}{{snd}}{{ill|Anca Țurcașiu|ro}}
16. {{flagu|United Kingdom}}{{snd}}Ken Bruce{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=341–345}}
17. {{flagu|Cyprus|1960}}{{snd}}Marina Maleni
18. {{flagu|Netherlands}}{{snd}}Conny Vandenbos
19. {{flagu|Sweden}}{{snd}}Björn Hedman{{sfn|Thorsson|Verhage|2006|pp=266–267}}
20. {{flagu|Belgium}}{{snd}}Marie-Hélène Vanderborght
21. {{flagu|Finland}}{{snd}}Marjo Wilska{{sfn|Murtomäki|2007|pp=186–189}}
22. {{flagu|Norway}}{{snd}}Ragnhild Sælthun Fjørtoft
23. {{flagu|Estonia}}{{snd}}Urve Tiidus{{cite web |title=Eesti žürii punktid edastab Eurovisioonil Tanel Padar |trans-title=The points of the Estonian jury will be announced by Tanel Padar at Eurovision |url=https://muusikaplaneet.ee/2022/05/14/eurovisioon22-20/ |publisher=Muusika Planeet |access-date=25 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519134430/https://muusikaplaneet.ee/2022/05/14/eurovisioon22-20/ |archive-date=19 May 2022 |language=et |date=14 May 2022 |url-status=live}}
24. {{flagu|Turkey}}{{snd}}Osman Erkan
25. {{flagu|North Macedonia|name=Macedonia}}{{snd}}Evgenija Teodosievska

{{Div col end}}

Televoting was used to determine the points awarded by all countries, except Hungary, Romania and Turkey.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=341–345}} The announcement of the results from each country was conducted in the order in which they performed, with the spokespersons announcing their country's points in English or French in ascending order. The detailed breakdown of the points awarded by each country is listed in the tables below.

The below table summarises how the maximum 12 points were awarded from one country to another. The winning country is shown in bold. Malta and the United Kingdom each received the maximum score of 12 points from four countries, with Germany and Israel receiving three sets of 12 points each, Croatia and the Netherlands receiving two sets each, and Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Norway, Sweden and Turkey each receiving one maximum score.

Each participating broadcaster was required to relay live and in full the contest via television. Non-participating EBU member broadcasters were also able to relay the contest as "passive participants"; any passive countries wishing to participate in the following year's event were also required to provide a live broadcast of the contest or a deferred broadcast within 24 hours. Broadcasters were able to send commentators to provide coverage of the contest in their own native language and to relay information about the artists and songs to their television viewers. These commentators were typically sent to the venue to report on the event, and were able to provide commentary from small booths constructed at the back of the venue.{{cite web |title=Commentator's guide to the commentators |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/commentator-s-guide-to-the-commentators |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=2 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112181824/https://eurovision.tv/story/commentator-s-guide-to-the-commentators |archive-date=12 November 2018 |date=15 May 2011 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Escudero |first1=Victor M. |title=Commentators: The national hosts of Eurovision |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/commentators-sweden-mans-zelmerlow-edward-af-sillen |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=2 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170516182452/https://eurovision.tv/story/commentators-sweden-mans-zelmerlow-edward-af-sillen |archive-date=16 May 2017 |date=14 May 2017 |url-status=live}}

The 1998 contest was transmitted to 33 European countries, as well as to Australia, Canada and South Korea, with an estimated audience of 600 million viewers reported following the contest.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=324–330}}{{cite news |title=Dana International holt Sieg für Israel |trans-title=Dana International wins for Israel |url=https://archiv.grenzecho.net/epaper/grenzecho-vom-11-05-1998/?download=true |access-date=2 December 2024 |work=Grenz-Echo |agency=gz/dpa/AGF |date=11 May 1998 |location=Eupen, Belgium |page=17 |language=de}} Known details on the broadcasts in each country, including the specific broadcasting stations and commentators, are shown in the tables below.

