Reference Group gathers in Oslo

The Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group is the executive Expert Committee for all Members, its purpose being to control and guide the Eurovision Song Contest. The Reference Group was established by the European Broadcasting Union's Television Committee in 1998 and its main tasks are approving the development and future format of the Eurovision Song Contest, securing the financing, modernizing the brand and raising awareness and overseeing the yearly preparation by the Host Broadcaster.

Peter Svaar, Head of Press on behalf of NRK for the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest, told Eurovision.tv: "Though we've been preparing for months already, tomorrow is a true milestone in the lead up to the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest. It's a very exciting moment for our team at NRK, for Oslo and Bærum, as well as for all Norwegians."

Moscow did not manage to send mayor Yury Luzhkov to Oslo, and sends vice-mayor Valery Vinogradov to hand over the host city insignia to the mayors of Oslo and Bærum, where the Telenor Arena is located officially.

The ceremony will take place from 14:30 to 16:30 Central European Time. As part of the ceremony, there will be an entertainment programme of children from Bærum. The 2009 winner of Europe's favourite TV-show, Alexander Rybak, is scheduled to perform as well.

Directly after the ceremony, a press conference will be given by the organizers. Eurovision.tv will cover the Host City Insignia Exchange and the press conference afterwards, as well as news that might arise from the Reference Group meetings.