Europe’s most popular entertainment competition is also one of the world’s most wagered-upon TV events: We’re talking about the Eurovision Song Contest here, a talent show watched by as many as 600 million television viewers plus another 75 million or so by online stream.

While the 2010 edition of the contest has a prospective winner pretty much wire to wire – last year, Alexander Rybak of Norway had shorter than 1/1 odds before the final – a heavy favorite has emerged only after the second-favorites,

A brief look at the leading contenders, with odds provided by Paddy Power, follows.

•  Sufara, “Drip Drop,” Azerbaijan. Country that only first entered the Eurovision Song Contest in 2008 has a near-certain winner this year with this easy, sappy ballad.

Representative (translated) lyrics: “I don’t know how to stop / How to stop / These tear drops / That drip drop, drip drop / Drip drop, drip drop.”

Odds: 6/4.

•  Eva Rivas, “Apricot Stone,” Armenia. Sentimental song of homeland and childhood stands a chance against Sufara, if only because it’s in English, a definite boost to any contender in this competition.

Representative lyrics: “Now I see the Northern stars / Shining brightly in the storm / And I’ve got an avatar / Of my love to keep me warm.”

Odds: 8/1.

•  Harel Skaat, “Milim,” Israel. The strongest entry from the pretty-boy category, Skaat has charisma to spare.

Representative (translated) lyrics: “The sadness is here again, the fear is here again / And the end is at my window. / Broken glass and silence again / Exhausted and forsaken in my mind.”

Odds: 12/1.

•  Manga, “We Could be the Same,” Turkey. Sensitive boy band implies a sort of cross-cultural “Romeo & Juliet” love story.

Representative lyrics: “But I know the world could be great / I can love you more than they hate / Doesn’t matter who they’ll blame / We can beat them at their own game.”

Odds: 12/1.

•  Niamh Kavanagh, “It’s for You,” Ireland. The once-dominant country returns to the Eurovision Song Contest final with perhaps its strongest entry in years.

Representative lyrics: “Look into these eyes / Hold onto these hands / Believe in this heartbeat.”

Odds: 14/1.

Other countries represented in the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest final include Cyprus, Denmark, Georgia, Romania and Ukraine. The final round starts at 7pm CET on Saturday night.

Europe’s most popular entertainment competition is also one of the world’s most wagered-upon TV events: We’re talking about the Eurovision Song Contest here, a talent show watched by as many as 600 million television viewers plus another 75 million or so by online stream.

While the 2010 edition of the contest has a prospective winner pretty much wire to wire – last year, Alexander Rybak of Norway had shorter than 1/1 odds before the final – a heavy favorite has emerged only after the second-favorites,

A brief look at the leading contenders, with odds provided by Paddy Power, follows.

•  Sufara, “Drip Drop,” Azerbaijan. Country that only first entered the Eurovision Song Contest in 2008 has a near-certain winner this year with this easy, sappy ballad.

Representative (translated) lyrics: “I don’t know how to stop / How to stop / These tear drops / That drip drop, drip drop / Drip drop, drip drop.”

Odds: 6/4.

•  Eva Rivas, “Apricot Stone,” Armenia. Sentimental song of homeland and childhood stands a chance against Sufara, if only because it’s in English, a definite boost to any contender in this competition.

Representative lyrics: “Now I see the Northern stars / Shining brightly in the storm / And I’ve got an avatar / Of my love to keep me warm.”

Odds: 8/1.

•  Harel Skaat, “Milim,” Israel. The strongest entry from the pretty-boy category, Skaat has charisma to spare.

Representative (translated) lyrics: “The sadness is here again, the fear is here again / And the end is at my window. / Broken glass and silence again / Exhausted and forsaken in my mind.”

Odds: 12/1.

•  Manga, “We Could be the Same,” Turkey. Sensitive boy band implies a sort of cross-cultural “Romeo & Juliet” love story.

Representative lyrics: “But I know the world could be great / I can love you more than they hate / Doesn’t matter who they’ll blame / We can beat them at their own game.”

Odds: 12/1.

•  Niamh Kavanagh, “It’s for You,” Ireland. The once-dominant country returns to the Eurovision Song Contest final with perhaps its strongest entry in years.

Representative lyrics: “Look into these eyes / Hold onto these hands / Believe in this heartbeat.”

Odds: 14/1.

