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VIENNA<\/strong> \u2013 The final of the Eurovision Song Contest<\/a> arrives Saturday, with tight security and rainy weather failing to dent the enthusiasm of fans, or the opposition of critics who think Israel shouldn\u2019t be invited<\/a> to the party.<\/p>\n After a week\u2019s buildup, acts from 25 countries will take to the stage at the Wiener Stadthalle arena in Vienna to battle for the continent\u2019s pop crown. Millions of viewers around the world will cast judgment on a fiery Finnish violinist, a Moldovan folk rapper, a Serbian metal band and many more at Eurovision\u2019s 70th anniversary event.<\/p>\n The campy, colorful contest has been likened to the World Cup with songs<\/a> instead of soccer. And like global sports, it often becomes entangled in politics. The contest has been clouded for a third year by calls for Israel to be excluded over its conflicts in Gaza and elsewhere, with five longtime participants \u2014 Spain,<\/a> the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia \u2014 boycotting in protest<\/a>.<\/p>\n Finnish favorites fan the flames<\/p>\n Newcomers looking to grasp the essence of Eurovision<\/a> and its interplay of pop and politics should look no further than two of the fan favorites to emerge during a week that saw two semifinals ahead of the grand finale.<\/p>\n Rapper Satoshi\u2019s \u201cViva, Moldova\u201d combines \u201ca stunning high energy performance with a subtle pro-European political message,\u201d from a country moving toward the European Union after decades in Moscow\u2019s orbit, said Eurovision historian Dean Vuletic. Greek artist Akylas\u2019 song \u201cFerto,\u201d or \u201cBring It,\u201d provides a playful take on conspicuous consumption in a country still scarred by the economic wounds of the 2008 financial crisis.<\/p>\n Both are likely to score highly with viewers, though national juries, which tend to be more impressed by technical excellence, may be less impressed. Winners are chosen by a mix of votes from the two, translated into points by a system confusing even to Eurovision fans. The act with the most points wins, and their country gets to host the competition next year.<\/p>\n Finland is the favorite<\/a> in betting odds with \u201cLiekinheitin,\u201d or \u201cFlamethrower,\u201d a fiery duet between the singing of pop star Pete Parkkonen and the fiddling of classical violinist Linda Lampenius.<\/p>\n But Eurovision often produces surprises.<\/p>\n \u201cEurovision has never really been a contest for big stars. It\u2019s largely been a contest for underdogs,\u201d Vuletic said. \u201cPeople like to see the underdog on stage. They like to the artist-in-the-making on stage or an artist from a smaller, poorer country on stage.\u201d<\/p>\n A wild card would be a win by Australia, a Eurovision participant since 2015, which has sent established star Delta Goodrem<\/a>. Her slick midtempo ballad \u201cEclipse\u201d \u2014 and a bravura performance that sees her raised into the air above a glittery piano \u2014 has been rising up the betting odds. A European country would likely host for Australia next year if she wins.<\/p>\n Protests express opposition to Israel<\/p>\n Israeli competitor<\/a> Noam Bettan has been warmly received in the auditorium, though four protesters were ejected after trying to interrupt his performance during Tuesday\u2019s semifinal.<\/p>\n Street protests opposing Israel\u2019s inclusion over the conduct of its war against Hamas in Gaza<\/a> have been smaller in Vienna than at the 2024 contest in Malmo, Sweden<\/a> and last year\u2019s event in Basel, Switzerland<\/a>.<\/p>\n A demonstration against Israel\u2019s participation is planned ahead of Saturday\u2019s final, and pro-Palestinian groups staged an outdoor concert on Friday under the banner \u201cNo stage for genocide.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cInviting Israel on such a beautiful stage as the Eurovision Song Contest stage is an affront to all the people who believe in humanity, who believe in love and togetherness,\u201d said Congolese-Austrian artist Patrick Bongola, one of the organizers.<\/p>\n The five-nation boycott is a revenue and viewership blow to an event that organizers say was watched by 166 million people around the world last year. This year\u2019s field of 35 contestants is the smallest since 2003.<\/p>\n