The Albany Gazette - Austria's Eurovision winner receives hero's welcome

The 24-year-old countertenor, who performed under his stage name but whose real name is Johannes Pietsch, stepped off the plane clutching a bouquet of red roses and his trophy, smiling as supporters pressed against security barriers to get a glimpse.

Inside the arrivals hall, the crowd erupted as JJ raised his trophy and thanked fans for believing in him.

"Thank you all for coming. Thank you for believing in me and for being so kind," he told the crowd, his voice thick with emotion.

Supporters waved heart-shaped balloons and rainbow flags as his winning song, "Wasted Love", played over the loudspeakers.

"I watched the reactions on social media and everyone was stunned by his voice, in America, in Australia, everywhere," said Samira Kalmar, 52, who said she had never doubted he would win.

Barbara Mayer, 53, who came with her two daughters, also praised the artist whose performance, reaching soprano highs between ballad refrains before culminating in a techno finale, won over the audience.

"The opera reminded people of Vienna, but there was also a modern component and good staging," she said.

Pietsch will be honoured at the chancellery on Monday, where Chancellor Christian Stocker will receive him in the morning, having praised his "magnificent achievement" the previous day.

Vienna's mayor, Michael Ludwig, said the city was ready to host Eurovision, although other cities, including Innsbruck in Tyrol, are also contenders -- particularly after Basel showed the contest need not always take place in a capital.

In Switzerland, the cost was estimated at several tens of millions of euros, with expenses shared between public television, the host city, and other partners.

The Austrian government has sought to reassure the public. Culture and Media Minister Andreas Babler expressed confidence that a "solution will be found" to organise the event.

(B.Smith--TAG)