Eurovision Song Contest

The Eurovision Song Contest (French: Concours Eurovision de la chanson), often shortened to ESC or Eurovision, is the longest-running annual TV song competition, held, primarily, among the member countries of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) since 1956. The competition was based upon the existing Sanremo Music Festival held in Italy.

Each participating country submits an original song to be performed on live television and radio and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition. The contest has been broadcast every year for sixty years, since its inauguration in 1956, and is one of the longest-running television programmes in the world. It is also one of the most watched non-sporting events in the world, with audience figures having been quoted in recent years as anything between 100 million and 600 million internationally. Eurovision has also been broadcast outside Europe to several countries that do not compete, such as the USA and China. An exception was made in 2015, when Australia was allowed to compete as a guest entrant as part of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the event. In November 2015, the EBU announced that Australia would return in 2016. Since 2000, the contest has also been broadcast over the Internet, via the Eurovision website.

Song Contest

Song Contest may refer to:

Albania

Albania (ⁱ/ælˈbeɪniə/, al-BAY-nee-ə, or sometimes /ɔːlˈbeɪniə/, awl-BAY-nee-ə; Albanian: Shqipëri/Shqipëria; Gheg Albanian: Shqipni/Shqipnia, Shqypni/Shqypnia), officially known as the Republic of Albania (Albanian: Republika e Shqipërisë; Albanian pronunciation: [ɾɛpuˈblika ɛ ʃcipəˈɾiːs]), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east, and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the west and on the Ionian Sea to the southwest. It is less than 72 km (45 mi) from Italy, across the Strait of Otranto which connects the Adriatic Sea to the Ionian Sea.

The modern-day territory of Albania was at various points in history part of the Roman provinces of Dalmatia (southern Illyricum), Macedonia (particularly Epirus Nova), and Moesia Superior. The modern Republic became independent after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in Europe following the Balkan Wars. Albania declared independence in 1912 and was recognized the following year. It then became a Principality, Republic, and Kingdom until being invaded by Italy in 1939, which formed Greater Albania. The latter eventually turned into a Nazi German protectorate in 1943. The following year, a socialist People's Republic was established under the leadership of Enver Hoxha and the Party of Labour. Albania experienced widespread social and political transformations during the communist era, as well as isolationism from much of the international community. In 1991, the Socialist Republic was dissolved and the Republic of Albania was established.

Eurovision Song Contest 2011

The Eurovision Song Contest 2011 was the 56th edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest. The event took place in the Esprit Arena in Düsseldorf, Germany, following the country's win at the 2010 edition. This made the 2011 Contest the first since 2004 to take place outside of the host nation's capital city. The contest consisted of two semi-finals which took place on 10 and 12 May, and a final on the evening of 14 May 2011.

Forty-three countries participated in the contest, with those returning including Austria, which last participated in 2007; Hungary, which last competed in 2009; and San Marino, which last participated in 2008. Italy also returned to the Contest, marking its first participation since 1997. No country withdrew from the contest.

The winner was Azerbaijan with the song "Running Scared" performed by Ell & Nikki. The runner up was Italy, and Sweden finished in third place. Italy (2nd) and Germany (10th) were the only members of the "Big Five" to make it into the top 10, with the United Kingdom close behind at 11th place; France and Spain, failed to make it into the top half of the leader board coming 15th (82 points) and 23rd (50 points) respectively. 2010 Hosts Norway was eliminated in the first semi final. Azerbaijan obtained its first ever victory in any Eurovision since its debut in 2008.

FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship

The FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship, previously known as the European Championship for Men '22 and Under', is a basketball competition inaugurated in 1992. Until 2004, it was held biannually, but since 2004, it is held every year. The current champions are Serbia.

Since 2005, a Division B tournament, the second level of the European Under-20 Basketball Championship, is also organized. Since 2013, the top three placed teams at each year's Division B tournament are promoted to the next year's Division A Championship. This way, the three bottom teams of the Division A Championship are relegated to the next year's Division B Championship.

Division A

The Division A is the top level of the Under-20 championship organized by FIBA Europe.

These teams have always played in Division A, and have never been relegated to Division B:

 France

 Italy

 Latvia

 Lithuania

 Serbia

 Slovenia

 Spain

 Turkey

Results

Performances by nation

MVP Awards (since 1996)

Division B

Division B is the lower tier of the two Under-20 championships organized by FIBA Europe.