The Maltese are renowned for being mad over Eurovision. Now is your time to brush up on the facts and figures of this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow - you'll be able to impress your friends tonight.

• This year’s contest cost €20 million to organise.
• The stage at the Olympyski Arena is 1,500 square metres; the largest in Eurovision history. The LCD screens alone cover 300 square metres.
• This year sees the highest number of accredited journalists – 2,300.
• The total number of personnel involved in putting up the show in Moscow is 10,000.
• More than 23,000 people will pack the arena to see the live show, while some 100 million viewers will tune in to watch it on television.
• A gay pride parade is planned in central Moscow today to highlight the discrimination against sexual minorities. The mayor has described homosexuality as “satanic”, and trouble could brew if neo-fascists attack.
• The UK’s Terry Wogan, a radio show host who has been involved with the Eurovision for 38 years, has this year been replaced by Graham Norton. Wogan, who stepped down last year, described the event as “an exciting, camp, and foolish festival”.
• Ukraine’s Svetlana Loboda faced financial difficulties while preparing for her lavish show and she had to put up her apartment as collateral for a bank loan.
• The UK’s Jade Ewen, whose song It’s My Time is composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, was actually a last-minute replacement for a contestant who dropped out of the national selection process.
• Sweden’s Malena Ernman is a top mezzo-soprano who got persuaded into trying her luck as a pop singer.
• France’s Patricia Kaas is one of the most popular French singers and she has sold more than 16 million albums worldwide.
• The song of Denmark's singer Brinck, Believe Again, has been co-written by Irish superstar Ronan Keating.
• Norway’s Alexander Rybak, 23, is the favourite among bookmakers. He wrote and composed his song Fairytale and is considered to be a wonder kid in his country.
• The international burlesque star Dita Von Teese arrived in Moscow yesterday and is joining the German entry to play the part of Miss Kiss on stage.
• Sir Paul McCartney, the Beatles legend and top musician, has come out in support of Israel’s entry, There Must Be Another, performed by Jewish-Arab duo Noa and Mira Awad.
• Georgia pulled out of the contest in March after a dispute over the lyrics of their song, We Don’t Wanna Put In, which irked the Russians, because of the intentional pun towards their Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
• Russian superstar Philip Kirkorov resigned from his position as head the Russian jury to avoid implications of bias after journalists revealed he had had dinner with the Norwegian contestant.
• The Canadian Cirque Du Soleil acrobatics team kick start tonight’s opening show.
• The European Broadcasting Union is in talks with Italy to discuss its return in the Eurovision fold.
• Due to the economic recession there will be no Winner’s Tour this year.
• The preliminary dates for next year’s Eurovision are May 18 and 20 for the semi-finals and May 22 for the grand finale.