Sertab Erener, representing Turkey with the
song Every way that I can, won the 48th
Contest beating Belgium and Russia in a close run-up.
Saturday night's winner was chosen by a European audience, using
televoting. Only 2 countries out of 26 (Russia and Bosnia &
Herzegovina) used a jury since they did not have the required 80%
telecommunications coverage needed for televoting.
“Winning the contest means a lot to me. It’s great
because Turkey has been in the contest for 20 years without ever
winning. Now we have!” said Sertab Erener who sang to a
rafter-shaking audience of 6,000 at Skonto Olympic Hall, one of
Latvia's most modern sports and entertainment complexes.
The magical planet
Participants from 26 EBU Member countries performed on an
enormous stage that represented “Planet Latvia”, set in a
star-studded universe.
“The Contest is a magical moment and the stage was like
a magic planet, unknown and waiting to be
discovered,” said Brigita Rozenbrika, executive
producer, ESC 2003.
State-of-the-art light effects, colour combinations and special
video graphics created different atmospheres for each
performance.
Numerous arches rose up from the ground encircling the oval
stage like a ring of light. To enhance the outer space effect,
virtual planets (projected on video screens controlled by a cyber
hoist system) floated over the stage providing extraordinary
lighting.
| | Stage: facts and figures |
| •
• • • •
| 35 meters long and 12
meters high
over 1,200 m2 of floor space 10 tonnes of metal 2,000 m2 of silver light-reflecting cloth more than 150 people from 10 countries were involved in its
construction |
For more: www.eurovision.tv
