26-01-2012 11:52:10

Eurovision 2012 to be held in Baku Crystal Hall

The 2012 Eurovision song contest will be held at the Baku Crystal Hall, which is under construction in the seaside park of Baku, the Eurovision website reported.

The decision was made Wednesday by representatives of a group of referents of the European Broadcasting Union.

Three venues - Baku Crystal Hall, Tofig Bahramov soccer stadium and Heydar Aliyev Sports and Concert Complex - had been offered to conduct the 57th Eurovision Song Contest.

"We are very excited. Eurovision-2012 will take place in the new concert hall,” commented Jon Ola Sand, the Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest.

Representatives of the European Broadcasting Union visited the Baku Crystal Hall on Wednesday. They familiarized themselves with the ongoing construction work and met with executives of the construction company. The European Broadcasting Union said the facility meets the highest standards.

The construction of Baku Crystal Hall sports complex near the National Flag Square was launched in September 2011. The arena, which can accommodate up to 25,000 people, will be commissioned in April 2012.

Alpine Bau Deutschland AG, a 100 percent subsidiary company of Alpine Bau Group, is responsible for the construction of the Baku Crystal Hall.

The final of the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to take place on May 26, following two semifinals on May 22 and 24. 43 countries have applied to participate in the song contest.

Azerbaijani duo Eldar Gasimov and Nigar Jamal (Ell/Nikki) with their pop-ballad "Running Scared" won the Eurovision contest last year in Dusseldorf, Germany.

This story is published by AzerNEWS Weekly under a project funded by the Foundation for State Assistance to the Development of the Media under the President of the Azerbaijan Republic.

TAGS: 2012 Eurovision song contest, Baku Crystal Hall, Tofig Bahramov soccer stadium, Heydar Aliyev Sports and Concert Complex, 57th Eurovision Song Contest