Press Conference Düsseldorf Arena March 15,
members of the Greek delegation at the selection of the running order
The Eurovision Song Contest hits town in May 2011.
Some 30,000 visitors are expected in the city for the special events, atmosphere and of course the finals at the Esprit Arena, (which will be called the Düsseldorf Arena for the event), on May 10, 12 and 14.
I'm extremely pleased to have been asked to be involved with the team at Düsseldorf Marketing and Tourism for this engrossing festival. To say that this is enormous for the city is putting it mildly, the ESC is the biggest non-sporting event in the world and it will be here, right on our doorstep!
I'm hearing of city houses that are planning imaginative special events that will make this such a year to remember even if you haven't managed to purchase one of the hot tickets for the event itself. Once these are official you will certainly be hearing about them here.
Of the several projects that I am working on, one will take me to London next week for talks with the BBC as they will be broadcasting a two and half hour show on some of the highlights of the city of Düsseldorf as host to the ESC. I am putting together a programme, arranging interviews etc with all kinds of Düsseldorf characters. The work is pure joy and is leading me to meet some fascinating people and discover some extraordinary stories. On May 12 we will be touring the city in a vintage car owned by new RhineBuzzers Monika and Eckardt Günnewig who have kindly offered to drive us around in one of their beautiful oldtimers. The programme will then be broadcasted on May 13 and then the BBC will of course be live in the Arena on May 14.
In addition to this, I've also been asked to work with BBC Radio Berkshire who will also be in town as Reading in Berks, UK is the twin town of Düsseldorf. Here we will be working on more local stories that involve the partnership that has been in existence since just after the Second World War.
As I'm from Berkshire this is a very special programme for me - the local girl in Düsseldorf. We will be live-streaming from the public viewing spots around the city on May 14 and presenting the Andrew Peach Breakfast Show on May 13 live before the final.
I have also been asked to write new tours with exciting themes for the foreign journalists and delegation who will be some 5,000 in number! So I'm spending my days interviewing the who is who in the arts, music and culture world of our city. I've come up with some fabulous anecdotes that will last way beyond Eurovision and I am also looking forward to a quieter time when I will be able to share all this with you, the RhineBuzz community, after May is over. All this is bringing us new events and the most wonderful people to our already vibrant community.
Suffice it to say my days are always full, but right now ... as a dear friend recently pointed out - "you are living three people's lives right now Caroline!"
And of course we wouldn't be RhineBuzz if we didn't have our own little project bubbling away ....
 |
| An amazing view of the city from the roof of the Stadttor RhineBuzz will be bringing you the very "Best of Düsseldorf" ©Bernd Ahrens Photography |
So if RhineBuzz has looked a bit quiet right now, this is why. We will continue with the very successful opera events and the wonderful partnership with museum kunst palast, plus one or two others but we really can't begin anything new right now. Ideas are plentiful and offers from people and places we do not yet work with come in regularly but there's only so much we can do. RhineBuzz Families will be happening; I've had emails about "when?" from eager parents, I know, I'm sorry, but we have had to put this off until later in the year. But it will be happening!
Same with the Salsa with John Vilardo. Please just bear with us.
Some of the team will take over some of the events when they can, just hang on please and look forward to a spring full of colourful fun when ESC comes to Düsseldorf!
The name RhineBuzz came out of this idea that we loved the city, but that too few knew about it. We needed to create a buzz about the city.
Can their be a greater opportunity than the Eurovision Song Contest to help fulfil this wish? RhineBuzz is delighted to be part of the wonderful events that are before us in the next few weeks.
Come and party with us!
