Own Asiavision Song Contest 5

Own Asiavision Song Contest 5, often referred to as OASC #5, is the 5th edition of the Own Asiavision Song Contest. The contest was supposed to take place in Japan, following country's victory in the 4th contest with the song "Pick Me Up". Hovewer, the previous winner refused to host stating internal problems with broadcaster. Later, they confirmed the participation but with another broadcaster, making it unable to host. The council asked the runner-up, Afghanistan to host, and the broadcaster accepted to host it in Kabul. This is the first time that Afghanistan hosted the contest.

Twenty-four countries participated in the fifth edition. The winner of was South Korea with the song "I" by Taeyeon feat. Verbal Jint which scored 140 points, winning by a margin of 14 points in front of Singapore. The podium was completed by Iran, which finished on the third place. Afghanistan, the host country placed 21st.

Location
For more details on the host country, see Afghanistan.

Host City
Kabul, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan, located in the eastern section of the country. It is also a municipality, forming part of the greater Kabul Province, and divided into 22 districts. According to estimates in 2021, the population of Kabul is 4.6 million, which includes all the major ethnic groups of Afghanistan. Afghanistan's only city with a population of over 1 million, Kabul serves as its political, cultural and economical center. Rapid urbanization has made Kabul the world's 75th largest city.

Kabul is located high up in a narrow valley between the Hindu Kush mountains, with an elevation of 1,790 metres making it one of the highest capitals in the world. The city is said to be over 3,500 years old, mentioned since at least the time of the Achaemenid Empire. Located at crossroads in Asia - roughly halfway between Istanbul in the west and Hanoi in the east - it is in a strategic location along the trade routes of South and Central Asia, and a key location of the ancient Silk Road. It has been part of the Achaemenids followed by the Seleucids, Mauryans, Kushans, Kabul Shahis, Saffarids, Samanids, Ghaznavids, Ghurids, Khwarazmians, Qarlughids, Khaljis, Timurids, Mughals, and Hotaks, until finally becoming part of the Durrani Empire (also known as the "Afghan Empire") in 1747. Kabul became the capital of Afghanistan in 1776, during the reign of Timur Shah Durrani, the son of Ahmad Shah Durrani.

In the early 19th century, the British occupied the city, but after establishing foreign relations, they were compelled to withdraw all forces from Afghanistan. The city was occupied by the Soviets in 1979 but they too abandoned it after the 1988 Geneva Accords were signed. A civil war in the 1990s between various rebel groups destroyed much of the city, resulting in many casualties. From late 2001 the city has been continuously rebuilt.

Kabul is known for its gardens, bazaars, and palaces, well known examples being the Gardens of Babur and Darul Aman Palace. It was also formerly a tourist destination for young western hippies. Despite frequent terrorist attacks in the city, mainly by Taliban insurgents, the city continues to develop and was the fifth fastest-growing city in the world as of 2012

Venue
Ghazi Stadium is a stadium in Kabul, Afghanistan. It was built during the reign of King Amanullah Khan in 1923, who is regarded as Ghazi (Hero) for the Afghan victory in the Third Anglo-Afghan War and gaining independence for his nation after the Anglo-Afghan Treaty of 1919. The stadium has the capacity to house 25,000 people.

The Ghazi Stadium was renovated in 2011 after the entire ground was removed and replaced with new soil and artificial turf placed on top. The stadium now holds bigger sporting events. The proposed construction of a new national stadium to be completed for the 2013/2014 season will cost 25 million euros.