Own Eurovision Song Contest 16

Own Eurovision Song Contest 16, often referred to as OESC #16, is the 16th edition of Own Eurovision Song Contest. The contest was supposed to take place in Cyprus, following Nikki Ponte's victory in the 15th contest with the song "Remembering the Summer Nights". Due to there being a three-way tie between the top three in the previous edition, and with Cyprus changing their head of delegation, a question was raised as to which nation would host this edition. Algeria and Russia were in consideration after finishing second and third respectively. After Algeria announced that they are not interested in hosting due to lack of funds, Russia was chosen as the host country and the contest was held in Moscow.

As only the host country could be directly qualified for the final, Cyprus returned to the semi-final, and the host, Russia directly qualified to the grand final. For the second time in the history of the contest, sixty-one countries decided to compete in the contest.Jordan and Uzbekistan made their debut in the competition.

The winner was Denmark's "Alive" performed by Kato and Electric Lady Lab, which received a total amount of 219 points, winning by a margin of 13 points. Second place went to Germany, third place was occupied by the host country, Russia. Fourth place was for Andorra and Bosnia and Herzegovina received the fifth place.

Venue
Olympic Stadium, known locally as the Olimpiyskiy or Olimpiski, is a large indoor arena, located in Moscow, Russia. It was built for the 1980 Summer Olympics and, divided into two separated halls, hosted the basketball and boxing events. A part of the Olimpiyskiy Sports Complex, it makes up one architectural ensemble with another venue, constructed at the same time, the Swimming Pool. The venue is so large, that up to 80,000 people can occupy its space. It has hosted the Davis Cup finals and Bandy World Championships on several occasions, and is the home of the Kremlin Cup tournament. It was the world's first indoor bandy arena. When smaller indoor sports are held at the venue, such as tennis or basketball, only 1/4 of the floor space is used. Capacity at this configuration can vary between 10,000 and 16,000 people.

The arena hosted the 1999 FIBA EuroStars game and the 2005 Euroleague Final Four. The stadium can hold up to 16,000 people for televised events.

In May 2014, the city of Moscow auctioned 65% of shares in the stadium that it previously controlled; oil company ZAO Neftegazprod won the auction, paying 4,672 billion rubles (approximately €100 million).

Location
Moscow is the capital city and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural and scientific center in Russia and in Europe. Moscow is the northernmost megacity on Earth, the second most populous city in Europe and the 6th largest city proper in the world. It's also the largest city in Russia with a population, according to the 2010 Census, of 11,503,501.

Moscow is situated on the Moskva River in the Central Federal District of European Russia. In the course of its history the city has served as the capital of a progression of states, from the medieval Grand Duchy of Moscow and the subsequent Tsardom of Russia to the Soviet Union. Moscow is the site of the Moscow Kremlin, an ancient fortress that is today the residence of the Russian president. The Kremlin is also one of several World Heritage Sites in the city. Both chambers of the Russian parliament also sit in Moscow.

The city is served by an extensive transit network, which includes four international airports, nine railway terminals, and one of the deepest underground metro systems in the world, the Moscow Metro, third to Tokyo and Seoul in terms of passenger numbers. It is recognized as one of the city's landmarks due to the rich and varied architecture of its 188 stations.

Over time, Moscow has acquired a number of epithets, most referring to its size and preeminent status within the nation: The Third Rome (Третий Рим), The Whitestone One (Белокаменная), The First Throne (Первопрестольная), The Forty Forties (Сорок Сороков). In old Russian the word "Сорок" (forty) also meant a church administrative district, which consisted of about forty churches. The demonym for a Moscow resident is Moskvitch, rendered in English as Muscovite.

This is the first time, that the contest is held in Russia. .

Semi-final and Grand Final allocation draw
The host, Russia was draw to perform number 09 in the Grand Final. On February 6, 2013 the semi-final allocation draw took place, Russia will vote in all three semi-finals.

Participants
Sixty-one countries have confirmed participation in the Own Eurovision Song Contest 16. Jordan and Uzbekistan will make their debut. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Faroe Islands, Portugal, Slovakia and Vatican City returned in the contest. Greenland, Libya, Palestine, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tunisia and Turkmenistan decided to withdraw from the competition.

