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From the AFP news agency, in a May 26, 2002 report:
A long-time Eurovision watcher, Paul Gomez of the UK Radio Development Group, said it was probably the best organized contest since Birmingham hosted it in 1998 or Dublin in 1997.
“They've put Estonia on the map," he said. "It's brought a lot of money into the
country.”
Riga Mayor Gundars Bojars, quoted by AFP in its May 26 story:
“If we organized the 800th anniversary celebrations for Riga (in 2001) then we can handle organizing Eurovision. If the Estonians could do it, then we can as
well.”
From The Financial Times, May 27, 2002, in an article entitled
Baltic Party, published after Latvia won the 2002 Eurovision Song Contest in Tallinn:
So much for inter-Baltic rivalry. Anyone who tuned into the Eurovision
scoring on Saturday will know that Latvia won, the decisive points came from Lithuania and the contest was hosted by last year's winner, Estonia.
From BBC news, May 26, 2002, in an article entitled Eurovision Lives up to
Expectations, by Michael Osborn:
Europe's biggest annual musical jamboree landed in the tiny Baltic state of Estonia—and the first-time hosts carried off the
Eurovision Song Contest in fine style.
The Estonians clearly put their heart and soul into the whole shabang, building a new stadium for the event and producing a show which was slick, good-looking and professional....
Admirably hosted
So the Baltic love-affair with
Eurovision is set to live another day. Should the Latvians be able to meet the considerable cost of holding the contest, then we're set for Riga in 2003.
This year's contest was admirably hosted by a small country at first though incapable of pulling it off.
But it had an exciting conclusion and plenty of material to keep
Eurovision fans talking until next year.
From London’s Observer, April 28, 2002, in an article
entitled Tallinn's Euro Vision:
On 25 May, Estonia plans to invade Europe. The unlikely battlefield will be the high-camp circus we know as the
Eurovision Song Contest, live from Tallinn. When the bunting was swept up (after the Estonians won
Eurovision in 2001), the rest of the world still had no idea what or where Estonia was (friends have suggested looking for it in the Balkans, the Balearics or somewhere east of Kazakhstan). Estonians argue that
Eurovision will put them on the map....
Down the hill at Café
Anglais, amid the coffee and cakes, there is a Eurovision buzz. Three thousand participants, technicians, and journalists—the entire hotel bed capacity of Tallinn—are about to swamp this town. There had been some grumbling that Estonia cannot afford this extravaganza and the money would be diverted from a planned increase in pensions, but the carping is forgotten now....
The recent past has not been properly buried. The talk in Tallinn these days may be of joining the
European Union and Nato but it is accompanied by a nervous glance over the shoulder at the Russian bear. In this context, the
Eurovision adventure has taken on an almost surreal significance. Following the win last year, then Prime Minister Mart Laar enthused: 'We demolished the Russian empire by singing; now we are not knocking on the door of Europe but will simply walk in singing.'
Maybe on 25 May you will settle down for an evening of squirming fun as Europe embarrasses itself musically again. At the
Saku Suurhall in Tallinn, though, a fledgling nation will be singing its heart
out.
From CNN.com, in an article Transvestite Sisters Stir Slovenia (February 21, 2002):
The annual Eurovision Song
Contest is causing a stir in Slovenia, where a group of three transvestites called "The Sisters"
(above photo) are challenging traditional values. The group has won the right to represent the country, where nearly three-quarters of the two million citizens identify themselves as Catholic.
Allegations of voting improprieties have compounded the shock to the national system and the debate has reached the Slovene parliament.... "The Sisters" had little chance to
savor their victory, however, as it was revealed that their songwriter, Magnifico, had got into a backstage brawl with a rival, Patrik Greblo, who had cheered for (another competitor). The trio won the national heat for their song, "Only Love." Misa Molk, editor-in-chief of
TV Slovenia's Entertainment Program, ultimately said the tele-voting had been declared invalid. But "The Sisters" retain their crown....
In parliament, Slovene People's Party deputy Franc Kangler on Tuesday asked culture ministry officials how they intended to improve the public image of the national television station. The same day, the station's general manager, Aleks Stakul, demanded a thorough investigation.
"The Sisters" themselves have carefully avoided the squabbles, leading commentators to suggest they are already packing their suitcases for Estonia—carefully laying the air hostess uniforms on top.
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“The unlikely battlefield will be the high-camp circus we know as the
Eurovision Song Contest.”