{{sticky header}}

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Radio Vega |url=https://www.hs.fi/radiotelevisio/art-2000003714911.html |access-date=7 November 2022 |work=Helsingin Sanomat |location=Helsinki, Finland |date=9 May 1998 |language=fi |url-access=subscription |archive-date=7 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221107124916/https://www.hs.fi/radiotelevisio/art-2000003714911.html |url-status=live}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|France}}

| {{lang|fr|France Télévision|i=unset}}

| France 2

| Chris and Laura Mayne

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Télévision |url=https://archives-aube.fr/ark:42751/1eddddc12f556f8095c30050568bc001.fiche=arko_fiche_61d6ad69c7ffa.moteur=arko_default_63d288b4cdd38 |access-date=13 October 2024 |work={{ill|L'Est éclair|fr}} |date=9 May 1998 |location=Saint-André-les-Vergers, France |page=29 |language=fr |via=Aube en Champagne}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Germany}}

| ARD

| {{lang|de|Das Erste|i=unset}}

| Peter Urban

| style="text-align:center" |

|-

! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" | {{Flagu|Hungary}}

| MTV

| MTV 1

| {{ill|Gábor Gundel Takács|hu|Gundel Takács Gábor}}

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=A Petőfi Népe Szombati Tévé- és Rádióműsor-ajánlata |trans-title=Petőfi Népe's Saturday TV and Radio programme offer |url=https://library.hungaricana.hu/hu/view/BacsKiskunMegyeiNepujsag_1998_05/?pg=100&layout=s |access-date=16 November 2024 |work={{ill|Petőfi Népe|hu}} |location=Bács-Kiskun County, Hungary |date=9 May 1998 |page=13 |language=hu |via={{ill|Hungaricana|hu}}}}{{cite web |title=56 éves lett Gundel Takács Gábor |trans-title=Gábor Gundel Takács turns 56 years old |url=https://ridikul.hu/csillagok/cikk/2020/08/26/56-eves-lett-gundel-takacs-gabor/ |publisher=Ridikül |access-date=23 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623082815/https://ridikul.hu/csillagok/cikk/2020/08/26/56-eves-lett-gundel-takacs-gabor/ |archive-date=23 June 2022 |language=hu |date=27 August 2020 |url-status=live}}

|-

| MR

| {{ill|Petőfi Rádió|hu}}

| {{N/A|}}

| style="text-align:center" |

|-

! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" | {{Flagu|Ireland}}

| rowspan="2" | RTÉ

| RTÉ One

| Pat Kenny

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Saturday TV & Radio |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1998/0509/Pg048.html |access-date=19 December 2022 |newspaper=The Irish Times Weekend |location=Dublin, Ireland |date=9 May 1998 |page=8 |url-access=subscription}}{{cite news |last1=Moloney |first1=Eugene |title=Kenny unapologetic at 'it' jibe over Euro winner |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/kenny-unapologetic-at-it-jibe-over-euro-winner-26186546.html |access-date=20 June 2022 |work=Irish Independent |date=12 May 1998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422175053/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/kenny-unapologetic-at-it-jibe-over-euro-winner-26186546.html |archive-date=22 April 2021 |url-status=live}}

|-

| RTÉ Radio 1

| Larry Gogan

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |last1=Sweeney |first1=Ken |title=Larry Gogan loses his Eurovision ticket |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/larry-gogan-loses-his-eurovision-ticket-26844188.html |access-date=23 June 2022 |work=Irish Independent |date=18 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623083933/https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/larry-gogan-loses-his-eurovision-ticket-26844188.html |archive-date=23 June 2022 |url-status=live}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Israel}}

| IBA

| Channel 1

| {{N/A|}}

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=على الشاشة الصغيرة |trans-title=On the small screen |url=https://www.nli.org.il/en/newspapers/?a=d&d=alittihad19980508-01.1.23 |access-date=25 October 2023 |work=Al-Ittihad |date=8 May 1998 |location=Haifa, Israel |language=ar |page=23 |via=National Library of Israel}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Malta}}

| PBS

| TVM

| {{N/A|}}

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Television |work=Times of Malta |location=Birkirkara, Malta |date=9 May 1998 |page=33}}

