We are a member of OGAE (l’Organisation Générale des Amateurs de l’Eurovision or the International Organisation of Eurovision Fans) International – a non-profit umbrella organisation of fan clubs. OGAE was founded in 1984 in Finland by Jari-Pekka Koikkalainen. Since its foundation OGAE has become the biggest organisation for Eurovision fans. Any country that has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest is eligible to have its own local OGAE club.
OGAE Rest of the World was approved in 2006 in Athens to be the home of Eurovision Song Contest fans in countries that are not active members of the European Broadcasting Union and therefore ineligible to participate in the yearly song contest.
Our club is made up of members from countries all round the world. The largest representations of members come from Canada, Australia, the United States, Colombia, Venezuela and Costa Rica. There are also active members in countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Namibia, New Zealand, Panama, Pakistan, South Africa, Papua New Guinea, Peru, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.
OGAE Rest of the World also welcomes members from countries in Europe without their own OGAE fan clubs, including Bosnia-Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Monaco and San Marino.
Our purpose is to provide a community for like-minded people who love the Eurovision Song Contest. Our website (and our Facebook Page) bring our members and activities together in a dynamic online environment. We also serve as the vehicle through which annual ticketing, allocated to the OGAE clubs for the contest, is made available to primary members.
Our team:
(For a full understanding (in writing) of the roles each of your board undertake, and the additional portfolios, click here!)
Luc Spencer-Gardner (President)
Hey fellow fanclubbers... I’m Luc, from Melbourne, Australia. I am an avid traveller and particularly enjoy immersing myself in both the history and culture of the cities and countries I visit. Relaxing by a beach or resort pool is not my idea of a holiday, I prefer to be on-the-go, exploring as much as I can. I write poetry in my spare time, and love film, particularly reviewing them, and music of all kinds. I have been an big fan of the ESC since I accidentally stumbled on it in 1997. My first Eurovision in person was in Dusseldorf 2011, and discovered this amazing OGAE network after Malmo in 2013. I have attended this marvellous contest since 2015 as a member of our extraordinary ROW family. I joined the board in 2017 as an ordinary member, organising the OGAE contests, on-the-ground events and other board collaborations. I look forward to working with everyone, continuing to organise events and gatherings, and expanding our virtual presence further.
Kyle Woods (Vice President)
I'm Kyle from the U.S.A. I grew up in Fabulous Las Vegas, but now I live and work in Atlanta, Georgia. I spent my youth traveling around Eastern Europe, and that is where I first learned about Eurovision. I was living in Zadar, Croatia and two friends sang "Tell Me" (Iceland 2000) at a karaoke evening, and I was hooked! When I am not inflicting Eurovision songs on unsuspecting Americans, I work as a lawyer in a large firm here in Atlanta. In my free time I enjoy frequent trips to Dollywood as well as collecting and playing board games (I have a collection of more than 2,000). I am also involved in my church and an armature theater group that puts on weekly productions of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Some more random facts about me: I love hats, I have 2 doctoral degrees, I can speak 7 languages, and I can turn my feet completely backwards and walk! When I was a child, I sang for quarters on the Las Vegas Strip to earn money to buy Christmas gifts for my family. I have worn blue and yellow stripes every Thursday since September 1999. I can also talk your ear off about board games, religion, and most importantly Eurovision! I hope to get to know many more of our great fans, and I always look forward to meeting even more people in person in the Eurovision host city.
Niall Drennan (Treasurer & Membership Manager)
My name is Niall Drennan and I was born in Ireland and have lived in several countries including France, the US and the UK. I have been calling Sydney, Australia home for the past 15 years. My introduction to Eurovision was in the late 80's and 90's when Ireland was at its peak in the competition and I've been hooked ever since. I've been a member of the OGAE Rest of World Board for the last 3 years and have attended Eurovision five times from 2015 to 2019 where I had the opportunity to meet many of our wonderful club members. I work in a HR type role as Head of Global Mobility for a management consulting firm and am avid traveller. If I'm not on a trip, I'm planning one. Outside of Eurovision, I enjoy spending time with my dog, Denver and going to the cinema particularly to see non-English films.
Ronny Addamo (Secretary)
Hi there, my name is Ronny Addamo and I hail from Melbourne, Australia. My love of Eurovision started way back in 2003 when my partner asked me to share this colourful, sometimes crazy, always amazing song contest with him. I had heard of Eurovision, thanks Abba, Celine, Gina and Johnny, but after watching the very first song I was hooked! My first journey to Eurovision was 2011, in Dusseldorf. What followed was a near yearly pilgrimage to the host city. I became aware of OGAE Rest of the world in 2013 after being in Malmo, and fell in love with the inclusiveness and openness of the members. To me, the other fans, and the friends you make at Eurovision are one of the main drawcards to being in the host city, and you will always find me on the dancefloor, drink in hand, with a group of fabulous other fans. I am excited to join the board in the secretary role and look forward to meeting many more of our club members, and members of other clubs to help further the Eurovision ideals of inclusivity, harmony and embracing diversity.
Kate Krause-Boger (Social Media Manager)
Hello fellow OGAE RoW fanclubbers, here is a short yet highly un-entertaining Bio from your first ever selected "Social Media & Promotions" board member.
I'm Katharina, but PLEASE call me Kate. After living in Ireland for 6 years and 5 in Berlin, I just moved back to my hometown close to ESC 2011 (Düsseldorf). I felt my heart beat as a volunteer back then, built bridges in Vienna 2015 and was all aboard in Lisbon 2018.
While I was a frequent watcher/viewer of ESC, I only became a full-on/all-in fan after Vienna 2015, and was at ESC as a fan in Stockholm (where I was introduced to OGAE RoW- thank you!), Kiev and Tel Aviv.
When I am not doing something ESC related, I enjoy the theatre (haven't been acting in ages though), movies (instead of a living room I have a movie room, incl. a huge popcorn machine) and just being creative (whether it is painting, drawing or fashion designing).
I am looking forward to working with you to promote OGAE RoW through all sorts of social media!