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Before the official opening ceremony of the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest, a Red Carpet event took place in Kyiv for all contestants and envoys from 42 participating countries.
The ceremony began at Mariyinsky Palace and ended on the roof of the Parkovy Convention and Exhibition Centre where the delegations solemnly cut the ribbon and release flags of their countries to the sky.
Read alsoPoroshenko congratulates Ukrainians on official start of Eurovision 2017 (Video)The Opening Ceremony started at 20:00. Special guests of the ceremony were last year's winner Jamala, singer Oleh Skrypka, the rock band Druha Rika, and winner of the Eurovision 2004 Ruslana.
The first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 with the participation of 18 contestants will be held tomorrow, May 8, at 22:00.