Azerbaijan, Baku, May 19 / Trend, I.Isabalayeva/
At present, there variants are discussed regarding holding the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani Youth and Sports Minister Azad Rahimov told journalists on Thursday.
He said the first variant is holding the contest at the Heydar Aliyev Sports Concert Complex. "Reconstruction work has been carried out in this complex. There are 7,800 seats and it is possible to increase their number by placing 1,000 seats on the complex's stalls," Rahimov said.
He said another variant is holding the contest at the Tofig Bahramov Republican Stadium. "By closing the stadium's roof and conducting reconstruction work it is possible to hold the contest at this stadium," Rahimov underscored.
A new palace may be also built for the contest "Eurovision-2012" in Baku, he said. "The most debated and interesting project is the construction of a new complex to hold the contest in one of the most beautiful corners of Baku - on the boulevard or on the State Flag Square," he added.
Rahimov said if the construction of the new complex will be conducted on a modular system, it can be completed in a year.
Azerbaijani duo Eldar Gasimov and Nigar Jamal (Ell / Nikki) with their pop-ballad "Running Scared" won the Eurovision Song Contest 2011. Azerbaijan received the highest score - 12 points from Russia, Turkey and Malta. Azerbaijan took 10 points from Ukraine, Greece, Croatia, San Marino, Romania and Moldova. The duo received 8 points from Austria, Cyprus, Iceland, Poland, Georgia, Albania, Portugal, Lithuania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Estonia.