Welcome to episode nr. 9 of ‘Junior Eurovision back in time’! Today we take you back to Yerevan, the host city of the kids contest in 2011. That marks the first Eurovision event in the Caucasus-area. What do you remember from this edition?
Quick things to know
- Date: 3 December
- Venue: Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex
- Host broadcaster: ARMTV
- Presenters: Gohar Gasparyan & Avet Barseghyan
- Number of entries: 13
At the beginning of 2011, EBU announced that Armenia would organize the Junior Eurovision Song Contest of that year. For the first time a winning country organizes the next edition!
Participating countries
Zero debutants, one returnign country and two withdrawals. While Serbia and Malta started a small break from their Junior Eurovision journey, Bulgaria came back.
Full lists of participating countries:
- Russia: Katya Ryabova – Romeo & Juliet
- Latvia: Amanda Basmakova – Moondog
- Moldova: Lerika – No, no
- Armenia: Dalita – Welcome to Armenia
- Bulgaria: Ivan Ivanov – Supergeroy
- Lithuania: Pauline Skrabtyé – Debesys
- Ukraine: Kristall – Evropa
- North Macedonia: Dorijan Dlaka – Žimi ovoj frak
- The Netherlands: Rachel – Teenager
- Belarus: Lidiya Zablotskaya – Angely dobra
- Sweden: Erik Rapp – Faller
- Georgia: Candy – Candy Music
- Belgium: Femke – Een Kusje Meer
Interval acts
Molly Sandén – Spread A Little Light
Vladimir Arzumanyan – Mama
Sirusho – Qele Qele
Top 3
- 3. Belarus: Lidiya Zablotskaya – Angely dobra
- 2. The Netherlands: Rachel – Teenager
- 1. Georgia: Candy – Candy Music
Candy wins Junior Eurovision 2011
And that marks the second victory of the Caucasus-nation. While struggling in the adult contest, Georgia becomes a powerhouse in the kids contest. Candy received points from every nation, including three times the maximum 12 points by Armenia, Lithuania and Belarus.
Some fun facts
- Every country received 12 points so nobody returned home with 0. Those 12 points were announced by a spokesperson from Australia.
- Non-participating countries Australia and Bosnia & Herzegovina broadcasted the show.
- Russia’s Katya Ryabova becomes the first artist to take part twice in Junior Eurovision. Her previous attempt was in 2009.
- Changes in the voting rules: the voting lines opened after the last country performed + each country’s spokesperson also announced all the points during their presentation, due to the lower number of participating countries, as it was done in 2003–2004.
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