Azerbaijan claims Eurovision crown

Three years after its Eurovision debut, Azerbaijan has won the continent-wide competition for the first time with the song “Running Scared.”

Sung by duo Eldar and Nigar, but written by three Swedes, “Running Scared” earned the wealthy but autocratic country the right to host the competition in 2012.

Eurovision has cost this year’s host, Germany, $35 million to broadcast and is a net money loser, but fellow European nations donate funds to defray the expense, and the contest is considered a major tourism booster.

Al Jazeera’s Tania Page reports from Dusseldorf.