|-

! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" | {{Flagu|Netherlands}}

| rowspan="2" | NOS

| TV2

| Willem van Beusekom

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Radio en televisie |trans-title=Radio and television |url=https://krantenbankzeeland.nl/issue/pzc/1998-05-09/edition/0/page/8 |access-date=21 May 2023 |work=Provinciale Zeeuwse Courant |location=Vlissingen, Netherlands |date=9 May 1998 |language=nl |page=8 |via=ZB Krantenbank Zeeland |archive-date=21 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521170744/https://krantenbankzeeland.nl/issue/pzc/1998-05-09/edition/0/page/8 |url-status=live}}

|-

| Radio 2

| {{N/A|}}

|-

! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" | {{Flagu|Norway}}

| rowspan="2" | NRK

| NRK1

| Jostein Pedersen

| style="text-align:center" rowspan="2" | {{cite news |title=radio&TV guiden |trans-title=Radio & TV guide |url=https://www.nb.no/items/373f1966f32f508ae0c161ab9c999e11?page=33 |access-date=22 October 2024 |work=Tønsbergs Blad |date=9 May 1998 |location=Tønsberg, Norway |pages=34–35 |via=National Library of Norway}}

|-

| NRK P1

| {{ill|Stein Dag Jensen|no}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Poland}}

| TVP

| TVP1

| Artur Orzech

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Telewizja – Sobota |trans-title=Television – Saturday |url=http://bibliotekacyfrowa.eu/dlibra/show-content/publication/69726/edition/68201/ |access-date=17 February 2025 |work=Dziennik Bałtycki |date=9–10 May 1998 |location=Gdańsk, Poland |pages=18–19 |language=pl |via={{ill|Baltic Digital Library|pl|Bałtycka Biblioteka Cyfrowa}}}}{{cite web |last1=Erling |first1=Barbara |title=Artur Orzech zapowiada, że skomentuje Eurowizję, ale tym razem na Instagramie |trans-title=Artur Orzech announces that he will comment on Eurovision, but this time on Instagram |url=https://www.press.pl/tresc/70768,artur-orzech-zapowiada_-ze-skomentuje-eurowizje_-ale-tym-razem-na-instagramie |publisher=Press |access-date=21 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514171828/https://www.press.pl/tresc/70768,artur-orzech-zapowiada_-ze-skomentuje-eurowizje_-ale-tym-razem-na-instagramie |archive-date=14 May 2022 |language=pl |date=12 May 2022 |url-status=live}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Portugal}}

| RTP

| RTP1{{efn|Additional live broadcast on {{lang|pt|RTP Internacional|i=unset}}}}

| Rui Unas

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Programa da televisão |trans-title=Television programme |url=https://www.acomarcadearganil.cm-arganil.pt/a-comarca-de-arganil-10718/ |access-date=29 November 2022 |work=A Comarca de Arganil |date=7 May 1998 |location=Arganil, Portugal |page=8 |language=pt |archive-date=24 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624222035/https://www.acomarcadearganil.cm-arganil.pt/a-comarca-de-arganil-10718/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Costa |first1=Nelson |title=Luciana Abreu, Rui Unas e Mastiksoul em 'Dança do Campeão' |trans-title=Luciana Abreu, Rui Unas and Mastiksoul in 'Dança do Campeão' |url=https://www.escportugal.pt/2014/04/video-luciana-abreu-rui-unas-e.html |publisher=ESC Portugal |access-date=21 June 2022 |date=12 April 2014 |archive-date=21 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621131225/https://www.escportugal.pt/2014/04/video-luciana-abreu-rui-unas-e.html |url-status=live}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Romania}}