Other countries represented in the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest final include Cyprus, Denmark, Georgia, Romania and Ukraine. The final round starts at 7pm CET on Saturday night.

A match-fixing scandal that broke out a few months ago in Germany is still unfolding and has led to the recent arrest of some 46 individuals in Turkey. Among the detained are a number of players and coaches wrapped up in what was an estimated 200 fixed matches in 11 countries.

People’s Daily Online: More than 50 detained on football match-fixing in Turkey

Over 50 people including professional football players, coaches, managers and high-ranking officials, were detained Wednesday on allegations of manipulating football games and match fixing. Police raids were carried out in 8 Turkish provinces.

Detainees were brought to Istanbul for further interrogation. Those in custody are being processed at the Istanbul Financial Crimes Unit. The Turkish Football Association declared that the investigation started with their application to the prosecutor in August 2009.

In its announcement, the federation claimed that 3 different match-fixing dossiers were examined. Match-fixing allegations started in November by organized crime officials in Bochum, Germany. Since then over 200 matches in 11 countries have been investigated including Turkey.

BBC News: Mass arrests in Turkey in football match-fixing probe

Turkish police have arrested 46 people in connection with a Europe-wide football match-fixing scandal which first broke in Germany 4 months ago. The arrests were made in 26 towns and cities across the country. German investigators believe some 200 matches in 11 countries were fixed by players and referees. Estimates indicate that gamblers have made at least €10 million on this.

The charges that suspects might face are unknown, but they are under investigation by the smuggling and organised-crime department of the police.

The German investigation of what is thought to be Europe’s largest match-fixing racket ever has pushed Turkish prosecutors to go after those whom they believe have been rigging league games locally.

NBC Sports: Turkey: 46 people questioned over match-fixing

Turkish police say 46 people were detained for questioning as part of an investigation into alleged match-fixing in football.

Istanbul police chief, Huseyin Capkin, said that suspects were detained in 26 different cities and that operations will continue. Several clubs’ players and officials were detained Wednesday by fraud squads as part of the investigation.

Kamil Dizdar of topflight club Istanbul, Buyuksehir Belediyespor, confirmed that assistant coach Arif Erdem and goalkeeper Kenan Hasagic were being interrogated by investigators.

A match-fixing scandal that broke out a few months ago in Germany is still unfolding and has led to the recent arrest of some 46 individuals in Turkey. Among the detained are a number of players and coaches wrapped up in what was an estimated 200 fixed matches in 11 countries.

People’s Daily Online: More than 50 detained on football match-fixing in Turkey

Over 50 people including professional football players, coaches, managers and high-ranking officials, were detained Wednesday on allegations of manipulating football games and match fixing. Police raids were carried out in 8 Turkish provinces.

Detainees were brought to Istanbul for further interrogation. Those in custody are being processed at the Istanbul Financial Crimes Unit. The Turkish Football Association declared that the investigation started with their application to the prosecutor in August 2009.

In its announcement, the federation claimed that 3 different match-fixing dossiers were examined. Match-fixing allegations started in November by organized crime officials in Bochum, Germany. Since then over 200 matches in 11 countries have been investigated including Turkey.

BBC News: Mass arrests in Turkey in football match-fixing probe

Turkish police have arrested 46 people in connection with a Europe-wide football match-fixing scandal which first broke in Germany 4 months ago. The arrests were made in 26 towns and cities across the country. German investigators believe some 200 matches in 11 countries were fixed by players and referees. Estimates indicate that gamblers have made at least €10 million on this.

The charges that suspects might face are unknown, but they are under investigation by the smuggling and organised-crime department of the police.

The German investigation of what is thought to be Europe’s largest match-fixing racket ever has pushed Turkish prosecutors to go after those whom they believe have been rigging league games locally.

NBC Sports: Turkey: 46 people questioned over match-fixing

Turkish police say 46 people were detained for questioning as part of an investigation into alleged match-fixing in football.

Istanbul police chief, Huseyin Capkin, said that suspects were detained in 26 different cities and that operations will continue. Several clubs’ players and officials were detained Wednesday by fraud squads as part of the investigation.

Kamil Dizdar of topflight club Istanbul, Buyuksehir Belediyespor, confirmed that assistant coach Arif Erdem and goalkeeper Kenan Hasagic were being interrogated by investigators.