OGAE
OGAE, standing for Organisation Générale des Amateurs de l'Eurovision, is a non-profit international fan network dedicated to the Eurovision Song Contest, serving as the world's largest such organization with 44 national clubs and approximately 17,000 members spanning over 50 countries.[1][2] Founded on July 28, 1984, in Savonlinna, Finland, by Jaripekka Koikkalainen to unite Eurovision enthusiasts initially within Finland, OGAE expanded globally by establishing clubs in Eurovision-participating nations and later through OGAE Rest of the World for non-participating countries.[1] OGAE International, formed in 2011 and based in Paris, France, acts as the coordinating umbrella body, governed by elected representatives from national club presidents and focused on fostering fan connections, updates on the contest, and collaborative promotions with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).[1][2] The network's defining activities include the annual OGAE Poll, launched in 2007 as a pre-Eurovision fan voting survey that frequently anticipates contest results, and the OGAE Song Contest, an audio-based event since 1986 promoting original national songs among member clubs to enhance musical exposure.[1] Members gain practical benefits such as prioritized ticket packages for Eurovision semi-finals and finals, discounts on merchandise, and participation in Europe-wide themed events, underscoring OGAE's role in amplifying fan engagement without direct governance over the official contest.[1][2]
History
Founding and Early Development
The Organisation Générale des Amateurs de l'Eurovision (OGAE) was founded in 1984 in Savonlinna, Finland, by Jaripekka Koikkalainen.[1] The organization emerged as a grassroots effort to connect Finnish fans of the Eurovision Song Contest, enabling them to meet, discuss entries, and share updates on the annual event amid limited official fan infrastructure at the time.[2] Initially operating as a single national club, OGAE quickly attracted interest from Eurovision enthusiasts in other participating countries, leading to the formation of affiliated fan clubs across Europe in the mid-to-late 1980s.[3] This organic expansion fostered informal cross-border exchanges, including newsletters and gatherings focused on contest analysis and promotion, which strengthened the community's role in amplifying fan perspectives independent of broadcasters.[2] By the early 1990s, the network had grown to encompass multiple national clubs, coordinating shared activities such as pre-contest predictions and post-event reviews, though without a centralized international body until later formalization.[2] This period marked OGAE's transition from a local Finnish initiative to a burgeoning pan-European fan alliance, with membership driven by grassroots enthusiasm rather than institutional directives.[1]Expansion and Institutionalization
Following the establishment of the inaugural OGAE club in Savonlinna, Finland, in 1984 by Jaripekka Koikkalainen, the organization expanded through the creation of national fan clubs in other Eurovision-participating countries, initially concentrating in Europe. This growth facilitated collaborative activities, such as the launch of the OGAE Song Contest in 1986 and the OGAE Second Chance Contest in 1987, which drew entries from multiple emerging clubs including those in Sweden and Norway.[4][1] By the early 2000s, the network had proliferated to encompass dozens of national clubs, reflecting the rising popularity of the Eurovision Song Contest and the appeal of fan-driven initiatives among enthusiasts.[2] A significant milestone in geographic expansion came in 2006, when OGAE Rest of the World was approved during a meeting in Athens, providing a dedicated club for fans in non-European Broadcasting Union (EBU) member countries without existing national branches, such as the United States, Brazil, and South Africa.[5] This development extended OGAE's reach beyond traditional Eurovision territories, accommodating a broader global fandom and contributing to a total of 44 national clubs plus the Rest of the World affiliate, with approximately 17,000 members worldwide as recognized in 2017.[1] Institutionalization advanced with the founding of OGAE International in 2011, incorporated as a legal entity in France to serve as the coordinating umbrella for all national clubs.[2] This body formalized governance through adopted statutes, establishing a Presidents' Board comprising representatives from each national club and an elected Bureau for day-to-day management, thereby transitioning OGAE from an informal network to a structured non-profit association focused on promoting Eurovision-related events and international cooperation among members.[6]Organizational Structure
National Fan Clubs