| TVR

| TVR 1

| Leonard Miron

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Programe |trans-title=Programmes |url=https://digital.bibliotecaarad.ro/files/original/edff0b31bb5dd1985519b9e62f9ab63a9078dcd6.pdf |access-date=26 October 2024 |work={{ill|Adevărul de Arad|ro}} |date=9 May 1998 |location=Arad, Romania |language=ro |page=6 |via={{ill|Biblioteca Județeană "Alexandru D. Xenopol" Arad|ro|Biblioteca Județeană „A.D. Xenopol” din Arad}}}}{{cite news |url=https://www.libertatea.ro/monden/vedete-de-la-noi/leonard-miron-iubeste-de-10-ani-acelasi-barbat-852511|title=Leonard Miron iubeşte de 10 ani acelaşi bărbat |trans-title=Leonard Miron has loved the same man for 10 years |work=Libertatea |language=ro |date=26 February 2013 |access-date=15 April 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415230932/https://www.libertatea.ro/monden/vedete-de-la-noi/leonard-miron-iubeste-de-10-ani-acelasi-barbat-852511 |archive-date=15 April 2018}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Slovakia}}

| STV

| STV2

| {{N/A|}}

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Sport/Tévé és Rádió – szombat |trans-title=Sport/TV and Radio – Saturday |url=https://library.hungaricana.hu/hu/view/UjSzo_1998_05/?pg=70 |access-date=21 September 2024 |work=Új Szó |location=Bratislava, Slovakia |date=9 May 1998 |page=11 |language=hu |via={{ill|Hungaricana|hu}}}}

|-

! scope="row" rowspan="2" | {{Flagu|Slovenia}}

|rowspan="2" | RTVSLO

| {{ill|TV SLO 1|sl|lt=SLO 1}}

| {{N/A|}}

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Televizija+Radio |trans-title=Television+Radio |url=http://www.dlib.si/listalnik/URN_NBN_SI_DOC-2COILL9Q/25/index.html |access-date=4 June 2024 |work=Delo |date=9 May 1998 |location=Ljubljana, Slovenia |page=25 |language=sl |via=Digital Library of Slovenia}}

|-

| Val 202

| {{ill|Andrej Karoli|sl}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Spain}}

| TVE

| {{lang|es|La Primera|i=unset}}

| José Luis Uribarri

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Televisión |url=https://store.diariodelaltoaragon.es/cgi-bin/Pandora?xslt=ejemplar;filename=DA19980509;place=none;publication=Diario%20del%20AltoAragón;day=09;month=05;year=1998;page=0066;id=0000159325;collection=prensa;url_high=prensa/Diario%20del%20AltoAragón/1998/199805/19980509/DA19980509-0066.pdf;lang=es;archivo=;encoding=utf-8 |access-date=18 February 2025 |work=Diario del AltoAragón |location=Huesca, Spain |date=9 May 1998 |page=66 |language=es}}

|-

! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" | {{Flagu|Sweden}}

| SVT

| SVT2

| Pernilla Månsson and Christer Björkman

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=TV & Radio |work=Svenska Dagbladet |date=9 May 1998 |location=Stockholm, Sweden |page=29 |language=sv}}

|-

| SR

| SR P4

| Anna Hötzel and Claes-Johan Larsson

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Radio |work=Svenska Dagbladet |date=9 May 1998 |location=Stockholm, Sweden |page=29 |language=sv}}

|-

! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="4" | {{Flagu|Switzerland}}

| rowspan="3" | SRG SSR

| SF 2

| {{N/A|}}

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Radio TV Samstag |trans-title=Radio TV Saturday |url=https://www.e-newspaperarchives.ch/?a=d&d=FZG19980509-01.1.8 |access-date=16 June 2024 |work={{ill|Freiburger Nachrichten|de}} |page=8 |date=9 May 1998 |location=Fribourg, Switzerland |language=de |via=E-newspaperarchives.ch}}

|-

| TSR 1

| Jean-Marc Richard

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=La télé aujourd'hui |trans-title=TV today |url=https://www.scriptorium.ch/zoom/124455/view?page=32&p=separate&tool=info |access-date=26 January 2025 |work=Le Matin |date=9 May 1998 |page=32 |location=Lausanne, Switzerland |via=Scriptorium}}

