Svante Stockselius met 2009 organisers in Moscow

by Marcus Klier 163 views

Svante Stockselius, Executive Superviser of the Eurovision Song Contest, met with the organisers of the 2009 edition of the competition in Moscow for the first time. Host broadcaster Channel One was informed about the outlines of the project, provisional dates were set and the venue for the contest was discussed.

Stockselius told after his visit: "The Eurovision Song Contest is an extremely challenging project, but I am confident that Channel One will put together a production of the highest level." The preliminary dates for the contest were set on 12th, 14th and 16th May, which means that the contest is supposed to take place one week earlier than in 2008.

Channel One announced the Olimpiisky Indoor Arena as possible venue for the competittion. The stadium was built for the 1980 summer olympics and can host up to 16,000 people during television events. Of course, ticket sales will start not before winter.

Russia won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time in 2008 with Dima Bilan and Believe and will therefore host the contest for the first time in 2009.