Eurovision Song Contest 1998 Eurovision Song Contest 1998 The Eurovision Song Contest 1998 was the 43rd edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Birmingham, United Kingdom, following Katrina and the Waves's win at the 1997 contest in Dublin, Ireland with the song "Love Shine A Light". It was the UK's fifth win, and the eighth time that the UK hosted the contest, the last being in Harrogate in 1982. The UK has not won or hosted the contest since. The contest was staged at the National Indoor Arena on 9 May 1998. Twenty-five countries participated in the contest, with making
Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest 1993 Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest 1993 Italy was represented by Enrico Ruggeri, with the song '"Sole d'Europa", at the 1993 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 15 May in Millstreet, Ireland. The song was chosen internally by broadcaster RAI; Ruggeri was the winner of the 1993 Sanremo Music Festival, but RAI decided against sending his winning song "Mistero" to Eurovision. Following the 1993 contest, RAI withdrew from Eurovision for the following three years. They made a brief reappearance in 1997, but then withdrew again until 2011. On the night of the final Ruggeri performed first in the running