HistoryData
culture2010

Eurovision Song Contest 2010 — 55th Eurovision Song Contest

May 29, 2010

Germany won the 55th Eurovision Song Contest with 'Satellite' by Lena, marking the first victory by a 'Big Four' country since the rule's introduction in 2000.

Quick Facts

Year
2010
Category
culture

Key Facts

Edition
55th Eurovision Song Contest
Winning song
'Satellite' performed by Lena (Germany)
Participating countries
39 countries
Venue
Telenor Arena, Oslo, Norway
Germany's previous win
1982
Final date
29 May 2010

By the Numbers

55
Edition
39countries
Participating countries
1,982
Germany's previous win
29
Final date

Location

Map of Oslo, NorwayMap of Oslo, NorwayOslo, Norway

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

Norway's Alexander Rybak won the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Fairytale', obligating Norwegian broadcaster NRK to host the 2010 edition. The 2008 financial crisis strained NRK's budget, forcing it to sell broadcasting rights to the 2010 FIFA World Cup to fund the event.

Event

The 55th Eurovision Song Contest was held at the Telenor Arena in Oslo across two semi-finals on 25 and 27 May and a final on 29 May 2010. Thirty-nine countries competed, with Germany's Lena performing 'Satellite', winning both the jury vote and the televote to claim the contest.

Consequence

Germany achieved its second Eurovision victory and its first as a unified country, while also becoming the first 'Big Four' nation to win since that designation was introduced in 2000. The contest introduced a hybrid jury-and-televote system for the semi-finals, and Sweden failed to qualify for the final for the first time since semi-finals began in 2004.

Work

Eurovision Song Contest 2010

by Lena (performer); Julie Frost and John Gordon (songwriters)music
Germany's victory with 'Satellite' was its first as a unified nation and the first Big Four win since 2000, while a new hybrid jury-televote system reshaped contest voting.

Timeline Context

Timeline around 201020102007200820092011201220132010 FIFA World Cup — 19th FIFA World Cup, held in South Africa2010s — decade from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2019Euromaidan — 2013–2014 pro-european protests in UkraineJanuary 2010 — month of 2010European sovereign-debt crisis — multi-year debt crisis in multiple EU countries since late 20092010 Summer Youth Olympics — 2010 edition of the Summer Youth Olympics2010 Formula One World Championship — 64th season of Formula One motor racingRevolution of Dignity — 2014 revolution in Ukraineeurovision-song-contest-2010-55th-eurovision-song-contest-2010