As the new rules of the Eurovision postulated a couple of years ago, all the countries should participate in a semi-final. Except for the host country and the Big Four. On Friday, 7 February, the EBU drew the semi-final allocation, the distribution of votes of the big 4 and Norway, and the respective halves (first / second) in which the countries will compete.
By the way, tickets are on sale as of today 
Here are the two lists:
Semi-Final 1 – 25 May 2010
First half:
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Estonia
Finland
Latvia
Moldova
Russia
Serbia
Slovakia
Second half:
Albania
Belarus
Belgium
FYR Macedonia
Greece
Iceland
Malta
Poland
Portugal
Semi-Final 2 – 27 May 2010
First half:
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Denmark
Israel
Lithuania
Sweden
Switzerland
Ukraine
Second half:
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Georgia
Ireland
The Netherlands
Romania
Slovenia
Turkey
Here is the allocation of the voting of the Big Four and the host country:
First Semi-Final: Germany and Spain
Second Semi-Final: Norway, UK, France
Final ESC 2009 participants’ list announced
X43 is the number of the countries participating in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Moscow. It seems like the show is just as popular as it was last year, so much so that Slovakia has decided to come back to the Eurovision family. Here is the final list of the participating countries, after the deadline for withdraw has passed:
The rules stay the same and the Semi-Finals will contain 19 performances each. 20 altogether (10 from each Semi-Final) qualify for the Grand Final (16 May), where the Big 4 are already waiting. France, Germany, Spain and the UK plus the host Russia have a secure place at the Final. It’s good news that none of the Big 4 have decided not to invest money in Eurovision this year, as this would have robbed the contest of its flavour.
Who participates in which Semi-Final will be decided in Moscow on 30 January. Heated debate is expected from you after this draw. This draw will also decide the Semi-Final of the Big-Four and the host country – three in one Semi-Final and three in the other. The running order will be determined as usual after a draw at the regular HoD Meeting in mid-March. There will be three wildcards, who can luckily decide their starting position.
Meanwhile, yesterday the EBU launched their new dedicated website: Eurovision Song Contest – Moscow 2009. The general sponsor is again Raiffeisen Bank. The website for years in a row offers streaming of the ESCTV, mobile services, and downloads.
So, are you getting started for Moscow? I’ll soon try to offer the top list of how to survive financially in the Russian capital – one of the most expensive cities in the world.