The Latvian newspaper Diena reported that Latvia must confirm the EBU if they accept Eurovision 2003 before June 10th. If so, they also have to mention a venue and a potential producer.

Newspaper Vakara Zinas believes that organizing the next contest could cost Latvia about LVL 5 million. A new venue for the contest would cost LVL 305 million. Diena believes that no new auditorium is necessary: one of Latvia�s stadiums or arenas can be remodeled for the purpose.

The first meeting of a task force about the contest was scheduled for yesterday. The task force includes representatives from LTV and the Riga and Ventspils city councils. Ventspils Mayor Aivars Lembergs said previously that Ventspils would consider an alternative on holding the Eurovision Song Contest in the city if it received such an offer from LTV.

At the beginning of the next week, representatives from the LTV working group plan to pay a visit to Estonia in order to share their experience in holding the finale. Juhan Paadam, the chief producer of “Eurovision” in Tallinn would possibly invited as an consultant in organizing the event in Latvia.

The task force will inform the government about the first results next Tuesday.