Disqualified countries
On February 11, 2013 it was announced that four countries were eliminated from the contest for not voting. Portugal was disqualified from first semi-final, Montenegro from the second semi-final and Czech Republic and Serbia from the third semi-final.

Semifinals
On 6 February 2013 the countries competing in the Own Eurovision Song Contest 16, except the host country, Russia, were decided to perform as follow.

Semi-Final 01
Notes
 * The eight countries in this semi-final with the highest scoring points, according to the votes from each voting country, qualifies for the Grand Final.
 * One country will win a wildcard, following the wilcard battle.
 * (host) voted in this semi-final.
 * was disqualified, for not voting.
 * On 11 February 2013 the eight qualifiers were announced.
 * has won the first wildcard battle.
 * 1. The country was disqualified.

Semi-Final 02

 * The eight countries in this semi-final with the highest scoring points, according to the votes from each voting country, qualifies for the Grand Final.
 * One country will win a wildcard, following the wilcard battle.
 * (host) voted in this semi-final.
 * was disqualified for not voting.
 * On 12 February 2013 the eight qualifiers were announced.
 * has won the second wildcard battle.

Notes
 * 2. The country was disqualified.

Semi-Final 03
Notes
 * The eight countries in this semi-final with the highest scoring points, according to the votes from each voting country, qualifies for the Grand Final.
 * One country will win a wildcard, following the wilcard battle.
 * (host) voted in this semi-final.
 * and were disqualified for not voting.
 * On 13 February 2013 the eight qualifiers were announced.
 * has won the third wildcard battle.
 * 3.The country was disqualified.
 * 4.Even though the title is in english, the song is in greek.

Wildcard battles

 * two countries from each semi-final will be chosen to fight for a final place (one by the host and the other by the host in collaboration with the admin).
 * everyone who wants can vote in the battles.
 * the winner of each battle will advance to the final.

Battle 01

 * On 11 February 2013 the countries from the first wildcard battle were announced.
 * On 14 February 2013 the winner of the wildcard battle 01 was announced.

Battle 02

 * On 12 February 2013 the countries from the second wildcard battle were announced.
 * On 14 February 2013 the winner of the wildcard battle 02 was announced.

Battle 03

 * On 13 February 2013 the countries from the third wildcard battle were announced.
 * On 14 February 2013 the winner of the wildcard battle 03 was announced.

Grand Final
The twenty-eight qualifiers are:
 * the host-.
 * the top eight countries from the first semi-final.
 * the top eight countries from the second semi-final.
 * the top eight countries from the third semi-final.
 * winner of first wilcard battle.
 * winner of second wilcard battle.
 * winner of third wilcard battle.

12 points
Below is a summary of the maximum 12 points each country awarded to another in the final.

Voting ceremony
All 61 countries casted their votes. The countries revealed their votes in the following order.