OGAE national fan clubs constitute the core active membership of the organization, comprising local branches dedicated to Eurovision Song Contest enthusiasts in countries that have participated in the contest.[7][6] As of 2025, there are 44 such clubs, with most countries limited to one club, though Germany maintains two pre-existing clubs.[7] These clubs operate independently but align with OGAE International's statutes, emphasizing promotion of the Eurovision Song Contest, international friendship, and adherence to values such as human dignity and equality.[6] Membership in national clubs is open to individuals interested in Eurovision, with fans permitted to join multiple clubs while designating one as primary for purposes such as OGAE International affiliation and access to contest ticket allocations.[7] Clubs handle local recruitment, typically based on nationality or residence, and collect annual fees capped at 12 EUR per member to support OGAE International operations.[6] Each club is represented by its president or an authorized delegate in the Presidents’ Board, which holds ultimate authority over OGAE International decisions, including elections for the managing Bureau committee.[2] New national clubs form through application to OGAE International's Bureau, entering a one-year associate membership period for evaluation before full admission by simple majority vote in the Presidents’ Board during an Ordinary General Meeting.[6] Approved clubs gain rights to use the OGAE name (subject to national laws), participate in contests like the OGAE Poll and Song Contest, and vote on organizational matters.[6] Nationally, clubs organize events, screenings, and fan meetups to foster community and support local Eurovision entries, contributing to the network's total of approximately 10,000 members across more than 50 countries.[2]| Country Examples | Club Name |
|---|---|
| Albania | OGAE Albania[7] |
| Finland | OGAE Finland[7] |
| United Kingdom | OGAE United Kingdom[7] |
| Germany | OGAE Germany (two clubs)[7] |
International Coordination and OGAE Rest of the World
OGAE International, formalized in 2011 as a French-incorporated entity, operates as the central coordinating body for the network of national OGAE clubs, overseeing collaborative activities such as polls, contests, and promotional efforts with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).[2] This structure ensures unified participation from over 40 national clubs plus the OGAE Rest of the World club, representing around 10,000 members in more than 50 countries, with ultimate governance vested in the presidents of these national clubs via elected statutes.[2] The OGAE International Bureau, a seven-member committee elected or appointed biennially by national club presidents, manages operational administration, inter-club coordination, and processes for approving new clubs, thereby maintaining network cohesion and facilitating global fan engagement.[8] As of 2024, the bureau includes President Simon Bennett (OGAE UK, elected 2015), Secretary Anthony Cige (OGAE Iceland, elected 2019), Treasurer Morten Thomassen (OGAE Norway, appointed 2017), and members Marcus Davey (OGAE Rest of the World, elected 2015), Alasdair Rendall (OGAE UK, elected 2022), Sebastian Zasada (OGAE Poland, elected 2024), and Stephan Chiffre (OGAE France, elected 2024).[8] OGAE Rest of the World functions as a unified club within the OGAE network, dedicated to Eurovision fans in regions lacking independent national chapters, including North, South, and Central America, Asia, Africa, and other non-EBU or uncovered territories.[9] Established to foster community among these dispersed members, it enables their involvement in international OGAE initiatives like voting in the annual poll and submitting entries to contests such as the OGAE Song Contest, with representation on the International Bureau through figures like Marcus Davey.[8][9] The club emphasizes online activities and point-based systems for member engagement, bridging gaps for fans outside traditional European strongholds.[9]Core Activities and Contests
OGAE Poll
The OGAE Poll is an annual pre-contest survey organized by OGAE International, in which members of affiliated national fan clubs submit votes for their preferred songs among the competing entries in the Eurovision Song Contest.[10] Conducted before rehearsals and public performances begin, it serves as an early indicator of fan sentiment within the Eurovision community, often influencing discussions and betting markets.[11] Votes are aggregated from participating clubs, with results revealed progressively over several weeks leading up to the contest, typically starting in late April and concluding in early May.[12] Each national OGAE club awards points to its top 10 favorite entries using the standard Eurovision positional system: 12 points to the first choice, 10 to the second, 8 to the third, and 7 down to 1 for the remaining positions.[10] Only full members of OGAE clubs are eligible to vote, ensuring participation reflects dedicated fandom rather than casual public opinion. The poll's structure mirrors Eurovision voting but relies exclusively on fan input, which can amplify bloc-like preferences among enthusiasts, such as enthusiasm for Nordic or Eastern European entries in certain years.