Yahoo – AFP,
12 May 2015
Austria
gets into the Eurovision spirit with its gay-themed traffic lights across
Vienna (AFP Photo/Dieter Nagl)
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Vienna
(AFP) - From gay-themed traffic lights to singing sewers, Vienna is getting
spruced up as it prepares to host one of the world's most popular music
competitions, the 60th Eurovision Song Contest.
With less
than a week to go before the first semi-final, the Austrian capital has
launched a series of original initiatives to celebrate the ESC's anniversary
edition.
Lights at
120 pedestrian crossings are receiving a quirky makeover: instead of the
traditional single figure, they now show either a heterosexual or gay couple
with hearts.
Officials
say the revamped signals
are signs of Vienna's tolerance, as
well as part of an
experiement to raise
traffic awareness (AFP Photo/Dieter Nagl)
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Officials
said the revamped signals were signs of Vienna's tolerance, celebrating not
only the song contest, but also the HIV/AIDS charity Life Ball event on May 16
and the Rainbow Parade in June.
The
installations are also part of a scientific experiment aimed at raising traffic
awareness.
Local
authorities said the signals had been replaced at junctions where people
traditionally ignore the red lights, and want to test whether the new
interfaces can change the public's behaviour.
View
galleryOfficials say the revamped signals are signs of
Vienna's …
Officials
say the revamped signals are signs of Vienna's tolerance, as well as part of an
experi …
However,
not everyone likes the campaign.
Toni
Mahdalik of the right-wing FPO party called the initiative gender politics
"gone mad", and said the money would have been better spent on
reducing poverty and unemployment figures.
The
installations are also to
promote Austria's Eurovision
entry, "I Am
Yours" by The
Makemakes (AFP Photo/
Dieter Nagl)
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Cleverly
hidden stereo systems inside the gutters play Austria's two winning Eurovision
songs -- one by bearded drag queen Conchita Wurst, who won last year, the other
by 1966 champion Udo Juergens.
They also
promote this year's entry, "I Am Yours" by Austrian trio The
Makemakes, currently ranked 21st of the bookmakers' favourites.
Austria is
one of 40 nations taking part in the competition.
After the
semi-finals on May 19 and 21, the remaining 27 countries -- including
first-time contestant Australia which has automatically qualified -- will face
off in the grand finale on May 23.
Overall,
the contest is estimated to cost between 25 million euros ($28 million)and 27
million euros, according to Austrian public broadcaster ORF, which is
organising the event.
Conchita Wurst representing Austria performs "Rise Like A Phoenix" after winning
the Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen, Denmark, on May 10, 2014 (AFP Photo/
Jonathan Nackstrand)
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