|-

| TSI 1

| Jonathan Tedesco

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite magazine |title=Samedi 9 mai |trans-title=Saturday 9 May |url=https://www.scriptorium.ch/zoom/323870/view?page=11&p=verso |access-date=19 June 2022 |magazine=TV8 |date=7 May 1998 |volume=76 |issue=19 |location=Zofingen, Switzerland |pages=20–25 |language=fr |via=Scriptorium}}{{cite news |title=Gunvor quarantadue anni dopo Lugano |trans-title=Gunvor forty-two years after Lugano |url=https://www2.sbt.ti.ch/quotidiani-public-pdf/main_part.php?fullscreen=true&paper=gdp&day=9&month=5&year=1998&page=25&papername=Giornale%20del%20Popolo&allpages=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32 |access-date=26 December 2024 |work=Giornale del Popolo |date=9 May 1998 |location=Lugano, Switzerland |page=25 |language=it |via={{ill|Sistema bibliotecario ticinese|it}}}}

|-

| colspan="2" | {{ill|Radio 24 (Switzerland)|de|Radio 24|lt=Radio 24}}

| {{N/A|}}

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Radio |url=https://www.e-newspaperarchives.ch/?a=d&d=NZZ19980509-01.1.106 |access-date=29 October 2024 |work=Neue Zürcher Zeitung |page=106 |date=9 May 1998 |location=Zurich, Switzerland |language=de |via=E-newspaperarchives.ch}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Turkey}}

| TRT

| TRT 1{{efn|Additional live broadcast on TRT Int}}

| Bülend Özveren

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Eurovision yarışması |trans-title=Eurovision contest |url=https://egazete.cumhuriyet.com.tr//Archive/CUMHURIYET/GAZETE_ARSIVI/1998/5/9/D00E66BE-A2B7-4E90-82FE-FA3848882698_3211764_14.jpeg |access-date=21 December 2022 |work=Cumhuriyet |date=9 May 1998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221092454/https://egazete.cumhuriyet.com.tr//Archive/CUMHURIYET/GAZETE_ARSIVI/1998/5/9/D00E66BE-A2B7-4E90-82FE-FA3848882698_3211764_14.jpeg |archive-date=21 December 2022 |page=16 |language=tr |url-status=live}}

|-

! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" | {{Flagu|United Kingdom}}

| rowspan="2" | BBC

| BBC One{{efn|Additional live broadcast on BBC Prime}}

| Terry Wogan

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite magazine |title=The Eurovision Song Contest – BBC One |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/96d3c8a5f68d4ee7b4da903b530aa0f2 |access-date=19 June 2022 |magazine=Radio Times |location=London, United Kingdom |date=9 May 1998 |via=BBC Genome Project |archive-date=19 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619212114/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/96d3c8a5f68d4ee7b4da903b530aa0f2 |url-status=live}}

|-

| BBC Radio 2

| Ken Bruce

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite magazine |title=Eurovision Song Contest – BBC Radio 2 |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/9148741b829a421ebc708a60b63c7215 |access-date=19 June 2022 |magazine=Radio Times |location=London, United Kingdom |date=9 May 1998 |via=BBC Genome Project |archive-date=21 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321150006/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/9148741b829a421ebc708a60b63c7215 |url-status=live}}

|}

{{sticky header}}

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=The Guide |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/22009072 |access-date=15 December 2022 |work=Victor Harbor Times |date=14 May 1998 |location=Victor Harbor, South Australia, Australia |page=24 |via=Trove |archive-date=15 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215090420/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/22009072 |url-status=live}}

|-

! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" | {{Flagu|Austria}}

| rowspan="2" | ORF

| ORF 1

| Ernst Grissemann

| style="text-align:center" |

|-

| FM4

| Stermann & Grissemann

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite web |title=Song Contest mit Stermann & Grissemann |trans-title=Eurovision with Stermann & Grissemann |url=https://wien.orf.at/v2/news/stories/2531177/ |publisher={{lang|de|Österreichischer Rundfunk|i=unset}} (ORF) |access-date=21 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221153357/https://wien.orf.at/v2/news/stories/2531177/ |archive-date=21 December 2021 |language=de |date=1 May 2012 |url-status=live}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Denmark}}

