From senior officials at ERT, our colleagues from Oikotimes.com learned that Despina Vandi will represent Greece at the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest. According to insiders, the Greek broadcaster is “ready to sign the necessary contracts”. Hot detail: it was Sakis Rouvas' manager Elias Psinakis who mediated between ERT and Vandi. An official announcement has not yet been made.

Earlier this week, Greek commercial television channels reported that Fame Story participant Annette Stamatelatos would represent the country. This information appeared to be false.

Despina Vandi was born in Germany, her real name is Despina Malea. She launched her first solo album, titled Gela mou, in 1994 and the album Esena perimeno made her very popular in Greece. Since 1997 she performed at many concerts in Europe and the United States. After albums released in 1997, 1998 and 2000, her 2002 album Geia was already platinum before it reached the stores.

Last year, Despina Vandi received a World Music Award for best selling Greek artist. Besides fame in Greece and Spain, she's also successful in Portugal, Russia, Belgium, Poland, France and Germany.

If everything turnes out well between ERT and Vandi, Greece sends one of its super stars to the contest. The decision to send Despina Vandi to the 50th Eurovision Song Contest has not yet been announced officially by ERT yet, but a statement is “due to be made”. The contract is said to contain a line that says popular song writer Fivos has to write her Eurovision Song Contest entry.

Just for sure, ERT has Antique singer Elena Paparizou as backup. Paparizou represented Greece in 2001 as female part of the duo Antique, singing Greece to a third place with Die for you.

Esctoday.com asked ERT for an official reaction.