From the EBU, it was the Executive Supervisor Jon Ola Sand and the Event Supervisor Sietse Bakker attending the meeting. From ORF, Dr. Alexander Wrabetz (Director General), Richard Grasl (Commercial Director), Kathrin Zechner (TV Director) and Michael Götzhaber (Technical Director) were present.
While it’s still quite early, some details about the upcoming shows were touched at the meeting. Two things are clear - the arena should be available six weeks before the event and it should be a closed event hall without issues with daylight.
Jon Ola Sand, Executive Supervisor at the EBU: "We appreciate the early invitation for this kick-off meeting, which shows ORF's commitment to a successful Eurovision Song Contest in 2015. The foundation of that success is an early start, and we are looking forward to the challenge ahead!"
Dr Alexander Wrabetz: "With a major international event such as the Eurovision Song Contest, it is important not to lose time and to start the preparation work. In this sense, we also have already started initial discussions - just a week after the victory. All are highly motivated and with the EBU, we have a top professional partner on our side. It is sure that a mega project of this magnitude can only be realised as a pan-Austrian cooperation between ORF, the state, municipal and private partners."
The preliminary dates for the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest are set for the 12th, 14th and 16th of May but may change. A final decision on the dates will be taken this summer.
