Editor’s Note: The Kyiv Post’s Eurovision Daily blog is the go-to place for the latest updates about the Eurovision Song Contest taking place in Kyiv on May 9-13. For everything written about Eurovision 2017, visit our special section.
Even though there are six more days left to the first semi-final, the Eurovision Song Contest schedule has been very busy with participants’ rehearsals, press conferences, autograph sessions and more.
The main venue of the contest, the International Exhibition Center on the left bank of the Dnipro River, is ready for the show. The rehearsals started on April 30 there. Representatives of nine countries have their stage rehearsals on May 3: San Marino, Croatia, Norway, Switzerland, Belarus, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Estonia, and Israel.
A fan video features all the Eurovision 2017 participants.
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Participants from three countries – Triana Park from Latvia, Tamara Gachechiladze from Georgia and Ukraine’s pop rock band O.Torvald – will have their autograph sessions at Gulliver Shopping Mall on May 3, 6 p.m. Kyiv time.
Also, another batch of tickets for all the shows of the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 except for the grand final went on official sale on the website Concert.ua on May 3 at 3 p.m. Kyiv time. The previous batch of tickets to the fan zone, which went on sale on April 29, was sold within several hours.
Imri, a participant from Israel, comments on his impressions from Kyiv.
Those Eurovision fans who don’t have tickets for all shows will be able to watch them at the fan zones in the Kyiv center. The official one, called the Eurovision Village, will open on May 4 and will remain in place until May 14, the last official day of Eurovision festivities in Ukraine.
Read more: Delegations from 36 countries participating in Eurovision 2017 arrived in Kyiv
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The organizers have scheduled a press tour around the location for 5 p.m. Kyiv time of May 3.
According to the Eurovision organizers, the Eurovision Village is the only official fan zone, and the other four around the city are set up by the Kyiv city administration. Broadcast of the live shows is allowed only in the official location, Lily Yamborak, media partners manager of the Eurovision Song Contest 2017, told the Kyiv Post.
Jana Burceska of Macedonia has her first stage rehearsal in Kyiv.
One of those unofficial fan zones opened in Kyiv on April 30 at Sofiyivska Square in the downtown area. It features a concert stage where 11 live shows are planned over the next two weeks.
Outdoor film screenings are also on the schedule and visitors, 10,000 of which can be accommodated in the space, have access to a range of information, entertainment and dining options.
The official daily video blog shows the Eurovision participants rehearsing in Kyiv on May 2.
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Another location is near Olimpiiska metro station, at Troitska Square. A special culture and art project was launched there on April 30 and will be running until May 14. Stage, kids’ zone, master class zone, trade fair zone, and an information zone are available there. Feel Ukraine: Open Podil 2017 festival also started on April 29, and will also work until May 14.
Feel Ukraine: Open Podil 2017 festival started on April 30, and will also work until May 14. The festival at Kontraktova Square, organized by the Kyiv authorities, will have shows, master classes, food courts, and more. The fifth fan zone is close to the location on Kontraktova – it’s located on Poshtova Square and called Eurovision: Retrospective. Guests of this zone will have a chance to sing karaoke – all the famous Eurovision hits are on the menu.
Meanwhile, the Eurovision Fan House — “the new official online home for true Eurovision fans” was launched on May 2 by the Native Media Inc., a partner with the European Broadcasting Union. It will feature merch, games, polls, videos, and photos, related to the contest.
The Eurovision Village. Khreshchatyk Street. May 4-14, 12 p.m. – 10 p.m. Free
The Eurovision Fan Zone. Sofiyivska Square. April 30 – May 14, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Free
Culture and Art Project. Troitska Square. April 30 – May 14, 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. Free
Feel Ukraine: Open Podil. Kontraktova Square. April 29 – May 14, 1 p.m. – 10 p.m. Free
Eurovision: Retrospective. Poshtova Square. April 29 – May 14, 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. Karaoke competitions start on 6 p.m. Free
Autograph session. Gulliver Shopping Mall, 1A Sportyvna St. 6 p.m. Free
