Portugal & Poland 'Cannot Afford' Eurovision

The Eurovision song contest appears to have become the latest victim of the economic crisis with the news that two countries have been forced to pull out of next year's event - because they cannot afford to enter.

Poland and Portugal will not take part in the competition in Malmo in Sweden next May.

Portugal, which was given a £63bn bailout by Brussels last year, has only missed the annual event three times in the last 48 years.

It is the second year in a row Poland has not taken part in Eurovision. This time it has pulled-out because of the financial pressure of co-hosting the European Football Championships.

Neither country has won the contest before - though Poland managed second in 1994 with Edyta Gorniak's To nie ja!

Portugal's best performance was in 1996 when O meu coracao nao tem cor by Lucia Moniz came sixth.

It is not the first time financial woes have affected Eurovision. This year, Spain's entry was reportedly told not to win because the country could not afford to host the lavish event.

And after Ireland won the contest three consecutive times between 1992 and 1994, then again in 1996, it was widely speculated that the contest was becoming a financial burden.

The country was represented by Jedward in 2011 and 2012, failing to make the top five on both occasions.