Start planning your connecting flights! Today Georgian Public broadcaster GPB has accepted the offer from the European Broadcasting Union to host the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2017.
After Mariam Mamadashvili won the 2016 edition in Malta last November, expectations were high that Georgia — a three-time winner of the contest — would finally get to host after being passed up in the past. With Mariam’s victory they’re having their moment in the sun — which is appropriate given that she sang “Mzeo” (Georgian for that big ball of fire around which we orbit).
This morning, after two months of celebrations, GPB held a press conference confirming the news.
Panelists included Giorgi Chogovadze, Head of Georgia’s Tourism Administration; Ketevan Bochorishvili, Deputy Minister of Georgia’s Economy and Sustainable Development; Tinatin Berdzenishvili, Head of Media and Communications for GPB; and Sergi Gvarjaladze, Head of the Junior Eurovision Project.
Berdzenishvili — a dear friend of wiwibloggs — was thrilled to announce the news.
”Last year Mariam Mamadashvili won the Junior Eurovision and set a record — Georgia has won three times. We haven’t had the opportunity to host this event before and this year we can say that Georgia will host Junior Eurovision 2017. I think that it’s important, because it’s the 15th edition of Junior Eurovision. We should work hard together and we are ready for this challenge.”
Young Mariam, who lives in Connecticut in the United States, won the contest in November with her Broadway-inspired number about sunlight and making the most of life.
Jon Ola Sand, the EBU’s Head of Live Events, said: “The EBU are delighted to announce that GPB will be the host broadcaster of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2017. As Georgia has won the JESC the most times we are pleased that we can finally bring Europe’s favourite youth show to a new country that has shown such dedication to the Contest. Last year’s competition showed that JESC is an invaluable platform for public service broadcasters to support their young talent, and we have full confidence that GPB will host another great show this November”.
What do you think? Are you excited about it? Let us know in the comments section below – and we’ll see y’all in Georgia this year!
I really hated the song but I love Georgia and I am so pleased for them getting to host a Eurovision event at last.
Similar to Armenia a win in the main show can’t be too far off.
Yas! Wizzair recently opened a Bergamo-Kutaisi route, I’d better use it.
Lizi Pop & Rezo would be a good couple to host the jesc 2017. What do you think?????
I am not happy about this decision. Georgia is far from other parts of Europe, so it could be reason why will many countries withdraw. I think that Balkans will be represented only by Bulgaria
@nn: I’ve be devastated if Serbia, Macedonia, and/or Albania all ended up on the “withdrawing” list. 🙁
Why we can t see how each member of juries vote in 2016. Ebu did that in 2015
I think Serbia, Macedonia will witherdraw from contest this year and maybe with them and Albania
And Nina Sublatti as the interval act please ????
@beccaboo1212: oh i’m sure malta will participate. i don’t even remember the last time they don’t participate… they are very ambitious about this. too bad last year they implemented too much changes that turn out to be a hot mess.
Tbilisi is a gorgeous city – Im sure they will have a fantastic contest
I’m not saying that Tbilisi isn’t the default place in Georgia, but the GPB hasn’t announced a host city yet.
@fikri I have 100% hope the Georgian “Mzeo” will deliver a great show at Tbilisi Sports Palace, aka the only options for venues I could find via Wikipedia. But I’m REALLY hoping for the EBU to let Malta participate in Junior Eurovision EVERY year! 🙂
about damn time.
i hope they don’t f**k it up like malta tho.