Thursday 12 May 2022 02:17 PM Eurovision Song Contest is embroiled in sex scandal over launch party in Italy trends now
The Eurovision song contest is engulfed in a sex scandal after a number of female volunteers claimed they were 'groped' and 'touched up' during this year's launch party.
The women were all hostesses at a launch party which was held last weekend and attended by performers, backing singers, dancers and VIP guests.
Eurovision – who organise the annual transcontinental singing marathon contest – have denied the claims but women's groups in Italy are pressing for an urgent police inquiry.
One woman named as Chiara contacted a Me Too-style campaigning group Non Una Di Meno (Not One Less) to say she'd been groped. She claims she had been 'touched on her bottom and waist' by 'dancers from a foreign singer' - without identifying them.
Another woman at the red carpet party – which was held at the Venaria Palace on the outskirts of Turin – said: 'I felt violated. I was there as a volunteer to help the delegations and they had their hands all over us.'
She went on: 'They were continually hugging and embracing us – one put his hand on my waist and tried to kiss me. I managed to get away but then someone else tried to do the same.
'It was happening to a lot of the female volunteers who were there to act as hostesses and in the end a lot left because of what was happening.'
Performers pose for cameras on the Turquoise carpet of the 66th Eurovision Song Contest at Reggia di Venaria Reale, Turin. There is no suggestion those pictured are involved in any way in the alleged sexual assault incidents
The woman, who is in her 20s added: ' I was really looking forward to being a volunteer at Eurovision but I never expected anything like this to happen.
'What should have been a wonderful experience transformed itself into an evening of groping and molestation.
'Ok, it's the sort of thing you might get in a nightclub but I never expected something like this to happen at an event like this.'
Last Sunday's party to celebrate the opening of a week of Eurovision events - ahead of the final on Saturday - was held at the Venaria Palace on the outskirts of Turin, a former royal residence.
The venue – which is a UNESCO World Heritage site – hosted a launch for more than 40 countries taking part in this weekend's musical extravaganza but the UK delegation are not thought to have attended.
Various reports on social media talk about a 'wild drunken night' as guests enjoyed champagne, beer and cocktails to launch the contest at what was called a Turquoise Carpet.
Performers pose for cameras on the Turquoise carpet of the 66th Eurovision Song Contest at Reggia di Venaria Reale, Turin. There is no suggestion those pictured are involved in any way in the alleged sexual assault incidents
