Seventy tons of lighting and sound equipment are currently being installed in the Belgrade Arena in preparation for the three nights of the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest. Twelve metal constructions are on their way up overhanging the Arena, as well as two large metal nets, 26 metres long each. The huge project is estimated to involve a total of 2.000 workers.
Preparations in the Belgrade Arena are going according to schedule and everything will be ready by 8th May Milan Pajic, manager of the "Arena" hall assures Serbian Blic. Massive metal carriers are currently occupying the Arena floor to raise up the 70 tons of lighting and sound equipment necessary for the production of the largest musical show in the world, the Eurovision Song Contest. "During the competition, we expect electricity consumption of about 4 megawatts, and we have spare generators in case of power failures. We will break another record by installing 70 tons of equipment, which has never been done before in our country." says Mr Pajic.
An "incredible" surprise is in store for the audience on the night of the final, Milan Pajic reveals: "We are planning a great pyrotechnic surprise for the end of the Eurovision, and I can only reveal that the audience will have incredible surprise prepared by the company from Finland, which did an amazing work at last year's Eurovision Song Contest in Finland," he concludes.
As soon as the equipment is in place, it will be the turn of Stage One, the UK company responsible for the construction of the stage to take the floor. Stage One constructed the 2006 and 2007 stages as well in Athens and Helsinki respectively.
