The Semis will also give us the first sign of how the national juries will work. There are 18 countries vying for ten places. Nine will be chosen by televoting while the tenth spot will go to the country that placed the highest in the voting of the juries but missed out in televoting.

Only the qualifiers will be announced during the show.

t.A.T.u., who represented Russia in the 2003 contest, have also announced they will appear at the first Semi Final. The girl duo was a big hope in Riga, Latvia, with their song "Ne Verj, Ne Bojsia, Ne Prosi" but their inclusion was marred by backstage tantrums, and even a warning from the EBU. Despite an unexciting performance they managed a third place but little success thereafter. Maybe this week they can reignite the spark that created such buzz around "All The Things She Said."

t.A.T.u. are expected to appear at interval.

The first Semi is opened by the Tolmachevy twin sisters, winners of the 2006 Junior Eurovision Song Contest, who land on stage in a giant flying bird called Firebird. A stylized tree decorated with balloons displays the flags of the participating countries.

As we know the stage this year is comprised of enormous, suspended LED video screens which are also movable. They will create a kaleidoscope of spectacular images.

In Semi Final acts, Belarus has a wind machine. With Petr Elfimov's rock song "Eyes That Never Lie" at around 200-1 they might need the theatrics. It's almost an air guitar spectacular.

At better odds is shot is Armenia with sisters Inga and Anush and their Eastern-inspired "Jan Jan." They are sitting around 33-1.

One of the better songs in the first Semi is Switzerland's Love Bugs with their driving pop song, "The Highest Heights." Established in 1992 by Adrian Sieber and Sebastian "Baschi" Hausmann and drummer Julie, they have become one of Switzerland's most successful bands. What also helps elevate them above other contenders is the fact they play live instruments. Ironically, these days that's an ESC novelty. With a Brit-pop sound they should fare well, but bookies have them ut to 80-1.



A poignant –and political– entry this year is Israel's Noa and Mira Awad with the aptly titled "There Must Be Another Way." They are an Arab-Israeli duo with a song which includes Arabic for the first time in ESC. A comment on troubles in their region, no doubt. Fittingly, they will start their duet from distant positions on stage and finish holding hands. Israel (which is part of the contest because the broadcaster is part of the EBU), last won in 1998 with the dazzling Dana International.



Meanwhile a few more snippets have emerged on what to expect in the Final extravaganza. 2008 Russian winner Dima Bilan will feature -of course.

Host Broadcaster Channel One Director-General Konstantin Ernst said, “The life story of a boy will be told and replayed between the performances. The boy dreamed about singing from childhood, he worked hard to achieve his goal and won the Eurovision contest. Dima Bilan will be the prototype of that boy."

Channel One has also amusingly said they hope Russia doesn't win this year. The workload has been a taxing one. The city also doesn't expect to make any profit from the show.

"The contest will be loss-making for Moscow. But Olympic Games, the Cannes festival and other events of such magnitude are always loss-making. We simply want the city to enjoy this holiday of songs,” Ernst has said.