The music superstar delivered a pre-recorded message to the multi-national singing competition as Dion continues to battle a rare neurological disorder called Stiff Person Syndrome.

Eurovision has officially started, with the first round of semi-finals held Tuesday in the Swiss city of Basel.

The Eurovision party is officially underway: a week of power pop, outrageous outfits — and, inevitably, protests — that culminates in the final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night. Competitors representing 37 countries are in the Swiss city of Basel for disco diplomacy and one of the world’s biggest spectacles.