Sakis Rouvas at Athens City Hall

Mayor of Athens Nikitas Kaklamanis received the Greek delegation to the Eurovision Song Contest, led by pop singer Sakis Rouvas, at Athens City Hall today. The meeting was part of the Memorandum of Cooperation between state broadcasting company ERT and ATEDCo cementing their support of the Greek participation in the 54th Eurovision Song Contest in hopes that Greece will win the competition and earn the right to host the event next year.

Present at the meeting were ERT's special adviser Johnny Kalimeris, ATEDCo CEO Panagiotis Arkoumaneas, ERT Public Relations Manager Evangelia Piskera and ERT International Relations Manager Fotini Yiannoulatou.

The Mayor of Athens wished the delegation every success and stressed the importance of hosting the next Eurovision Song Contest in Greece, and Athens in particular. In the event Greece is successful in its bid to host the event, the capital could expect more than 2,000 journalists and about 2,500 delegation members and other visitors.

ATEDCo CEO Panagiotis Arkoumaneas made reference to the good cooperation that has developed with ERT in promoting Athens abroad. Part of this effort included the production of a video clip for a song that highlights the beauty of the city and will be watched by 120 million people in 50 countries around the world.

Immediately following the meeting, the following statements were made:

Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis: Athens responded to an invitation by Greek state television to help, to the greatest degree possible - and we can do a great deal - to ensure that Greece's participation in this year's Eurovision celebration will be crowned with victory, winning first prize and bringing joy to all of Greece, and particularly to Athens. If this happens, Athens will be hosting the event next May. About 5,000 people will visit the city, which will benefit from extensive publicity and promotion as a tourist destination and be given an economic respite during these challenging times. As mayor, I am obliged to support and do all I can to achieve this goal. The Eurovision Song Contest is a grand celebration. I wish you all the best, and don't you dare come back without the first prize.

Sakis Rouvas: It is a great honour for me that Mr Kaklamanis, the Mayor of Athens, agreed to see us and to be part of our effort. This gives me even greater strength because, as I have said in the past, we must all be united and do all we can to achieve our goal, which I believe is now a common one.

Journalist: In which way, Mr Mayor, will your support this effort?

Mayor of Athens Nikitas Kaklamanis: Through the activities of ATEDCo, which the City of Athens established as a public limited company, as well as through my personal relationships and contacts with counterparts in other European cities.