Having played host to contestants donning anything from bulletproof vests to lady-beards, Eurovision has had its fair share of controversy over its history.

Take a look back at some of the international song contest's most memorable moments.

1963: Voting scandal over competition between Danes, Swiss

When it came time to announce votes at the end of the contest, the Norwegian jury announced theirs out of order and UK presenter Katie Boyle said the country's votes would have to be collected later.

Norway allegedly altered its votes and its neighbouring country Denmark won, whereas Switzerland would have won if the original votes had been used.

Loading...

1973: Ilanit takes to stage in bulletproof vest

Following the massacre of Israeli athletes by Palestinian militants at the Munich Olympics the previous September, Israel's participant Ilanit performed while wearing a bulletproof vest.

British commentator Terry Wogan asked the audience to remain seated while applauding, otherwise they could have faced being shot by security.

Loading...

1978: Jordan snubs Israel's Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta

Jordanian television refused to broadcast Israeli entry Abanibi, by Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta, and showed pictures of flowers instead.

When Israel won that year Jordanian media announced that Belgium had won.

Loading...

1986: Youngest competitor ever wins title

Belgian 13-year-old Sandra Kim entered the competition and won, making her Eurovision's youngest competitor (and winner) ever.

Today, all entrants have to be over 16.

Loading...

1998: Death threats for transgender competitor

Transgender woman Dana International represented Israel at Eurovision, prompting some Orthodox Jews to take to the streets in protest. They claimed she was an abomination and some threatened to kill her.

Dana returned to Eurovision in 2011, but did not make it past the semi-finals. She was the first former Eurovision winner not to make it to the final in a subsequent contest.

Dana International took out the Eurovision title in 1998 with her song Diva. ( Reuters )

2000: Ping Pong disowned after calls for peace

Israel's entrants Ping Pong finished their song by unfurling Syrian and Israeli flags and calling for peace. The entry was disowned by Israel and it later turned out two of the members of the group were journalists.

Israeli group Ping Pong waved Syrian and Israeli flags during their performance at the 2000 Eurovision Song Contest. ( AFP/Scanpix: Jonas Ekstromer )

2003: Belgium enters song in gobbledegook

Eurovision liberalised restrictions on permitted languages, prompting Belgium's Urban Trad to enter a song called Sanomi, which had lyrics from a made-up language.

Loading...

2009: Georgia withdrawn for being 'too political'

Performers from Georgia, which was at war with Russia a year before, entered a song called We Don't Wanna Put In.

The European Broadcasting Union classified it as "too political" and Georgia was asked to change the lyrics of the song or enter another song. Georgia refused to do so and withdrew from the contest.

Loading...

2013: On-stage kiss to fight gay marriage ban

Krista Siegfrids representing Finland kissed one of her female back-up dancers on stage in a protest against Finland's ban on gay marriage.

Finland's Krista Siegfrids kissed one of her back-up dancers while performing Marry Me at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest. ( Reuters/Scanpix: Jessica Gow )

2014: Bearded lady takes out competition

Austrian performer Conchita Wurst – a drag queen sporting high heels, butterfly lashes and a full beard – became known for her unique persona and impressive vibrato when she took out the contest with her performance of Rise Like a Phoenix.

Wurst's victory prompted an outpouring of anti-gay anger from Russian politicians and stars with deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin tweeting that the result "showed supporters of European integration their European future: a bearded girl".

Loading...

ABC/wires