Eurovision: Estonia's ticket to ride

Rosa, Spain's Eurovision entrant, listens to a colleague during a news conference in Tallin, Estonia, this week

TALLINN, Estonia -- Estonians say the country needs three things to feel at home in Europe: an Olympic gold medal, a Nobel Prize for literature and first place in the Eurovision Song Contest.

In that case, the tiny Baltic nation with fewer than 1.4 million inhabitants is well on its way to Club Europe.

The 47th annual Eurovision contest -- ridiculed across much of Western Europe but watched by about 300 million people -- is being hosted in the Estonian capital Tallinn on Saturday, thanks to Tanel Padar and Dave Benton's victory in Denmark last year.

Estonia first took part in Eurovision in 1994, three years after regaining its independence from the Soviet Union. Now it is firmly in the spotlight, and Estonians hope the rest of Europe is taking note.

On Saturday, each of the 24 song entries will be introduced by a one-minute video postcard highlighting an aspect of Estonian life.

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Estonia is "standing at Europe's border and wishing hard to be part of it," according to material produced by Estonian Television.

Many Estonians are excited to have a chance to show off their country. Leane Morits, an office worker from Tartu, the country's second city, said: "For Estonia, and especially for Tallinn, it is definitely great public relations."

But not everyone is thrilled. Eurovision coverage has dominated the press for the last year, triggering complaints of "song contest fatigue syndrome."

Maris Vaga, a young Tallinn artist, said she used to be a Eurovision fan but added: "Now it is here in Estonia, I'm so bored with it."

Others complain that vital national long-term interests, like key reforms needed to join NATO this autumn and the European Union in 2004, have taken a back seat to Eurovision plans.

Even Prime Minister Siim Kallas said the public's priorities should be reversed, with NATO and EU membership first and the contest second.

The event's organisers are taking no chances with the press, making sure international journalists have every reason to portray the country in a positive light.

More than 1,000 accreditations have been issued, a Eurovision record. In the press centre there is free beer and free high-speed Internet connections -- not surprising in a country sometimes labelled "E-stonia" for its cutting-edge use of new communication technologies.

Sahlene, Estonia's Eurovision entry, rehearses her song, "Runaway," in Tallin

The charm offensive is paying off. "It's marvellous, it's perfect," said Kees Pels from Dutch Radio NOS, attending his 34th Eurovision.

Nevertheless, about 500 tickets out of 2,000 remained unsold this week. Given that tickets cost the equivalent of an average monthly pay packet in Estonia, that is no surprise.

Organisers stress the three-hour broadcast is first and foremost a made-for-TV event. At least the Estonian Eurovision T-shirts and chocolates are selling well.

It may not be the Nobel Prize, but with a gold from the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics and last year's Eurovision trophy, Estonia is already another step closer to Europe as it prepares for its big night.