| DR

| DR1

| Keld Heick

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Radio • TV Lørdag |trans-title=Radio • TV Saturday |url=https://www.fla.de/reader/28425?page=25 |access-date=21 September 2024 |work=Flensborg Avis |date=9 May 1998 |location=Flensburg, Germany |page=25 |language=da}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Falkland Islands}}

| BFBS

| BFBS Television

| {{N/A|}}

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Your BFBS Television programmes |url=https://nationalarchives.gov.fk/jdownloads/Penguin%20News/1998%20May-Jul.pdf |access-date=20 July 2024 |work=Penguin News Information Pullout |date=9–15 May 1998 |page=2 |location=Stanley, Falkland Islands |via=Jane Cameron National Archives}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Faroe Islands}}

| colspan="2" | SvF

| {{N/A|}}

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=svf |url=https://epaper.infomedia.dk/wxa/19980509?s=1&p=30 |access-date=22 July 2024 |work=Sosialurin |date=9 May 1998 |location=Tórshavn, Faroe Islands |language=fo, da |pages=30–31 |via={{ill|Infomedia|dk}}}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Greenland}}

| KNR

| KNR{{efn|Deferred broadcast at 22:35 (WGST)}}

| {{N/A|}}

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=KNR Aallakaatitassat/Programmer |trans-title=KNR Programmes |url=https://timarit.is/page/3849194#page/n27/mode/2up |access-date=15 July 2024 |work=Atuagagdliutit |date=7 May 1998 |location=Nuuk, Greenland |language=kl, da |page=29 |via=Timarit.is}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Iceland}}

| RÚV

| {{lang|is|Sjónvarpið|i=unset}}, {{lang|is|Rás 2|i=unset}}

| Páll Óskar Hjálmtýsson

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Útvarp/Sjónvarp |trans-title=Radio/Television |url=https://timarit.is/page/1904755#page/n69/mode/2up |access-date=21 June 2022 |work=Morgunblaðið |date=9 May 1998 |page=70 |location=Reykjavík, Iceland |language=is |via=Timarit.is}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Latvia}}

| LTV

| {{N/A|}}

| {{ill|Kārlis Streips|lv}}

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite book |editor1-last=Balode |editor1-first=Mārīte |title=Cilvēki TV vil̦n̦os: ʹ54-ʹ04 |trans-title=People on TV waves: ʹ54-ʹ04 |date=2004 |publisher=Latvijas Televīzija |location=Riga, Latvia |isbn=9984196240 |url=http://www.diva.lv/video/eirovizijas-dziesmu-konkursa-nacionala-atlase |access-date=16 June 2024 |language=lv |chapter=Eirovīzijas Dziesmu konkursa Nacionālā atlase |trans-chapter=National selection for the Eurovision Song Contest |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302092739/http://www.diva.lv/video/eirovizijas-dziesmu-konkursa-nacionala-atlase |archive-date=2 March 2017 |url-status=live |via=Digitalizētie Video un Audio (DIVA)}}{{cite web |title=Streips kā dalībnieks debitē 'Eirovīzijā' |trans-title=Streips debuts as a Eurovision participant |url=https://www.delfi.lv/izklaide/archive/streips-ka-dalibnieks-debite-eirovizija.d?id=41631019 |publisher=Delfi |access-date=30 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130104825/https://www.delfi.lv/izklaide/archive/streips-ka-dalibnieks-debite-eirovizija.d?id=41631019 |archive-date=30 November 2022 |language=lv |date=9 November 2011 |url-status=live}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Lithuania|1988}}

