site.btaSofia Has Capacity, Infrastructure and Momentum Needed to Host Eurovision Song Contest, Deputy Mayor Says
Sofia has the capacity, infrastructure and momentum needed to host the Eurovision Song Contest and is the natural choice to stage the event, Deputy Mayor for Culture and Tourism Irina Dakova said.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Dakova said discussions with partners were still ahead but expressed confidence in Sofia's bid. She pointed to the city's experience hosting major international events, including Bulgaria's Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Junior Eurovision Song Contest and the Giro d'Italia.
Dakova said organizers had requested further details as part of Sofia's bid, including not only the proposed venue but also the locations of the Eurovision Village and the traditional Turquoise Carpet ceremony.
She said Sofia has the full ecosystem of venues and infrastructure required to meet those demands. “Arena Armeec has been proposed as the main competition venue, while Sofia Tech Park will support the event by providing additional facilities,” she said. The Turquoise Carpet ceremony is planned for the open space in front of the National Palace of Culture (NDK).
According to Dakova, the Eurovision Village would also be located around the NDK. She said the site was chosen in part because it can accommodate the event's stringent security requirements. The area would be fenced off, with visitors passing through airport-style security screening, including dedicated scanners. Nearby venues, including Toplocentrala and South Park, would form part of the wider festival area, with Toplocentrala serving as the center of the city's nightlife programme during the event.
Dakova said Sofia's greatest strengths are its green policies, metro network, public transport system and urban connectivity. She added that the city's bid concept had been developed around a modern vision for hosting the contest.
Four cities compete to host the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest: Sofia, Burgas, Varna, and Plovdiv.
/RD/
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