The hands with the Greek flags were low; every face was frowning with anticipation. The Turk presenters of Eurovision announced the names of the countries that would participate at the finals on Saturday but no mention of Greece. The name of Greece was mention just before the last. The Greek flags began to wave again at the reporters' quarter and all the faces were smiling and cheering. A little while later Sakis made his appearance along with the nine other winners of the semi – finals. All the fanatics of Esc were waving flags and dancing and cheering and causing a general mayhem. As a reporter from Holland, that has been watching Esc for years, announced: "The battle today (i.e. the day before yesterday) was given between a Greek God with two bikini wearing nymphs and a Ukraine witch that danced in wild rhythms at the forests of Europe".

The night had begun at … 17:00. The fans of the competition went to Abdi Ipektsi Stadium in groups. We witnessed eccentric outfits and Hollywood poses from lightly dressed beauties, little flags, and dozens of TV crews. The most trying hour for the reporters and the cameramen was before the competition when Sakis Rouvas appeared. All the newscasters from all the countries of Europe were pushing and shoving and trying to get a shot of him. Sakis was the only contestant that became front page of the Turkish newspaper for the intellects, "Radikal".

Almost everyone in Albania watched the competition from the national Albanian television, as we were informed by our contact in Albania, Gazment Kaplani. The national channel TVSH was at its best. At the centre of Tirana a big screen gave the option to hundreds of people to watch the competition under the stars. When Anieza Sahini made it to the finals, the crowd cheered. This year's competition was watched by Albanians all over the world (including Australia). Forty of her compatriots travelled to Istanbul just to support her.