Published: 11 May, 2009, 21:27
Edited: 11 May, 2009, 21:27
The most popular Song Contest in Europe has officially rolled out the red carpet, welcoming hundreds of international guests, and a concert in the center of Moscow by Eurovision stars.
A celebratory atmosphere reverberated throughout the Russian capital on Sunday night. For several hours, the center of the city was blocked by dozens of cars and buses decorated with the Eurovision logo, thousands of guests flocked to Moscow from all over Europe and the area right next to the Kremlin became the hotspot of the Eurovision-2009 opening ceremony.
For the night, Eurodom was turned into a huge dance floor welcoming guests with traditional Russian cuisine including famous pancakes with caviar. Happy guests spoke of the unexpected beauty of Moscow and the hospitality of the Russians.
“It’s a completely different city; it’s not what we expected in any way. The architecture is just so beautiful and I think the hospitality is second to none,” says Iain Hambling from BBC Radio Leicester.
One of the top favorites of this year’s contest, Alexander Rybak representing Norway, says this Eurovision “is a big party.”
“Everybody is so polite and wishes the best to every artist, that’s so special! It’s not much of a competition, it’s more of a party,” he says.
The concert-parade of Eurovision winners was opened by Lys Assia from Switzerland, the famed winner of the very first Eurovision Song Contest.
The German band, Genghis Khan, Israeli transsexual singer Dana International, Serbian Marija Serifovic, and Russian Dima Bilan, due to her winning last year’s Eurovision this is now taking place in Russia, continued the star-studded show.
The head of the Russian jury, pop singer Phillip Kirkorov, performed a hit from Kylie Minogue, and the Russian contestant for this year’s Eurovision, Anastas Prihodko, performed her entry, “Mamo.”
Now that the festival has officially begun, participants are performing their final dress rehearsal concerts and waiting impatiently for the major events to occur and betting for the winner.