29 January 2008 | Tickets for this year’s Eurovision contest, which will take place in Belgrade between May 20 and 24, go on sale today.

During the first two days, tickets can be purchased only from Serbia, but starting on January 31, they can be ordered online from anywhere. While they will initially be sold in packages for admittance to numerous events, remaining tickets can be bought individually starting on March 17.

The organisers of this year’s contest claim it will break all kinds of records: the number of countries to participate, 43, is the highest ever, and the venue hosting the event is one of the largest indoor arenas in Europe and the largest on the Balkans. Spread over an area of 48,000 square meters, the Belgrade Arena can seat up to 23,000 people.

Another record is set by the low ticket prices, Serbian media noted. The Novosti Agency reported that watching the semi-finals live will cost less than 15 euro, while those who want to attend the finals will have to pay between 15 and 60 euro.

Founded in 1956 by the European Broadcasting Union, the idea behind the Eurovision Song Contest is for all member states to participate in a competition that is aired live by their public television broadcasters. While it initially included only Western European participants, their number grew when many former socialist countries joined in the 1990s.

Each year, the contest is hosted by the home country of the previous year’s winner. Last year, that was Serbian Marija Šerifović with her ballad Molitva.

Even though many doubt the merits of the participants and dismiss the show as lowbrow entertainment, the contest nevertheless has a certain cult status. Acts, such as ABBA and Celine Dion, began their road to stardom precisely at Eurovision.