We don’t want to host if KAJ’s sauna song wins Eurovision, says Swedish city of Malmö

TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:

"Malmö Declines Future Eurovision Hosting if Finland's KAJ Wins Contest"

We don’t want to host if KAJ’s sauna song wins Eurovision, says Swedish city of Malmö analysis cover image The Guardian 7.5
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Original Article Source: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/may/12/kaj-sauna-song-eurovision-malmo-sweden
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AI Analysis Average Score: 7.5
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TruthLens AI Summary

The Swedish city of Malmö has expressed its reluctance to host the Eurovision Song Contest again next year if Finland’s sauna-themed entry, 'Bara bada bastu' by the group KAJ, wins the ongoing competition in Switzerland. As the song currently dominates streaming charts in Sweden and Finland, Malmö’s announcement comes ahead of the final scheduled to take place in Basel. KAJ, representing Finland’s Swedish-speaking minority, has captured attention with its catchy lyrics that celebrate sauna culture. However, Malmö's officials have indicated that if KAJ were to triumph, they would not be willing to host the event again due to the logistical challenges associated with organizing such a large-scale event every two years. The city previously faced significant challenges during the last contest, which included large protests against Israel's participation and a substantial increase in policing costs, although officials clarified that these costs did not factor into their decision to step back from hosting duties.

Anna Wittgren, Malmö’s head of marketing, emphasized that the city is proud of its successful hosting of last year’s event, where it managed to balance the demands of a major international competition with local demonstrations. She noted that the unique nature of the Eurovision Song Contest, which requires extensive organization in a short time frame, makes it impractical for Malmö to host the event so frequently. As discussions about potential future hosts arise, cities like Gothenburg and Örnsköldsvik are being considered if the hosting rights were to return to Sweden. The song from KAJ not only promotes sauna culture but also highlights the historical and linguistic connections between Sweden and Finland, where Swedish remains an official language and is spoken by a significant portion of the population. This cultural backdrop adds another layer of significance to the Eurovision competition this year, as it showcases the rich heritage of the Swedish-speaking community in Finland.

TruthLens AI Analysis

The article highlights the position taken by the Swedish city of Malmö regarding the potential hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest next year, contingent upon the Finnish entry "Bara bada bastu" winning the current competition. The city's decision reflects deeper sentiments about the event's impact on local resources and its frequency.

Motivation Behind the News

Malmö's announcement can be seen as a proactive approach to managing expectations and resources. By expressing reluctance to host again, the city might be seeking to avoid the logistical challenges and financial burdens associated with such a large-scale event. The city officials emphasize the need for a break from hosting duties, indicating a desire to prioritize local governance and community needs over recurring international events.

Public Perception and Community Response

The article aims to shape public perception by illustrating Malmö as a responsible steward of its resources, balancing pride in hosting the Eurovision with the realities of local governance. The mention of previous protests and budget overages could evoke a sense of caution among residents and stakeholders, reinforcing the city's stance against hosting again. This narrative could resonate well with citizens who value their local governance over international spectacles.

Potential Concealments or Omissions

There may be underlying tensions regarding public spending and event management that are not fully addressed in the article. While the city claims that policing costs are not a concern, the historical context of budget overruns and public protests suggests that these issues may still weigh heavily on community sentiment.

Manipulative Aspects of the Article

The article’s framing could be interpreted as somewhat manipulative, particularly in how it highlights the city's pride contrasted with its reluctance. The language used suggests a careful curation of Malmö’s image, possibly diverting attention from any internal dissent or dissatisfaction regarding past events.

Comparative Context with Other News

In comparing this article to others regarding Eurovision or large public events, a pattern of cities grappling with the balance between hosting international events and local priorities emerges. This could indicate a broader trend in public administration where cities are increasingly cautious about the implications of hosting large-scale events.

Economic and Political Implications

The decision shared in the article could have wider implications for Malmö's economic landscape, particularly in tourism and local business sectors that benefit from such events. Politically, this could reflect a shift toward prioritizing local issues over international reputation, a sentiment that might resonate with other cities facing similar pressures.

Target Audience and Community Appeal

The narrative seems to appeal to local residents, civic leaders, and those concerned with public spending and safety. It potentially seeks support from those who prioritize community stability over the allure of international recognition.

Impact on Markets and Economic Indicators

While the article may not directly influence stock markets, it does highlight the importance of events like Eurovision on local economies. Companies involved in event management, tourism, and hospitality could see fluctuations based on public sentiment surrounding such announcements.

Global Power Dynamics and Current Affairs

The article connects to broader discussions about national identity and cultural representation, especially in the context of Finland's cultural expressions versus Sweden's hosting capabilities. This aligns with contemporary debates about nationalism and global events.

AI Influence in Article Composition

While it is unlikely that AI played a significant role in the writing of this news piece, any AI models utilized would potentially have focused on summarizing events and presenting them in a neutral tone. If AI contributed, it might have shaped the narrative to emphasize responsible governance.

The overall reliability of the article is moderate; it presents a specific perspective that highlights the city's proactive stance while potentially downplaying underlying issues. The framing of the news suggests a calculated approach to community relations and public perception.

Unanalyzed Article Content

Source URL: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/may/12/kaj-sauna-song-eurovision-malmo-sweden

There are still several days to go until theEurovisionfinal in Switzerland, but the Swedish city of Malmö has already pre-emptively said it does not want to host the event again next year if the country’s hotly tipped sauna-themed entry wins this year’s contest.

The song – calledBara bada bastu(Just sauna) – is top of the streaming charts in Sweden andFinlandon Spotify and is a favourite to win Saturday’s final in Basel.

It is performed by the Finnish group KAJ, who are among Finland’s Swedish-speaking minority, and includes the lyrics “Just sauna, sauna / Steam it up, until the sweat just sprays”.

But if KAJ are triumphant and the hosting rights to next year’s competition fall toSweden, Malmö has ruled out reprising its host city role from 2024 – where the city became the venue for several large demonstrations against Israel’s participation and the policing bill more than doubled from the original budget to 92m kroner (£7m).

The same city hosting the contest multiples times is not unknown in Eurovision. Dublin was the host city in 1994, 1995 and 1997 – a 1990s Irish run that began with the town of Millstreet in County Cork staging it in 1993. Ireland and Sweden have both won and hosted the contest seven times.

Anna Wittgren, Malmö city’s head of marketing, said policing costs were not a factor in its decision because that bill was not picked up by the city. Rather, she said, it was too big an event to host every two years.

“We did very well last year and now we’re passing the baton on if it becomes necessary,” she said. “The Eurovision song contest is exceptional in that you only have 10 months to organise and put on a global event and we need to have it a little less frequently than every two years.”

The city was “enormously proud” of last year’s event, she said, in which “we showed that in the spirit of democracy we could house both protests and a world-class event in safe and secure ways for all participants”.

Gothenburg, Sweden’s second-largest city, and Örnsköldsvik have been tipped as potential hosts in the event that KAJ should win.

As well as promoting the merits of sauna culture, Sweden’s entry also puts the spotlight on Finland’s 290,000 Swedish-speaking population and the Vörå dialect spoken in the bilingual Finnish municipality where KAJ are from.

Use of the Swedish language in Finland dates to at least the 12th century and remains an official language of Finland.

Finland was part of the Swedish kingdom between 1323 and 1809, when it was captured by Russia and became part of the Russian empire until Finland declared independence in 1917.

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Source: The Guardian