Friday, 21st November 2008 Latest News: Limassol gears up for Junior Eurovision ...more

Final preparations are underway for hosting the 6th Junior Eurovision Song Contest (Jesc), which will take place at Spyros Kyprianou stadium in Limassol on Saturday.

The Cybc, in charge of hosting and broadcasting, yesterday welcomed the press, and contestants from 15 European countries.

“This contest is not about competition, but is an opportunity for the children taking part to get to know each other through music, form lasting friendships, have fun and certainly to learn something about Cyprus, its life, tradition, civilisation, and get acquainted with Cypriot children,” said Themis Themistocleous, Cybc’s General Director at yesterday’s opening press conference in Limassol.

This year’s themes will be ‘Sun and Sea’. “These two elements, representative of Cyprus, form a central theme in relation to both the graphics and the set. The opening of the programme will feature no less than 77 children in traditional Cypriot dances,” said Michalis Stylianou, Cybc Assistant Director General

The contest’s organisation will cost an estimated €2.5 million and will include several innovative features, including the use of a spider camera for 3D movement, an underwater plunge camera, and access behind the scenes to camera crews. The contest will be broadcast in high definition in Belgium, Holland, Russia and Australia. Three hundred people are working on the contest’s production, 200 of which are Cypriot.

Limassol Municipality, in charge of welcoming contestants to the city, organised a children’s’ carnival parade where contestants took part, and trips to Lefkara village.

“Our goal is to introduce the young people of Europe to our culture and ancient mythology, but also to extend to them the traditional and well-known Cypriot hospitality,” explained Stylianou.

The Russian winner of this year’s Eurovision contest, Dima Bilan will guest star at the Jesc, while Evridiki and Demetris Korgialas will also make appearances.

The Jesc is organised jointly with Unicef and all net profits from the televoting on the night of the contest will be donated to the Un children’s organisation.