In 1974, during the Greek military junta, rock band Nostradamos won the first Eurovision participation contest ran by the state broadcaster EIRT to represent Greece at Eurovision, after broadcasting it since . However, due to a scandal, the band was not allowed to compete at Eurovision, and Greek laiko singer Marinella was sent instead. Greece did not participate in for "unknown reasons" according to the EBU, but it was later discovered that it was in protest of Turkey's debut and its invasion of Cyprus in 1974.