Eurovision Song Contest 2009: Results Of The Semi-Final Draw

MOSCOW, Russia (Top40 Charts/ European Broadcasting Union) - Today in Moscow, a draw determined which countries will take part in the two semi-finals of the 54th Eurovision Song Contest. The 2009 edition of Europe's favourite TV show will be hosted by Channel One Russia and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) at the Olympiyski Arena in Moscow in May.

The draw determined that the following countries will perform in the first semi-final, and in the following order, on 12 May: Bosnia & Herzegovina, Sweden, Israel, Belgium, Andorra, Czech Republic, Montenegro, Iceland, Georgia, Bulgaria, Portugal, Switzerland, FYR Macedonia, Finland, Belarus, Turkey, Romania, Malta and Armenia.

In the second semi-final on 14 May 2009 the following countries will be represented: Slovenia, Denmark, Azerbaijan, the Netherlands, Latvia, Hungary, Serbia, Norway, Ukraine, Greece, Lithuania, Poland, Croatia, Estonia, Moldova, Cyprus, Ireland, Slovakia and Albania.

A further draw took place to determine which of the two semi-finals the 'big four' countries and Russia will broadcast, enabling the audience in these countries to televote. The United Kingdom, Germany and Spain will broadcast the first semi-final; France and Russia the second.

EBU Members from 38 countries will be represented in the semi-finals on 12 and 14 May. A total of 25 countries will participate in the Grand Final: 10 that qualify from each semi-final, plus the five automatic qualifiers: France, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom and host country Russia.

Viewers will select nine qualifiers from each semi-final. The tenth will be selected by the juries. In the Grand Final, professional juries and the televoting viewers from each of the 43 participating countries will share responsibility for determining the winner.

This year's Grand Final will take place on 16 May in Moscow. Russia is hosting this year's edition as its representative Dima Bilan won the Eurovision Song Contest last year in Belgrade, Serbia, with the song Believe.
The contestants are the winners of three national selections held by each of the 43 participating broadcasters in every country. The final list of performers will be released on 16 March.