Timisoara has been revealed as one of the cities that will host the Romanian selection process for the Eurovision Song Contest 2018.
The city of Timisoara has confirmed that it will be hosting one of the shows in the Romanian selection process for the Eurovision Song Contest 2018. The city council today approved funding of 200,000 lei to aide the city hosting the contest later this month.
City Hall stated that;
The organization of such an event and with such visibility provides Timisoara with a national and international media exposure in the context of 2021 when Timisoara is designated European Capital of Culture
According to media reports the city will host their show between January 22 and January 28. Timisoara has opted to host their show at the Timisoara National Theater.
Throughout January and February 2018, 6 shows will take place in various cities across Romania with the one show also due to be broadcast from Suceava. The newly expanded Selectia Nationala is part of a series of programs created by TVR to mark the 100th anniversary of the Great Union Day, the national holiday of Romania.
According to the official rules of the show, 15 songs will advance to the Grand Final of Selectia Nationala 2018 on 25 February 2018. The victor will follow in the footsteps of Ilinca and Alex Florea who performed Yodel It! in Kyiv.
Source: Tion.ro
Romania in the Eurovision Song Contest
Romania first participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994, the country had tried to participate in 1993 but failed to get through the pre-qualifying round. At the 1994 contest Dan Bittman finished 21st in the final scoring 14 points, Romania didn’t make it through to another final until 1998. Romania’s best results in the contest are two third place finishes. In 2005 Luminita Anghel & Sistem finished 3rd scoring 158 points, while Paula Seling & Ovi finished 3rd in Oslo with the song “Playing with Fire”. Romania missed the 2016 contest due to TVR being removed from the EBU.