Due to the rapidly expanding size of the Contest , the decision was taken to restrict participation in the 2000 contest to those countries with the best average results over the previous 5 years , a group which did not include Portugal . As a country broadcasting but not entering that Contest ( a so-called " passive participant " ) , Portugal was re-admitted in the following year . Thus , the song was succeeded as Portuguese representative at the 2001 Contest by MTM with " Só sei ser feliz assim "
2000 contest
Eurovision Song Contest 2000
Como tudo começou