Spain and The "Big Five"
Since 1998, four particular countries have automatically qualified for the Eurovision final, regardless of their positions on the scoreboard in previous Contests. They earned this special status by being the four biggest financial contributors to the EBU (without which the production of the Eurovision Song Contest would not be possible). These countries are the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Spain. Due to their untouchable status in the Contest, these countries became known as the "Big Four". Italy returned to the contest in 2011, thus becoming part of a "Big Five".
Read more about this topic: Spain In The Eurovision Song Contest
Famous quotes containing the words spain and/or big:
“last time I saw you was the hospital
pale skull protruding under ashen skin
blue veined unconscious girl
in an oxygen tent
the war in Spain has ended long ago
Aunt Rose”
—Allen Ginsberg (b. 1926)
“Whoever is in a hurry, shows that the thing he is about is too big for him.”
—Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl Chesterfield (1694–1773)