December 6, 2004, Kiev. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) declared the name of the first international sponsor of the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest that will take place in the capital of Ukraine from 19 May to 21 May 2005. The status of International Sponsor of the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest was awarded to Nemiroff Company, known for its support of the most significant international projects in sphere of art, fashion and sport. The status of International Sponsor gives Nemiroff Company a number of associative rights (to use Eurovision 2005 logo and composite logo Eurovision 2005 + Nemiroff, etc.), sponsor rights (participation in contest events) and media rights (participation in ceremony broadcasting). These rights will be exercised on the territory of Ukraine as well as on the territory of other countries, where the contest would be broadcast, such as Great Britain, Greece, Israel, Poland, Russia and many others. Nemiroff plans to spend around € 2 million on realization of international sponsor rights. This sum includes the cost of the sponsorship package and implementation of a number of special projects, which company plans to organize in the framework of Eurovision 2005. The list of them and their content are being approved now, but they will definitely include briefings for mass media, focusing on the process of preparation to the contest. Special events with participation of finalists of the national selection tours to Eurovision 2005 are also among the scheduled events. Besides, web site of the contest located at www.ev2005.nemiroff.ua has been launched already. It will be filled in by relevant information on the regular basis. Nemiroff company has also established a special corporative award that will be presented to the winner of the contest at the official ceremony on May 21, 2005. Bjorn Erichsen, EBU TV Department director: "This is the first major European sponsorship contract in the history of the Song Contest to be signed directly by the EBU. As well as the contest, Nemiroff has a long tradition. Yet, in just a few years this company has positioned itself as a leading brand on the international market". Ferdinand von Strantz, T.E.A.M. Project Leader for Eurovision 2005 Song Contest Project: "This is the first experience in the history of Eurovision Song Contest with a company from CIS countries that has got international sponsor status. While selecting international sponsor for Eurovision Song Contest 2005 we were guided by several criteria, for instance, the status of the company at the national and international markets, its reputation. We have also definitely considered the company's achievements in its field. The first place taken by Nemiroff company in the World Millionaires Club by the dynamics of growth and its official status of an international brand were very ponderable arguments in favour of our choice". Yakov Gribov, Nemiroff Company President: "While supporting numerous significant international projects, implemented abroad as well, Nemiroff Company has always aimed to present Ukraine to the world community as a democratic state, which actively develops its economy and preserves national traditions carefully. It is a country, where hard-working, generous and hospitable people live; they are proud of their history and look into future with confidence. We are sure that Eurovision 2005, taking place in Ukraine for the first time ever, will have wide cultural response in the world. It means that our country will become closer and more understandable to hundreds participants of the song contest, to thousands guests from different countries and to millions of TV viewers. As international sponsor of the Eurovision Song Contest 2005, we will do our best to support Ukraine in making the brightest and the most memorable mark in the 50 year history of the song contest".