On October 7 Portugal’s state broadcaster RTP announced that it would not participate in Eurovision 2016. A nation of Eurofans wept. Now, as their tears dry and the sound of “Quero ser tua” plays in the background, those fans are standing up and taking action.

Today Portuguese Eurovision fan Claudio Poiares unveiled a crowdfunding campaign to raise “at least €250,000” for RTP’s participation. Writing on indiegogo, he points out that the cash-strapped nation will field teams at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio and the European Football Championship in France. He thinks Eurovision is getting the short end of the stick in a country that loves its sport:

What about arts? The Eurovision Song Contest was, is and will be the hugest platform of new and successful artists whom want to represent their countries. I am a huge fan of the Eurovision Song Contest, and I used to watch with my family, year after year at our living lounge and vibrating with all songs from all different countries.

Claudio has also arranged for a series of “thank you gifts” for those who donate.

£10: A bottle of Port wine (1,000 available)

£100: A Portuguese Cork Bag, including a bottle of Port and 12 pasteis de Belem (250 available)

£750: A weekend break in Lisbon (50 available)

£5,000: An all-inclusive trip to Stockholm to attend both semi-finals and the grand final of Eurovision 2016 (25 available).

wiwibloggs is playing its part! When we discovered the campaign an hour ago there had been ZERO donations

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But Diego — a wiwiblogger and Spanish eurofan — has now donated £10 pounds and claimed his bottle of Port. Will you join him?

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Claudio is asking that you use the hashtag #letsmakehistoryforPortugal when you share the news.

FOLLOW ALL OF OUR PORTUGAL EUROVISION NEWS HERE

PS we’re still wondering why Ronaldo can’t just pay for it all!

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John
John
8 years ago

Forget it…its not about the money! Portugal have money to participate at ESC for sure, a country who organized Expo´98, Euro2004 and many other events…
Portugal don´t participate this year because its in Sweden!
Portugal will return in 2017 for sure 😉

mawnck
mawnck
8 years ago

“We think we will need at least €250,000 to make it viable.”

WE THINK?

This campaign has a serious credibility problem. I’ll pass.

Azaad
Azaad
8 years ago

Well this is a novel way to participate at Eurovision.

From 2017 onwards a private network should take over Eurovision for Portugal.

Ariso Light
Ariso Light
8 years ago

I hope people raise enough money for Portugal so Portugal can be in Stockholm!

Natasha
Natasha
8 years ago

If I had 5000 euros to give to this campaign I would just buy my own tickets for Stockholm myself tbh
((and if GCSEs weren’t in the way))

Mario = Legend
Mario = Legend
8 years ago

Only £25 raised so far… Oh dear. It was a nice thought, but it looks like it’s gonna be impossible. 🙂

Pedro
Pedro
8 years ago

Well, I’m from Portugal and I’m very surprised with this article! Just because here in the Portuguese websites we do not have nothing about this!! Well, I really hope this is real because everybody is too much sick of RTP stupid reasons about the withdrewn

Daniel
Daniel
8 years ago

Oh thanks #American!

cheesecake
cheesecake
8 years ago

I wonder how Claudio wants to finance those gifts…
Good luck, however.

Bronson
Bronson
8 years ago

I don’t think it’s a financial problem that RTP has – they just simply don’t want to attend. The real question is what’s going to happen with all the money raised….

TUNISIA DEBUT
8 years ago

Tunisia to debut & Morocco coming back with 2AM TV?

http://bit.do/eurovision-2016-tunisia-morocco-debut-sweden-in-2016-

sjkdjd
sjkdjd
8 years ago

This is real? Why not Spain bring an Iberian duet for ESC’16? For example: Pablo Alborán ft Carminho- Perdóname OR David Bisbal ft Cuca Roseta – Si Aún Te Quieres Quedar.
It would be very friendly on the part of Spain 🙂

#American
#American
8 years ago

@Daniel

Nah. The deadline for pulling out without penalty fees was today (I believe), while countries can still declare that they want to participate until the end of October.

Daniel
Daniel
8 years ago

Isn’t too late for them to participate though?

Mario esc fan
Mario esc fan
8 years ago

Well this is pointless i think.. Its just OVER in my book 4 Portugal… Even if they raise this amount of money this factor alone still will not make Portugal to participate in Sweden’s Vision.. Its lost case…When they withdrew for the main reason that they are not satisfied with the method that they chose the entries they will not gonna change their mind.. I wanted Portugal to join us next year but i don’t think that this scenario will happen.. Like with Bosnia as well.. & Croatia too as it really seems.. With or without them the show must… Read more »

MirkoJoshua
MirkoJoshua
8 years ago

I wish I had money :c

DenizNL
DenizNL
8 years ago

There you go!! That is great! I hope they do participate.

Sarah Boucher
Sarah Boucher
8 years ago

TVP is Poland.