| LRT

| LTV

| {{N/A|}}

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=TV |url=http://www.pbc.uw.edu.pl/14201/1/87_%2813380%29_Kurier_Wile%C5%84ski_sobota_9_maja_1998.pdf |access-date=28 October 2022 |work=Kurier Wileński |date=9 May 1998 |location=Vilnius, Lithuania |page=11 |language=pl |via=Polonijna Biblioteka Cyfrowa |archive-date=28 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028162021/http://www.pbc.uw.edu.pl/14201/1/87_(13380)_Kurier_Wile%C5%84ski_sobota_9_maja_1998.pdf |url-status=live}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|FR Yugoslavia|name=Yugoslavia}}

| RTS

| RTS 3K

| {{N/A|}}

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Tévéműsor |trans-title=TV show |url=https://www.vamadia.rs/periodika-szam/magyar-szo-55-evf-1998-majus-9-110-sz-1-16-oldal |access-date=19 February 2025 |work=Magyar Szó |date=9 May 1998 |location=Novi Sad, Yugoslavia |page=15 |language=hu |via={{lang|hu|Vajdasági Magyar Digitális Adattár|i=unset}}}}

|}

The Barbara Dex Award, created in 1997 by fansite House of Eurovision, was awarded to the performer deemed to have been the "worst dressed" among the participants.{{cite news |last1=Backer |first1=Stina |title=Forgettable song, memorable outfit: The crazy clothes of Eurovision |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/25/world/europe/eurovision-crazy-outfits/index.html |access-date=25 June 2022 |work=CNN |date=25 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525201656/http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/25/world/europe/eurovision-crazy-outfits/index.html |archive-date=25 May 2012 |url-status=live}} The winner in 1998 was Germany's representative Guildo Horn, as determined by the founders of the House of Eurovision site Edwin van Thillo and Rob Paardekam.{{cite web |title=Barbara Dex Award – All winners |url=https://songfestival.be/en/barbara-dex-award-previous-winners/ |website=Songfestival.be |date=30 May 2021 |access-date=25 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317053106/https://songfestival.be/en/barbara-dex-award-previous-winners/ |archive-date=17 March 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Philips |first1=Roel |title=Martin Vucic wins Barbara Dex Award |url=https://esctoday.com/4635/martin_vucic_wins_barbara_dex_award/ |publisher=ESCToday |access-date=25 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610172429/http://www.esctoday.com/4635/martin_vucic_wins_barbara_dex_award/ |archive-date=10 June 2015 |date=25 May 2005 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=About Us |url=http://www.eurovisionhouse.nl/aboutus.htm |publisher=The House of Eurovision |access-date=25 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010415013334fw_/http://www.eurovisionhouse.nl/aboutus.htm |archive-date=15 April 2001 |url-status=dead}}

{{see also|LGBT visibility in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

File:Dana International performing at the Miss Israel 1998 (cropped).jpg brought Israel its third victory in the contest and became the contest's first openly LGBTQ+ winner.]]

The selection of Dana International as the Israeli representative for the contest by the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) created uproar among members of the Orthodox Jewish community in Israel. Taking issue with the singer's transgender status, groups mounted street protests against her selection, and she also received death threats ahead of the contest.{{cite news |title=Storm over Israeli sex-change singer |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/37836.stm |access-date=25 June 2022 |work=BBC News |date=8 December 1997 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625155332/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/37836.stm |archive-date=25 June 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Freyne |first1=Patrick |title=Eurovision's political scandals – From Franco to Syrian flags |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/eurovision-s-political-scandals-from-franco-to-syrian-flags-1.3037553 |access-date=25 June 2022 |newspaper=The Irish Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622134311/https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/eurovision-s-political-scandals-from-franco-to-syrian-flags-1.3037553 |archive-date=22 June 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=10 controversial moments in Eurovision history |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-21/10-controversial-eurovision-moments/6481156 |access-date=25 June 2022 |work=ABC News |date=21 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521190250/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-21/10-controversial-eurovision-moments/6481156 |archive-date=21 May 2015 |url-status=live}} Her selection was also opposed by political figures, with deputy minister Shlomo Benizri demanding her removal, referring to the singer as "an abomination" and her selection as "sending a message of darkness".{{cite news |title=Transsexual singer stirs up passions |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1998/05/98/eurovision/90279.stm |access-date=25 June 2022 |work=BBC News |date=10 May 1998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021024231149/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1998/05/98/eurovision/90279.stm |archive-date=24 October 2002 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Shinefield |first1=Mordechai |title=What Eurovision Teaches Us About Israel |url=https://jewcy.com/arts-and-culture/what_eurovision_teaches_us_about_israel |publisher=Jewcy |access-date=25 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101130073257/http://www.jewcy.com/arts-and-culture/what_eurovision_teaches_us_about_israel |archive-date=30 November 2010 |date=12 June 2008 |url-status=live}} On arriving at the contest Dana International was accommodated in the Hyatt Regency Birmingham, the only hotel in Birmingham with bulletproof windows, and was accompanied in public by armed guards.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=152–155}}{{cite magazine |last1=Chamish |first1=Barry |last2=Bronson |first2=Fred |author-link1=Barry Chamish |author-link2=Fred Bronson |title=The Controversy Behind Israel's New Diva |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jQ4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA10 |access-date=25 June 2022 |magazine=Billboard |date=23 May 1998}}

