The Heydar Aliyev Foundation was an official partner of the Organizational Committee of the Eurovision Song Contest held in May 2012 in Baku.
Having collected 221 vote at the 56th Eurovision Song Contest held in 2011 in Germany, the Azerbaijani participants became winners of the Contest.
On May 19, 2011, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a Resolution on organizing and holding of the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 and, based on this Resolution, an Organization Committee was established to be presided over by Azerbaijan’s First Lady, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva. Mehriban Aliyeva is also an initiator of Azerbaijan’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest.
On December 28, 2011, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed, within the framework of preparation for the Eurovision Song Contest, between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Public Television and Radio Broadcasting Company. Within the cooperation, matters like attracting professionals to organization and holding of various cultural events, decoration of Baku city according to the contest, organization of traditional social programs such as Eurovillage and Euroclub in the weeks of Eurovision Song Contest and attraction of a team of volunteers were provided. Thus, with rich experience in organization of international events, close participation of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation as an Organizational Partner of the Contest secured the highest level of the Contest.
With mass media representatives and guests from over 80 countries around the world and participation of representatives from 42 countries, this grandiose contest was a very significant event in terms of promoting Azerbaijan’s rich history and cultural heritage.