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The other vote that matters: Australia’s hopes at Eurovision grand final

Kate Miller-Heidke flies through the air atop a pole in her operatic Eurovision song.

Kate Miller-Heidke flies through the air atop a pole in her operatic Eurovision song. Photo: Getty

Australia is considered a chance to win the 64th Eurovision Song Contest when singer Kate Miller-Heidke takes to the stage in the grand final on Sunday.

Europe’s annual music extravaganza will crown one of 26 entries with dreams of following in the footsteps of past winners such as Swedish pop icons ABBA and Celine Dion, who represented Switzerland.

The Netherlands’ Duncan Laurence is the bookies’ favourite to win Eurovision but Australia has also leaped to the top following Kate Miller-Heidke’s semi-final performance.

Brisbane singer-songwriter Miller-Heidke stunned with a spectacular stage show, wearing a full ball gown while perched atop a moving pole to deliver her song Zero Gravity.

She will be the 25th out of 26 performers.

About 200 million people around the world are expected to be watching as pop star Madonna also does a guest performance.

Israel earned the right to host the show after Netta Barzilai carried off last year’s prize with her spunky pop anthem Toy.

However pro-Palestinian activists called for performers and international broadcasters to boycott the show.

The show of European unity brings together acts from 41 countries, including those with little connection to Europe, such as Australia.

Two semi-finals, numerous dress rehearsals and a week of press and audience events have led up to this point.

The final round’s winner will be influenced by TV viewers casting votes via text message.

For Australian viewers, this means tuning into SBS on Sunday morning and texting the numbers that appear on screen during the live broadcast.

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