"Diva" was subsequently nominated in 2005 to compete in Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest, a special broadcast to determine the contest's most popular entry of its first 50 years as part of the contest's anniversary celebrations. One of 14 entries chosen to compete{{snd}}the only song from the 1990s on the list{{snd}}"Diva" ultimately finished in thirteenth place.{{cite web |title='Congratulations' – 14 songs to compete |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/english/1820.htm |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=10 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050828130357/http://www.eurovision.tv/english/1820.htm |archive-date=28 August 2005 |date=16 June 2005 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |title=Results from the voting (Round 1 and 2) |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/english/2041.htm |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=1 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051025005431/http://www.eurovision.tv/english/2041.htm |archive-date=25 October 2005 |url-status=dead}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book |last=Murtomäki |first=Asko |title=Finland 12 points! Suomen Euroviisut |date=2007 |publisher=Teos |location=Helsinki, Finland |isbn=951-851-106-3 |language=fi}}
• {{cite book |last=O'Connor |first=John Kennedy |author-link=John Kennedy O'Connor |title=The Eurovision Song Contest: The Official History |date=2010 |publisher=Carlton Books |location=London, United Kingdom |isbn=978-1-84732-521-1 |edition=2nd}}
• {{cite journal |last1=Pajala |first1=Mari |title=Closeting Eurovision. Heteronormativity in the Finnish national television |journal=Queer Eurovision |publisher=Suomen Queer-tutkimuksen Seuran lehti |date=2007 |volume=2 |pages=25–42 |url=https://journal.fi/sqs/article/view/53666 |access-date=20 June 2022 |archive-date=20 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220620144736/https://journal.fi/sqs/article/view/53666 |url-status=live}}
• {{cite book |last=Roxburgh |first=Gordon |title=Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest |date=2020 |publisher=Telos Publishing |location=Prestatyn, United Kingdom |isbn=978-1-84583-163-9 |volume=Four: The 1990s}}
• {{cite book |last1=Thorsson |first1=Leif |last2=Verhage |first2=Martin |title=Melodifestivalen genom tiderna : de svenska uttagningarna och internationella finalerna |trans-title=Melodifestivalen through the ages: the Swedish selections and international finals |date=2006 |publisher=Premium Publishing |location=Stockholm, Sweden |isbn=91-89136-29-2 |language=sv |pages=266–267}}

{{commons category|Eurovision Song Contest 1998}}

• {{Official website|http://www.eurovision.tv/|name=Eurovision Song Contest official website}}

{{Eurovision Song Contest 1998}}

{{Eurovision Song Contest}}

{{Authority control}}

1998

Category:1998 in music

Category:1998 in British music

Category:May 1998 in the United Kingdom

Category:1998 in England

Category:1990s in Birmingham, West Midlands

Category:1998 in British television

Category:Events in Birmingham, West Midlands

Category:Festivals in Birmingham, West Midlands

Category:Music in Birmingham, West Midlands

Category:Music festivals in the United Kingdom