Spokepersons

 * 1) Finland.png Jannika Bergroth
 * 2) Morocco.png Isam Bachiri
 * 3) England.png Simon Cowell
 * 4) Macedonia.png Magdalena Cvetkoska
 * 5) Slovakia.png Daniela Nízlová
 * 6) Andorra.png Joel Molina
 * 7) Ireland.png Nadine Coyle
 * 8) Luxembourg.png No Angels
 * 9) Turkey.png Hadise Açıkgöz
 * 10) Northern Ireland.png Zoe Alexis
 * 11) Georgia.png Nodi Tatishvili & Sophie Gelovani
 * 12) Albania.png Alban Skënderaj
 * 13) Vatican City.png Pope Benedict XVI
 * 14) Cyprus.png Ivi Adamou
 * 15) Russia.png Elena Susova
 * 16) Denmark.png Mohamed Ali
 * 17) Belgium.png Elio Di Rupo
 * 18) Czech Republic.png Tereza Kerndlová
 * 19) Belarus.png Alexander Rybak
 * 20) Croatia.png Franka Batelic
 * 21) Åland Islands.png Sarah Finer
 * 22) The Netherlands.png Joan Franka
 * 23) Latvia.png Elīna Fūrmane
 * 24) Romania.png Antonia Iacobescu
 * 25) Greece.png Ilias Vrettos
 * 26) Ukraine.png Ruslana Lyzhychko
 * 27) Hungary.png Pál Dénes
 * 28) Austria.png Matze Gertschech
 * 29) Italy.png Maria Fraschetta
 * 30) Jordan.png Mai Selim
 * 31) Kazakhstan.png Bauyržan Esebaev
 * 32) Slovenia.png Maja Šušnjara
 * 33) Spain.png Vanesa Romero
 * 34) Norway.png Annsofi Petterson
 * 35) France.png Michel Platini
 * 36) Armenia.png Kim Kardashian
 * 37) Portugal.png Nelly Furtado
 * 38) Lebanon.png Carole Samaha
 * 39) Iceland.png Jóhanna Jónsdóttir
 * 40) Montenegro.png Milo Jukanovich
 * 41) Bosnia and Herzegovina.png Edin Džeko
 * 42) Moldova.png Tania Cergă
 * 43) Poland.png Tamara Gee
 * 44) Estonia.png Ott Lepland
 * 45) Egypt.png Cleopatra Philopator
 * 46) Uzbekistan.png Islam Karimov
 * 47) Wales.png Shirley Bassey
 * 48) Serbia.png Nataša Bekvalac
 * 49) Liechtenstein.png Mona Atick
 * 50) San Marino.png Luciano Ligabue
 * 51) Azerbaijan.png Safura Alizadeh
 * 52) Monaco.png Hélène Ségara
 * 53) Malta.png Brooke Borg
 * 54) Israel.png Shiri Maimon
 * 55) Algeria.png Zehira Darabid
 * 56) Lithuania.png Linas Kleiza
 * 57) Faroe Islands.png Kristian Blak
 * 58) Sweden.png Gina Dirawi & Danny Saucedo
 * 59) Bulgaria.png Teodora Andreeva
 * 60) Kosovo.png Nora Istrefi
 * 61) Germany.png Natalie Horler

Cities

 * 1) Finland.png Helsinki
 * 2) Morocco.png Rabat
 * 3) England.png London
 * 4) Macedonia.png Skopje
 * 5) Slovakia.png Bratislava
 * 6) Andorra.png Engordany
 * 7) Ireland.png Dublin
 * 8) Luxembourg.png Kirchberg
 * 9) Turkey.png Istanbul
 * 10) Northern Ireland.png Down
 * 11) Georgia.png Tbilisi
 * 12) Albania.png Tirana
 * 13) Vatican City.png Rome
 * 14) Cyprus.png Ayia Napa
 * 15) Russia.png Moscow
 * 16) Denmark.png Aalborg
 * 17) Belgium.png Brussels
 * 18) Czech Republic.png Prague
 * 19) Belarus.png Minsk
 * 20) Croatia.png Zagreb
 * 21) Åland Islands.png Mariehamn
 * 22) The Netherlands.png Amsterdam
 * 23) Latvia.png Liepāja
 * 24) Romania.png Cluj-Napoca
 * 25) Greece.png Igoumenitsa
 * 26) Ukraine.png Kiev
 * 27) Hungary.png Szeged
 * 28) Austria.png Vienna
 * 29) Italy.png Trieste
 * 30) Jordan.png Sait
 * 31) Kazakhstan.png Astana
 * 32) Slovenia.png Ljubljana
 * 33) Spain.png Membrilla
 * 34) Norway.png Bergen
 * 35) France.png Paris
 * 36) Armenia.png Vanadzor
 * 37) Portugal.png Lisbon
 * 38) Lebanon.png Zgharta
 * 39) Iceland.png Reykjavik
 * 40) Montenegro.png Herceg Novi
 * 41) Bosnia and Herzegovina.png Sarajevo
 * 42) Moldova.png Chisinau
 * 43) Poland.png Warsaw
 * 44) Estonia.png Tallinn
 * 45) Egypt.png Cairo
 * 46) Uzbekistan.png Tashkent
 * 47) Wales.png Cardiff
 * 48) Serbia.png Belgrade
 * 49) Liechtenstein.png Vaduz
 * 50) San Marino.png San Marino
 * 51) Azerbaijan.png Baku
 * 52) Monaco.png Monte Carlo
 * 53) Malta.png Qormi
 * 54) Israel.png Jerusalem
 * 55) Algeria.png Algiers
 * 56) Lithuania.png Vilnius
 * 57) Faroe Islands.png Torshavn
 * 58) Sweden.png Malmo
 * 59) Bulgaria.png Sofia
 * 60) Kosovo.png Pristina
 * 61) Germany.png Munich