A record 43 countries will contest the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade, Serbia. The EBU has this afternoon confirmed the list of countries that will participate at the event. The number beats last year's record of 42 countries despite the withdrawal of Austria. Azerbaijan and San Marino, as previously reported, will make their debuts at the comeptition.
Host nation, Serbia, along with France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom will compete in the final on May 24th. The remaining 38 countries will participate in two semi finals of 19 countries to take place on May 20th and 22nd. The top ten from each will participate in the final.
Eurovision Song Contest executive Supervisor, Svante Stockselius states: "We are delighted to see 41 of last year's participating broadcasters for 2008, and we especially would like to welcome the two new participating countries to the contest; Azerbaijan and San Marino. With two Semi-Finals for the first time and several other new elements, we are looking forward to what might become the most exciting Eurovision Song Contest to date!"
The full list of competing nations (and their broadcasters):
- Albania (RTVSH
- Andorra (RTVA)
- Armenia (PTV)
- Azerbaijan (iTV)
- Belarus (BTRC)
- Belgium (VRT/RTBF)
- Bosnia & Herzegovina (PBSBIH)
- Bulgaria (BNT)
- Croatia (HRT)
- Cyprus (CBC)
- Czech Republic (CT)
- Denmark (DR)
- Estonia (ETV)
- Finland (YLE)
- France (FT3)
- FYR Macedonia (MKRTV)
- Georgia (GEGT)
- Germany (NDR/ARD)
- Greece (ERT)
- Hungary (MTV)
- Iceland (RUV)
- Ireland (RTE)
- Israel (IBA)
- Latvia (LT)
- Lithuania (LRT)
- Malta (PBS)
- Moldova (TRM)
- Montenegro (RTCG)
- The Netherlands (NPB)
- Norway (NRK)
- Poland (TVP)
- Portugal (RTP
- Romania (TVR)
- Russia (C1R)
- San Marino (STV)
- Serbia (RTS)
- Slovenia (RTVSLO)
- Spain (TVE)
- Sweden (SVT)
- Switzerland (SRG SSR idée suisse)
- Turkey (TRT)
- Ukraine (NTU)
- United Kingdom (BBC)
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