This year's Outstanding Contribution to Eurovision award has been given to Frank Saelens. Mr Saelens is not known to the vast majority of Eurovision Song Contest fans, but without him, quite simply, the show could not go on. He is the man with one of the hardest jobs relating to the competition – he has to make sure that the live links to the dozens of juries work on time and in real time.
Frank Saelens is the man that makes sure one of the most important and recognisable parts of the Eurovision Song Contest takes place. The voting at the Eurovision Song Contest is almost a television show in itself. Without his input, the pictures of the spokespersons and the ability to connect to every participating country to receive their results would not be possible.
The job is one of the hardest and technically tricky roles at the Eurovision Song Contest, made even more tricky with the faster voting announcements. Working tirelessly backstage and hardly ever seen by the fans, Mr. Saelens is a vital part of the show. So, this year, esctoday.com would like to draw the fans' attention to the role, and to the man who has ensured for the last three years, that the voting at the Eurovision Song Contest works smoothly and efficiently. In 2007, he ensured that 42 live links to each and every country worked on time and without fault. He also carries out the same role for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest and Eurovision Dance Contest.
