Zone Song Contest 9

Final
 Venue
 Entries
 Withdrawing
**Participation map**
* Participating countries     Did not qualify from the semi final or the PSR     Countries that participated in the past but not this edition
 System
 Winner

**Zone Song Contest 9**, often referred as **ZSC 9**, was the ninth edition of the Zone Song Contest. This edition was located in Grece as host country. ERT was the TV station chosen by the Greek delegation to televise and organize such important event of this dimensions for all Europe and the world after their first victory in the eighth edition with the singer *Evangelia* and the song *"Fotiá"* with 457 points in a exciting final vote against Spain and Sweden taking the contest to Greece for the first time.

**ERT** selected on July 6 the hosts of the ninth edition: *Dimitra Papadea (Demy)* and *Katerine Duska*. They were chosen to host the three different shows that make up the festival. As well as the events on the Green Room and the well-known "*Red Carpet Show*" which, when held in Greece and being summer, it became the "*Blue & White Carpet Show*". Officially **42** countries confirmed their participation, with the exception of Andorra, which after its poor results in previous editions decided to take a break from the festival to come back stronger. This was the lowest number of participants so far at the festival, with each semi-final having a total of 18 songs in each one.

The official slogan for the edition was "Thálassa Tragoúdia" which means "Sea Songs" in English. The concept was based on small paper boats with the lyrics of the 42 participating songs sailing from the Greek seas. Some marine waves were the art-work and official logo of the edition given to the humble marine traditions of Greece. At the *Blue & White Carpet Show* each participant was given a paper boat with the lyrics of their songs to launch it into the sea right at the end of the carpet.

## Location

**Greece** is a country located in Southeast Europe. Its population is approximately 10.7 million as of 2018; Athens is its largest and capital city, followed by Thessaloniki. Situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, Greece is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. It shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to the northeast. The Aegean Sea lies to the east of the mainland, the Ionian Sea to the west, the Cretan Sea and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. Greece has the longest coastline on the Mediterranean Basin and the 11th longest coastline in the world at 13,676 km (8,498 mi) in length, featuring many islands, of which 227 are inhabited. Eighty percent of Greece is mountainous, with Mount Olympus being the highest peak at 2,918 metres (9,573 ft). The country consists of nine traditional geographic regions: Macedonia, Central Greece, the Peloponnese, Thessaly, Epirus, the Aegean Islands (including the Dodecanese and Cyclades), Thrace, Crete, and the Ionian Islands.

**Athens** is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, with its recorded history spanning over 3,400 years and its earliest human presence starting somewhere between the 11th and 7th millennium BC. The heritage of the Classical Era is still evident in the city, represented by ancient monuments, and works of art. The most famous of all being the Parthenon, considered a key landmark of early Western civilization. The city also retains Roman and Byzantine monuments, as well as a smaller number of Ottoman monuments, while its historical urban core features elements of continuity through its millennia of history.

### Bidding phase

It's true that there was a certain like on the part of the Greek cities for wanting to organize the festival, but the ERT was clear about it by choosing the four competing cities to organize the Zone Song Contest 8. Finally, Athens and Thessaloniki were the two finalists cities to organize the contest but Athens won out and was finally chosen.

**Key**
  †  Host venue   ‡  Shortlisted venues

 Thessaloniki | Kaftanzoglio Stadium ‡ | 27,770

## Results

### Semi-Final 1

Greece, Italy and Spain will also vote in this semi-final.

### Semi-Final 2

France, Germany and United Kingdom will also vote in this semi-final.

## External Links

* Google Drive
* Twitter