Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Turkey

Turkish State Minister Besir Atalay held a press conference on Sunday that Turkish government considered organizing Eurovision Song Contest in Turkey a very important opportunity for promoting Turkey in Europe.

Atalay said that it was the first time that Turkey was hosting the Eurovision Song Contest.

Turkish State Minister Besir Atalay recalled that Turkish singer Sertab Erener won last year’s Eurovision Song Contest held in Latvian capital Riga.

Atalay stated that more than 1,500 journalists, 600-700 competing teams, and 5,500 guests would come to Istanbul for the contest.

Around two thousand 500 people would be on duty in and around the Abdi Ipekci Sports Hall of Istanbul during the night when the final would be held, Atalay said.

Atalay pointed out that it was the first time that the contest would be held in two stages, including a semi-final and a final.

Turkish State Minister Atalay wished success to Turkish group Athena which would represent Turkey in the 49th Eurovision Song Contest.

Meanwhile, Senol Demiroz, the Director General of Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) which was organizing this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, said that the title given to the stage design for the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest in Istanbul was "Under the Same Sky."

Demiroz noted that Press Center and Conference Hall would be open as of Monday and stressed that the press center was equipped with internet, computers, telephones and fax services.

The semi-final would be held on May 12 and the final on May 15, Demiroz added.

Sertab Erener of Turkey won last year’s Eurovision Song Contest with her song "Everyway That I Can" lyrics and music by Demir Demirkan and herself