Greece has confirmed their participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam.
Maria Koufopoulou, Head of Delegation for Greece and Director of International Relations for ERT, confirmed the news to OGAE Greece. She also stated that ERT are evaluating their participation in this year’s contest and discussing with local fan clubs on how best to select the Greek entry for Rotterdam. It was previously reoprted that ERT is looking at returning to its previously used format of internally selecting an artist for Eurovision, and then allowing the public to select the song they sing at the contest.
ERT previously used the format most recently in 2017, however the format saw its greatest success during the 2000s. The selection process was used for Sakis Rouvas (2009), Anna Vissi (2006) and Helena Paparizou (2005). ERT is yet to confirm how they will select their entry for next year’s contest.
Greece has struggled in the Eurovision Song Contest in recent years with the nation failing to make it into the top ten since 2013. In 2016 the nation failed to qualify for the first time and in 2019 Greece finished 21st in the final.
The Eurovision Song Contest will be brought back to the Netherlands for the 2020 edition after Duncan Laurence’s victory at the 2019 contest with his song “Arcade”. To date, 31 countries have confirmed preliminary participation. These countries are:
- Albania
- Australia
- Austria
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Ireland
- Israel
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Portugal
- Russia
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
Source: OGAE Greece
Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest
Greece debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974, when they were represented by Marinella and the song “Krasi, thalassa kai t’agori mou” which finished in 11th place with 7 points. Three years later Greece earned their first top 5 finish with Paschalis, Marianna, Robert and Bessy who finished in 5th place with “Mathima solfege”. In 2001 Greece achieved their first top 3 result with Antique and the song “I Would Die For You”. The song became a European hit, and charted across the continent. In 2005 Helena Paparizou returned to the Eurovision stage as a solo artist and brought Greece their first, and to date only, victory. Her song “My Number One” won with 230 points, beating runners-up Malta by 38 points.
