#BIRTHDAY: Aiko from Czechia is 26 today

It seems the Eurovision season gets longer and longer. Whilst we know the bunfight culminates in May, but some acts wait months and months – and months – to get their moment on that stage. And it doesn’t always end well.

The first national final for the 2024 contest in Malmö took place in December 2023. No, it wasn’t in Tirana, but in Prague. Broadcaster ČT did give their viewing public a week to vote for their favourite. And it turned out to be the first song in the first national final that won. Today’s birthday girl Aiko (née Алёна Ширманова-Костебелова/Alena Shirmanova-Kostebelova) was that lucky winner, and we’re pleased she adopted a stage name. Anyway, onto Sweden and things didn’t quite go as expected. On the plus side, she did get get to wait until the Thursday semi-final, so that prolonged her experience. And hers was a near miss – finishing 11th and a mere five points behind a Grand Final spot. Was she robbed? Well, she’s by no means the only Czech act to miss out, so she’s in good company.

Authors: Riigi Ametnik, John Stanton

Source: OnEurope