Russia to sing under No 10 at Eurovision 2009

MOSCOW. March 17. KAZINFORM A Eurovision 2009 lot drawing ceremony was held in Moscow on Monday.

Twenty-five of 42 countries will perform in the final show on May 16. According to the Eurovision rules, the big four countries ? Germany, France, Britain, and Spain ? and last year?s winner, Russia, have been waved through to the final automatically. Anastasia Prikhodko will sing for Russia under No. 10, France will be third, Germany seventeenth, Britain twenty-third, and Spain twenty-fifth. The lot-drawing ceremony was organised in Russian style with the names of the countries and numbers placed inside Matryoshka dolls. Eurovision 2008 winner Dima Bilan drew the lots. ?This is a very important day. This is the moment of truth when the contenders get their numbers. This is important, and I know that from my own experience,? Bilan said. The contestants will perform in the first semi-final on May 12 in the following order: Montenegro, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Belarus, Sweden, Armenia, Andorra, Switzerland, Turkey, Israel, Bulgaria, Iceland, Macedonia, Romania, Finland, Portugal, Malta, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The order of appearance in the second semi-final on May 14 is as follows: Croatia, Ireland, Latvia, Serbia, Poland, Norway, Cyprus, Slovakia, Denmark, Slovenia, Hungary, Azerbaijan, Greece, Lithuania, Moldova, Albania, Ukraine, Estonia, and the Netherlands. Forty-two of 43 countries will compete in the contest after Georgia has officially refused to participate. Eurovision Georgia officials told journalists that despite big respect for Eurovision, Georgia would not change the content of the song that had won the national qualification contest. Earlier, the Eurovision administration officially notified Georgian contenders, Stefane & 3G group, that the text of the song disagreed with the contest rules. The Eurovision organisers suggested that Georgia change the song or remove political implications from it because the contest rules allow no politics in the songs. Moscow will host the contest for the first time. Russia's television Channel One Director General Konstantin Ernst expressed hope that the global financial crisis would not affect the contest plans. Moscow authorities said they were ready to organise and hold the Eurovision-2009 song contest in the Russian capital. Moscow will do it "at the highest level", an official in the city administration said earlier. "We have big experience of holding such events. We can do it. We will receive the guests and provide them with transportation and accommodation," he said. The Eurovision 2009 organising committee, to be headed by First Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov, will coordinate the activities of federal authorities and the Moscow city government in preparing and conducting the song contest. On July 21, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said the Eurovision Song Festival would be held in Moscow, taking into account the level of its preparedness, the development of infrastructure and the possibility of minimising the costs. City authorities have so far not disclosed the amount of money they are going to invest in the project. Deputy Mayor Valery Vinogradov said earlier the cost would be known later. He said rooms in 22 hotels would be reserved and transportation organised for the guests. Ernst slightly lifted the veil of secrecy from the financial aspects of the project. Federal authorities would provide one billion roubles and the European Broadcasting Union will contribute another five million Swiss franks. "We count very much on Moscow's help, and we have a close and very good relationship with the Moscow mayor's office," Ernst said. He expressed hope that the global financial crisis would not affect the contest plans. Moscow authorities said they were ready to organise and hold the Eurovision-2009 song contest in the Russian capital. According to Zhukov, the Olympiisky sport centre is best fit for the purpose and can seat 25,000 people. It can be divided into sectors and has enough room to accommodate a press centre. It is also located conveniently in the centre of the city, allowing the contenders and the spectators to avoid unnecessary rides. Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov said the city would "do some work" at the Olimpiisky sport complex for the song contest. "We plan to do some work at Olimpiisky," he said. The auditorium will be renovated, new seats will be put in place, broadcasting, information and VIP zones will be created. Reliable electricity supplies will be ensured. The mayor invited the festival organising committee to come up with ideas and suggestions so that city authorities could take them into account when renovating the sport facility. Luzhkov said Serbian specialists would be invited to help organise the song contest. "They have already done it and know things. We will pay for their consultations," he added. President Dmitry Medvedev expressed confidence that Russia will host the Eurovision-2009 contest at the top level. At Eurovision-2008, Bilan outperformed Ukraine's Ani Lorak and Kalomira of Greece. Bilan received the main Eurovision prize - Crystal Microphone - from last year winner Marija Serifovic. Eurovision contests have been held annually since 1956. Russia was represented in recent years by Alla Pugachyova, Filipp Kirkorov, Alsou, and popular groups Mumi Troll, Prime Minister, and Tatu. The Eurovision song contest -2009 will be held in Moscow on May 1-16. The official opening ceremony will be held on May 9 timed to coincide with VE Day celebrations in Moscow. The ceremony will be held on University Square at Vorobyovy Hills, the highest place in Moscow that offers an excellent view of the city, Kazinform cites ITAR-TASS.