Official ceremony held for Eurovision in Baku

BAKU - Anatolia News Agency

Can Bonomo and his dancers performed their show at the official opening ceremony of the 57th Eurovision Song Contest, the semi-final of which will be held tonight. AA photos

The 57th Eurovision Song Contest kicked off in style at the EuroClub building on the shores of the Caspian Sea in Baku on May 20 following a red-carpet entrance by the singers representing 42 countries, including Turkey.

Can Bonomo, who will represent Turkey in the contest with his song “Love Me Back,” drew huge interest at the event, along with Azerbaijani representative Sebine Babayev, who will perform “When the Music Dies.”

Bonomo and the Turkish committee waved Turkish and Azerbaijani flags and greeted the ceremony participants.

The winners of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2011, Azerbaijani duo Eldar and Nigar, as well as the winner of the 2009 contest, Norway’s Aleksander Rybak, also attended the opening ceremony, which continued with a reception and concert program.

Before the official opening ceremony, a reception was also held at the Turkish Embassy in Baku for Bonomo and his team. The reception was hosted by Ambassador to Azerbaijan Hulusi Kılıç and was attended by many people from the art world of Azerbaijan, such as Alim Gasımov, Ağadadaş Ağayev and Melekhanım Eyyubova.

Making a speech at the reception, Kılıç said there was no difference between Azerbaijan and Turkey. “I wish that one will be the winner and the other will be the first runner-up.”

Speaking about the contest, Bonomo said he was very pleased by the interest that people showed him and added that he had been welcomed by smiling people everywhere he visited. “I hope that we will get the success that we deserve. Either Turkey or Azerbaijan will win.”

Bonomo described Eurovision as the promotion of different countries and cultures by bringing people of different flags together, rather than a platform for rivalries. “We will do our best to represent our country.”

Bonomo said the Eurovision Song Contest was a well-organized event and many things had been done in Baku in a short time. “It is the greatest success that a center like Crystal Hall has [acquired a purpose] thanks to Eurovision,” he said.

The semifinal of the contest will take place tonight and May 24, while the final will be May 26. Bonomo will be the 13th to take the stage on May 24.