Helsinki launches new Eurovision Song Contest tradition
The City of Helsinki will hand the host city honours of the Eurovision Song Contest over to Belgrade on Friday, September 14, 2007. On the same occasion, Belgrade will be presented with the symbolic item ??Helsinki Insignia?? which in future will be circulated from a host city to the next. The ceremony and Helsinki Insignia have been developed in co-operation between the City of Helsinki, the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The initiative came from YLE. The host city handover ceremony will take place in Belgrade, and Lord Mayor Jussi Pajunen will act for Helsinki. Helsinki Insignia has been created through Helsinkian efforts: it was designed by Anteeksi Group and manufactured by jewellery designer Taru Tonder. The symbol is a key ring of sorts, with the following texts engraved by hand: - Eurovision Song Contest Host City - List of all host cities with dates up to 2006 - Manufacturing marks: Helsinki 2007 and the manufacturers? initials Furthermore, the key ring is garnished by a plaque with a photo of Senate Square during the Song Contest on one side and the following text on the other: Helsinki Insignia Eurovision Song Contest Host City The future host cities can attach their own town gate key and symbols to the key ring.
