Ahead of rehearsals set to kick off next weekend in the host city of Kyiv, the Portuguese delegation met with the team in order to discuss preparations for the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest.

For the first time since Salvador Sobral’s victory in Festival da Canção, the whole Portuguese delegation has gathered to discuss all of the forthcoming plans and preparations for the Eurovision weeks to come.

With rehearsals kicking off next Sunday, which will see Portugal taking to the Kyiv stage for the first time, the delegation at RTP confirmed that Luisa Sobral will rehearse on stage for Portugal on both the 30 April and 4 May.

Luisa, Salvador’s sister and composer of Amar pelos dois, will replace the Portuguese representative in the first week of rehearsals reportedly due to health issues, however Salvador is set to join the delegation the following week. These were also the main issues discussed at the meeting in order to organise the forthcoming schedule and agenda.

Who else will be part of the Portuguese team?

Joining Luisa in the first week of rehearsals will be RTP’s producer Carla Bugalho together with music producer Fernando Martins, who will shortly after be joined by commentators José Carlos Malato and Nuno Galopim.

Members of the RTP team set to fly together with the country’s commentators include digital content coordinator Joana Martins, alongside the team behind the images of the #OperationKiev project Miguel Pimenta and João Paulo Silva.

Deputy director of programs and director of the Portuguese team in the competition, Gonçalo Madaíl and Paula Macedo, will go on to join the team with the eventual arrival of Salvador to follow! He will be joined by RTP journalist Pedro Esteves and image operator Carlos Oliveira.

Salvador will compete in the first semi-final of the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest on the 9 May, hoping to take Portugal back to the final on the 13 May. With Portugal’s last qualifying in 2010, will Salvador be able to break the streak?

Find out all you need to know about Salvador Sobral and remember to rate his entry Amar pelos dois via our ESCToday Facebook poll!