In Kiev began the first semifinal of “Eurovision”
The second semifinal will be held may 11.
KIEV, may 9. /TASS/. The first semifinal of the international song contest “Eurovision” began at the International exhibition centre (IEC) in the Ukrainian capital. About it the correspondent of TASS from the event.
Opened the first day of the contest Ukrainian singer Monatic with the English song “Around your world”. In the first semifinal, will take the stage the contestants from Montenegro, Finland, Georgia, Portugal, Belgium, Sweden, Albania, Azerbaijan, Australia, Cyprus, Slovenia, Armenia, Moldova, Czech Republic, Latvia, Greece, Iceland and Poland. In the final of the competition in the voting will get ten of them.
Despite the expectations of the organizers, hall calculated on 7,5 thousand spectators, was not completely filled. “Tickets still available”, — reported the official website of ticket sales “Concert.ua” just hours before the start of the first semifinal. It is available for purchase were hundreds of tickets with different pricing and in different sectors of the audience.
The evening will close down the winner of last year’s “Eurovision” Ukrainian singer Jamala, is performing two songs, including “1944”, which brought her success.
The second semi-final
The second semi-final will take place on may 11 and will be a test for performers from Macedonia, Malta, Netherlands, Serbia, Denmark, Romania, Hungary, Austria, Ireland, Switzerland, Estonia, Israel, Bulgaria, San Marino, Lithuania, Croatia, Norway and Belarus.
In the final — 13 may — under the rules of the competition will be attended by the winners of the semifinals, as well as representatives of five major sponsors of the Eurovision — the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy — and host country Ukraine. The winner of “Eurovision” will receive a prize in the form of a crystal microphone. The next competition will be held in one of the cities of the victorious countries.
This year the “Eurovision” will not be the participant from Russia in connection with the refusal of Ukraine to allow the country singer Yulia Samoylova because of her performances in the Crimea.
The proposals of the European broadcasting Union — to organize a video conference for Samoylov from Moscow or to replace competitor — Russia refused, and on April 13, the First channel has declared that refuses from the broadcast of “Eurovision” in Russia.