[13] Originating in the mid-2000s, the poll gained prominence around 2007, when Serbia's "Molitva" topped both the OGAE votes and the actual contest, marking an early alignment between fan predictions and outcomes.[11] Since then, it has been held annually, with results often highlighting frontrunners like Israel's Netta in 2018, who received the inaugural OGAE Poll trophy sponsored by OGAE Rest of the World.[14] In recent editions, such as 2025, Sweden's entry amassed 421 points to claim victory, followed by Austria (382) and the Netherlands (278), underscoring persistent fan appeal for upbeat pop entries.[15] While the poll frequently identifies top contenders, its predictive accuracy for the final Eurovision results remains moderate, with the winning entry placing first in the OGAE poll in only select years and roughly 20% of the contest's top five aligning with the poll's top five over a 14-year span analyzed from 2007 onward.[16] It better correlates with top-10 placements as a broad fan enthusiasm gauge but is susceptible to biases inherent in fan voting, such as overrepresentation of popular genres or regional favorites, diverging from jury or televote outcomes.[17] Nonetheless, its release often shifts pre-contest narratives, providing a counterpoint to bookmaker odds.[11]OGAE Second Chance Contest
The OGAE Second Chance Contest (SCC) is an annual competition coordinated by OGAE International, featuring songs from national Eurovision Song Contest selections that failed to advance to the international final or were internally selected without public competition.[18] Each participating OGAE national club nominates one such entry from its country's public selection process, aiming to highlight overlooked tracks and promote performers, composers, and lyricists from these events.[19] The contest operates independently of the official Eurovision, with voting conducted among OGAE members to determine a winner based on aggregated points.[19] Initiated in 1987, the SCC provides a platform for fan-driven recognition of non-qualifying entries, often from Melodifestivalen in Sweden or similar formats elsewhere.[18] Sweden has dominated the event, securing its 19th victory in 2025 with Klara Hammarström's "On and On and On," which received 348 points ahead of Italy's Giorgia with "La cura per me" (second place) and Finland's Goldielocks with "Made Of" (third).[20] The 2025 edition involved 25 clubs, including debutant Luxembourg, with results announced on October 4, 2025, following a voting period hosted by the previous year's winner, Italy.[21][22] Participation requires songs to have been publicly performed or broadcast in national finals, excluding internally selected entries unless from open competitions; clubs must submit entries by specified deadlines, typically mid-year, with voting open for at least 30 days.[19] Voters from each club award points from 1 to 8, 10, and 12 to non-national favorites, mirroring Eurovision scoring, while the host club may organize a live or virtual presentation.[19] The winning club hosts the subsequent edition, fostering continuity among OGAE's network of over 40 fan clubs.[19] This structure emphasizes grassroots engagement, though turnout varies by club size and enthusiasm for the nominated tracks.[23]OGAE Song Contest
The OGAE Song Contest is an annual audio-based competition organized by OGAE International to promote original national music and artists from member clubs, providing wider exposure across the network.[24] Unlike contests tied to Eurovision Song Contest selections, it features songs unrelated to Eurovision processes.[24] Each participating OGAE national club nominates one entry, with voting conducted among clubs to determine the winner.[25] Eligibility requires songs to be original compositions released on album, single, or video since January 1 of the previous year, with a maximum duration of five minutes excluding credits.[25] Entries must feature performers holding the nationality of the nominating club—at least one member for groups—and cannot include covers, remixes, samples, or tracks previously entered in Eurovision, Junior Eurovision, OGAE Second Chance, or national pre-selections.[25] Submissions consist of studio versions, with optional artist-released videos, and clubs must ensure compliance with copyright laws for promotional use.[25] Voting occurs from September 1 to November 15, with results announced by November 30.[25] The process mirrors Eurovision-style club voting, emphasizing promotion over commercial hits.[25] The contest has run annually since its inception in 1986, with occasional cancellations such as in 2022.[4] Countries with the most victories include the United Kingdom and France, each with four wins, followed by Italy and Spain with three.[4]
| Year | Artist | Song | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Annalisa | Euforia | Italy |
| 2023 | Harry Styles | As It Was | United Kingdom |
| 2021 | Tones and I | Fly Away | Australia |
| 2020 | Dua Lipa | Physical | United Kingdom |
| 2019 | Lewis Capaldi | Someone You Loved | United Kingdom |