Azerbaijan, Baku, May 15 /Trend/
The first semi-final of "Eurovision-2013" song contest was held in the Swedish city of Malmö. The first semi-final was attended by the representatives of Russia, Austria, Estonia, Slovenia, Croatia, Denmark, Ukraine, the Netherlands, Montenegro, Lithuania, Belarus, Moldova, Ireland, Cyprus, Belgium and Serbia.
After the performance of all participants the voting was taken. According to the results of voting, Moldova, Lithuania, Ireland, Estonia, Belarus, Denmark, Russia, Belgium, Ukraine and Nederland will take part in the final.
58th "Eurovision" song contest held in "Malmö Arena" will be attended by the representatives of 39 countries. The third largest city of Sweden Malmö with a population of 300,000 people had been hosting "Eurovision" song contest in 1992. Under the rules of the competition, the winner country to host the contest next year. The winner of "Eurovision" song contest held in Baku last year had become the Swedish singer Loreen with "Euphoria" song.
The second semi-final of "Eurovision 2013" will take place on May 16, and the final - on May 18. The representative of Azerbaijan Farid Mammadov will perform in the second semi-final of the contest.
The budget of the competition is $20 million for this year. This is significantly less than the amount Baku spent for the contest last year. The organizers of "Eurovision 2013" song contest refused of using any special effects. This year for various reasons the contest will not be attended by Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Luxembourg, Monaco, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Turkey and the Czech Republic.
Armenia being not involved in the contest last year regained its participation this year.
The first semi-final includes 16 participants and the second - 17. From each semi-final only 10 participants gain the right to take part in the final. In the final Britain, France, Spain, Italy and Germany, as well as the representative of the host country of Sweden will join them.