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Results of the Semi-Final Allocation Draw

07 February 2010 at 15:28 CET

During the Semi-Final Allocation Draw, it was be determined which countries will be represented in which of the two Semi-Finals of the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest. The 34 countries represented in the Semi-Finals were drawn from five pots, based on voting patterns of last years as analyzed by the contest's voting partner Digame. By spreading these countries over two Semi-Finals, the impact of neighbour- and diaspora voting is limited and the contest more exciting.

Half of the countries were drawn into the first Semi-Final (on the 25th of May) - as drawn:

  • Serbia (first half)
  • Finland (first half)
  • Russia (first half)
  • Greece (second half)
  • Slovakia (first half)
  • Bosnia & Herzegovina (first half)
  • Iceland (second half)
  • Moldova (first half)
  • Malta (second half)
  • Portugal (second half)
  • FYR Macedonia (second half)
  • Latvia (first half)
  • Belarus (second half)
  • Belgium (second half)
  • Poland (second half)
  • Albania (second half)
  • Estonia (first half)

The other half was drawn into the second Semi-Final (on the 27th of May) - as drawn:

  • Switzerland (first half)
  • Lithuania (first half)
  • Georgia (second half)
  • Turkey (second half)
  • Ireland (second half)
  • Slovenia (second half)
  • Sweden (first half)
  • Ukraine (first half)
  • The Netherlands (second half)
  • Bulgaria (second half)
  • Croatia (second half)
  • Denmark (first half)
  • Azerbaijan (first half)
  • Cyprus (second half)
  • Romania (second half)
  • Israel (first half)
  • Armenia (first half)

As part of the draw, it was also determined if those countries will perform in the first or second half of the respective Semi-Final, so that each delegation already knows exactly on which day they are expected in Oslo for the rehearsals in May.

The five pots looked like this:

Pot 1: Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia, Switzerland

Pot 2: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden

Pot 3: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Israel, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine

Pot 4: Armenia, Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Malta, the Netherlands, Turkey

Pot 5: Bulgaria, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia

There was also a draw to decide which of the two Semi-Finals the so-called 'Big Four' (France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom) and host country Norway will be obliged to broadcast and vote in (as drawn):

  • Norway (Second Semi-Final)
  • Germany (First Semi-Final)
  • United Kingdom (Second Semi-Final)
  • Spain (First Semi-Final)
  • France (Second Semi-Final)

The next draw, to decide upon the starting order of the songs in each Semi-Final and the Final, will be conducted - as usual - at the Heads of Delegation meeting in March.