Ukraine wins Eurovision 2022 with overwhelming support from the audience

https://www.npr.org/2022/05/13/ [login to see] /eurovision-ukraine-kalush-orchestra
Ukraine is the winner of the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest, one of the most visually stimulating spectacles on European television.

Much of the world's attention had already been focused on Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion in late February.

But the country took the spotlight on a different kind of world stage on Saturday, when folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra competed and prevailed in Eurovision's grand final.

"This victory is for every Ukrainian!" lead singer Oleh Psiuk shouted.

Support for Ukraine could be seen and heard from the first moments of the finals on Saturday. Contestants and audience members alike sang, "All we are saying, is give peace a chance," during the opening ceremony. When the cameras cut to shots of the audience in Turin, Italy, people could be seen dressed in yellow and blue, some waving the Ukrainian flag, in support.

After the Kalush Orchestra peformed, Psiuk called out to audience members across the world, "I ask all of you, please help Ukraine, Mariupol, help Azovstal, Right now!"

Ukraine ended the evening with a whopping 631 points, followed by the U.K. with 466, Spain with 459 and then Sweden with 438.