Singer Dima Bilan performs at Eurovision in Serbia May 20, 2008. Bilan won the contest this year.
Photo: Oleg Buhanov
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Russia to Pay a Billion for Eurovision 2009
The costs for preparing and holding Eurovision 2009 in Moscow will amount to 1 billion ruble, Russia’s Vice Premier Alexander Zhukov told the reporters. Zhukov heads the Organization Committee on Eurovision Preparation.
The funds have been laid aside in the federal budget, Zhukov said. Moscow will inject some money in addition, the vice premier specified, reminding that the contest will be held May 9 through My 16 in Olympiisky Sport Complex and Channel One will broadcast the event. It will be “interesting and beautiful," Zhukov promised without disclosing any details to reporters, as “it remains the secret.”
Moscow prevailed over St. Petersburg in the dispute for hosting Eurovision 2009 in July. According to Zhukov, Olympiisky fits better for it in technical terms; it has enough room for the audience of 25,000 and arranging all required zones, including the press center, will be easy there.
Moscow will be receiving the Eurovision guests during a week, Zhukov said, pointing out that 2,000 journalists are expected to arrive to cover the event and over 100 million spectators will watch it.
Russia won the right to host Eurovision 2009 once Dmitry Bilan triumphed at this year’s contest in Serbia.
The polls signal that most of the Russians (43 percent) prefer Moscow as the host-city for Eurovision and no more than 18 percent of respondents would like it to be held in St. Petersburg.
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